London Stadium fixture clash

UK Athletics have announced the date of next years Muller Anniversary Games on 27th and 28th July 2018 just three days before the stadium must be contractually handed back to West Ham in full football mode.

The UK Athletics Diamond meeting is usually held much earlier in July but with a current Athletics to football mode turn around of 9 days there is the serious concern the announced date is not viable.

Unlike 2017 when the IAAF World Athletics Championship were hosted in August West Ham must be handed back the stadium by 1st August 2018. The legally binding contract specifies the Athletics window including transformation back to football mode as the third Friday in June to either 31st July or 1st August if the final day falls on a weekend.

If E20 Stadium were not to return the stadium to football mode by August they would face a significant legal challenge and financial penalties for breaching their contract with West Ham.

Yesterday it was announced Britain’s best athletes will take on their US counterparts in a new two-hour competition at the London Stadium next year. ‘The Meet’ will be held on 21 July 2018 which will involve running, jumping, hurdles and relay events.

This season Premier league started on Friday 13 August 2017 but in 2015/2016 season it started on Saturday 8th August.

There is a 50/50 chance West Ham could be drawn away but there is also a chance we could be involved in the early round of UEFA Europa league which this year started on  29 June.