West Ham United have been hit with a fresh wave of embarrassment after a damning new report ranked the London Stadium as one of the worst football venues in the country.
The Daily Mail’s Chief Football Writer, Oliver Holt, has placed the Hammers’ home 89th out of the 92 stadiums he has visited across the English football pyramid. Only Millwall’s New Den, MK Dons’ Stadium MK, and Oxford United’s Kassam Stadium are ranked lower.
It’s yet another blow for the club, as the former Olympic venue continues to draw scathing reviews from fans and pundits alike. Away supporters frequently label it “not fit for football,” and it’s hard to argue with them.
Huge sheets of stretched fabric cover the gaps between tiers
The long list of complaints includes the infamous carpet-covered running track, vast fabric voids between the stands, and the yawning gap from the pitch. Even our own fans have had enough, with many bemoaning the poor proximity to Stratford Station and the infuriating stop-and-go ‘lollipop’ system.
Queues snaking through Olympic Park can take up to 45 minutes, leaving fans stranded after evening kick-offs. Holt’s verdict may sting, but it’s one that sadly rings true for many Irons faithful.
And with Holt not being a Hammers fan, he’s unlikely to be hushed with the usual tactic of saying “just get over Upton Park, it’s gone”.
Yadda yadda…… the ground is awful…no atmosphere. Crap view…delude yourself …
Personally, apart from never moving in the first place, it would have been so much better if they had not put in the temporary seating and just left it as an olympic stadium. You can’t make it a football stadium when it isn’t in practice.
It is a multi sport stadium.
As for the ‘carpet’, that does actually help more than not.
The biggest gripe is the crowds we attract and being isolated.
We would love to be season ticket holders but you need a pair of binoculars to see the match,especially from the higher seats. It’s much better watching it on Television especially as we are pensioners and the “walk” after the match is horrendous.
Not being funny but this ain’t a surprise is it. Its utterly shocking experience. From the walk to the ground to the prices of EVERYTHING! To the actual football on show. Its woeful.
The only reason why Millwall are below us is because the journo was banned from the Den so kopped the hump with that lot.
Plenty of teams across Europe play in athletics stadiums, and most of those haven’t bothered moving any seating at all nearer the pitch, and nobody moans. Remember the ‘much loved’ old Wembley? There was enough room behind the goals to build a small town!
Why are you giving an arse like Holt any publicity?
The stadium may not perfect but we got it for nothing thereby saving us 900 million that other clubs have spent. The transport links are fantastic and the hundreds of restaurants in Westfield enable us to enjoy better food options than most grounds. Also how many of the top players we have been able to attract would have gone to the Boleyn. I went to there for over 50 years and have fond memories of the place but we are now in the 21st century.
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Does that tosser Holt still want to punish us for Tevez, looks like he never got over it!
Well my lad is 12 and never knew the old ground, he loves this one and gets so excited whenever he goes.
I totally agree with him (holt) it is a shit hole . I’ve sat in most areas of the ground. The atmosphere/ food / beer. The area around it . It’s not a football stadium. Every away fan takes the piss out of it . You can’t argue with em .
Lazio and Roma have no trouble creating an atmosphere at the Olympic Stadium in Rome and the whole of the running track is exposed there. Maybe we just need dedicated standing/singing areas to make it mor3 if a football stadium. Also agree Daily Mail is full of shit on most things
How can anyone bemoan the poor proximity to Stratford station? It’s so close! Obviously none of them could have experienced the 30 minute hike from Seven Sisters tube station to White Hart Lane! Whatever anyone thinks about our stadium the one thing that can’t be criticised are the transport links – far better than The Boleyn.
It’s not so much the distance, it’s the fiasco after the games.
I’m shocked it got that high in the rankings.
Spot on with all those comments though the grounds a disgrace
Obviously Holt never queued up after a match at Upton Park Station.
Exactly. I walked to Plaistow instead, otherwise 25 min wait at least at UP
Makes me laugh when people complain about the walk.
Totally agree! I also used to walk to Plaistow as wait could be a lot longer ger than 25mins and that’s only for 35000 not 62500!
Try also getting out of Arsenal onto train!
Try telling Paris St Germain that the Parc de Princes s a lousy football ground that is also used for major finals. The running track is still visible.
Those fans that keep knocking the stadium need to get over themselves.
How else do you get 60,000 people out safely without having some crowd control.
Try getting in and out of Spurs!!!
Daily Mail only fit for low grade toilet paper!!