Although many Hammers fans who visited the rebuilt Olympic Stadium over the weekend were impressed with the new stadium they were less pleased with the catering facilities they experienced. They were many complaints about the prices, long queues and running out of hot food.
Early this year French stadium Operator Vinci appointed American company Delaware North to manage the catering operation in the Olympic stadium including West Ham match days.
The New York based company founded in 1915 and employing 60,000 worldwide already runs the catering contracts for Wembley Stadium and the Emirates stadium for Arsenal.
On Friday evening when Athletics returned the stadium many of the food kiosks were yet to fully open, hot food ran as quickly as 30 minutes at one kiosk and lengthly queues had many fans grumbling about lack of foresight by the caterers.
It has been reported that West Ham will receive a profit share of catering and pouring rights from Vinci and Delaware North said to be between 10% and 15%, but things will need to improve if they want Hammers fans to eat and drink within the stadium.
The prices were another hot talking point over the weekend with a pie costing £4.80, a bottle of water £2.20, Soft drinks £3.10 and a glass of wine will cost you £5.40. A pint of Heineken will cost £5.10 with a bottle less at £4.80.
A bag of crisps will cost £1.60, a hot dog is £5.00 while a Mars Duo will set you back £1.30. Finally a chocolate grab bag whatever that is, will set you back £3.50.
No Pie and Mash, no Pizza and no Chicken shops in sight within the concourse itself. Personally I would prefer a Rib Meat Roll from the Rib Man in Green Street but I don’t think Delaware North and Vinci would entertain such an enterprising idea for the stadium. The best ribs in London and a hammers fans too!
We were promised better catering facilities than the Boleyn Ground which lets be honest shouldn’t be too difficult. They have yet to deliver on that promise in my opinion. Let’s hope they improve before the summer of 2016.
What was the security like? Just sneak in a bottle of beer and some snacks, I do it every weekend at UP.
Bottle of Bells for away days 😉
I was there for the Morrison Newham 10k race the weekend before the athletics and the catering was virtually non existent, so the fact that there was some at the Athletics meet was an improvement, lets hope it keeps on improving to 2016.
Personally I will probably go to the shopping centre food hall and grab a burger or Kentucky
before going to the game, much cheaper option.
Really good photo’s Sean nice work 🙂
Thanks Dainon, here is a link to my OS photos for those who haven’t seen them
https://goo.gl/photos/tsWdnsvM3C6NcJVV6
Those prices are cheaper than I expected.. That’s pretty good. These events are ment to iron out the creases, I’m sure it’ll become a much slicker and more professional operation by the time it opens properly, wembley is more expensive but I’ve always found the catering very good considering it’s a sports venue and not a restaurant. There are so many great options for food and drink just up the road at Westfield anyway I can’t imagine I’ll ever have more than a half time pint inside the stadium
Dainon, the idea was you would want to come to the stadium early to eat and drink but i doubt that will be the case. Shame because it is a missed opportunity. I was at Wembley recently for the Ed Sherman concert and disappointed with choice, prices, organisation and the actual end product. Arsenal fans also moan about their caterers.
Hey Sean
Remember that was day 1 and things will only get better, it sounds like many of the outlets were not fully open and were not fully stocked. These are just trial events to let everyone prepare for the actual opening of the stadium .. TBH im glad they have put these events on so they can make their mistakes now and be ready when when the doors really open for the Hammers next year.
Ive been to Wembley several times and catering wise ive always found it to be ok, but ive never watched Ed Sherman 😉 .. remember that its not a restaurant its a football stadium and so is the OS. Maybe our catering needs differ when we go to the football cuz basically all I need is a half time pint and maybe the occasional pie if im starving
I would advise fans to make use of the huge choice at Westfields just up the road, so many options for whatever your taste buds fancy on the day and they are cheap(ish) for good food and a nice pint is easy to find just a short walk away. The catering was pants at the boleyn and so was the beer, im sure it will be pants at the OS .. around the Boleyn the local area had a few good pubs, kens cafe, Nathens pie & mash & the ribman but after that the food was not great compared to whats on offer at westfields
I think thing will be ok, infact as a overall package I think it’ll be better 🙂 as for the Idea that people would want to go early to eat and drink.. thats a pipe dream and i agree with you that its not going to happen. I dont think thats ever happened at any sports stadium anywhere in the world.
Oh btw Sean I loved your photos of your time at the OS .. really got me excited about moving in next year
Hi Sean, Ed Sherman ? Is that Ed Sheeran in a tank 😉 ?
In Norway that would be cheap..!! 😛
In all honesty I doubt the catering at this event will be anything like it will be on match day. I think you’ll get a better understanding of what it’ll be like is if you have tickets to Rugby World Cup matches there
I can imagine it will be similar, the facilities have been set up to sell warm pies, that won’t change as the fittings are installed. There doesn’t seem the the kitchen facilities to do much more. Catering for 50,000 plus is difficult I know but pies, crisp and chocolate is a bit unimaginative