It really comes as no surprise to hear a Labour mayor say that the London Stadium will not be sold!
What does though is that he claims the place is a “public asset” despite the horrendous losses it is incurring under his ongoing stewardship.
Assets are normally worth something. This year the place has lost over £20 million beyond the millions before that with more put aside for court cases against West Ham whom we reckon have been to used as a handy scapegoat for his, the London Assembly and E20’s financial ineptitude.
In reality the stadium is worth absolutely NOTHING and he would do the public a big favour if he could find someone to take on the debt thus freeing them of it forever! That’s the best deal he can expect.
However, Sadiq Khan’s press office has the use fancy political promises to cover that stuff declaring: “I can confirm that the Mayor’s position remains the same; the London Stadium is a public asset and will stay in the ownership of the taxpayer.
“LLDC have significantly reduced the cost of the seat moves and are looking to make further efficiencies here; they are working with the stadium operators to reduce the high operating costs.
LLDC are also working to maximise the commercial opportunities by staging events beyond the Premier League and they are looking to address naming rights as well as the fees paid by both of their main concessionaires.”
All sounds pretty fancy doesn’t it!
It is of course political BS given we have waited for a naming rights partner for years and that no explanation of how seating costs are to be achieved are detailed.
Not even a hint either of what type of events beyond Premier League football are going to be staged and they have tried most – including such iconic bands as The Stones and AC/DC.
Perhaps they could explain what sort of events make a profit beyond football – baseball perhaps Mr Khan?
Sorry and all that but I don’t believe a word of that convenient statement which seems designed to defuse the growing wave of anger headed in their direction from the taxpayers and regain some sort of upper hand in the ongoing chaos.
A public asset indeed – you’re having a laugh!
Mr Khan will be content to see the taxpayer foot the bill as long as he can point his finger at Boris Johnson, Baroness Brady and Lord Coe. Its all political and he will continue to use the terms of stadium contract for political motives. The contract is bulletproof and there is nothing he can do about it except play childish games with the media, If he is concerned about the stadium, he should sell it. He knows West Ham will have to be richly compensated for the remaining 95 years of the contract, Try selling that to your public Mr Khan.