Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker savaged the London Stadium in a BBC Match of the Day Podcast.
They mat or may not be right in regularly comparing what was and what is in the West Ham world but one thing is for sure it’s a tired old routine.
Once again the difference between the Boleyn Ground and the London Stadium gets a going over – as if we don’t know the issues – with Lineker saying “If ever there was a contrast between what a club’s ground was like for atmosphere and what it is like now for atmosphere, this is probably it.
London Stadium is probably the only ground I can think of nowadays in this country where the pitch is miles from the stand. That is where it loses that atmosphere.”
Alan Shearer added a put down by saying “You mention The Den about them being close and tight and horrible and them abusing you, Upton Park was similar to that and in terms of going from that to where they are now at London Stadium, it is chalk and cheese. London Stadium feels empty even when it is full.”
Upton Park changed when the giant Doc Martens stand was built dwarfing the rest of the ground and quite a distance from the pitch. For me that was when the old ground died together with all seating changing the atmosphere in all grounds.
You will never recreate the fabulous tumult when we played Frankfurt under lights in th Euro cup winnerscup semi final. Fortunately I can treasure the memories and my grand children love the new stadium.
One of the most electric atmospheres I’ve experienced at any football ground was a win against Chelsea in the League Cup at London Stadium a few years back and I’ve been to lots of grounds over the years.
Poor football generally results in poor atmospheres. It’s not that difficult to fathom is it? Ah, but the story facilitates click bait in the mass media. Of course!!
One would think Lineker would know better
As soon as they replaced terracing with all seating the atmosphere changed.
I spent many a time in the west stand at the boleyn when you could here a pin drop.
As you so rightly said Saul “poor football generally results in poor atmospheres” and not just at west ham but the majority of the grounds around the country.
I love my seat and view at the London stadium!
I’m tired of hearing views on the ground that I personally think are wrong.
Was it the stand that changed the atmosphere, or was it the near-complete absence of big occasions at the ground after the stand was built? We’ve had pretty lean times since the West Stand was rebuilt.