Long term anti OS move campaigner Nigel Kahn finally visited the former Olympic Stadium for himself last night to watch the Rugby World Cup match between France and Romania.
And when ClaretandHugh caught up with him to get his honest views of the place he dreads to move to we received a big shock.
For Nigel barely had a bad word to say about the place explaining: “I was seated in the cheap seats in East Stand upper, section 241, row 57.”
He added: “If I am honest, It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be, my view was good actually, I’ve had worst views at Wembley, although I not sure I would sit in that seat every week to watch football”
Nigel’s prefers the seats towards the back of the lower stands to the side and reckons that despite being a rugby crowd the stadium had good atmosphere saying “It held the noise well”
The distance from the front row to pitch didn’t bother him nor did the gaps between the lower and upper stands which were not visible from his vantage point.
On the colour of the seats he said “I quite like the white seats, when are you going to see the claret and blue patterns if the stadium is full like last night? It seems like a waste of money to me!”
Talking about the seats screened off at the back of the Stadium behind the goals last night Nigel said “I don’t know why they don’t sell every seat, people would be prepared to sit on those seats at a reduced price”
Not everything went according to plan as the time it took to get to the stadium was a pain.
He said: “It took me 30 minutes to get from the station to the stadium as we were herded down tight routes away from the main Westfield shopping centre route, it took me a further 20 minutes to get back to the station.”
Overall while Nigel admitted it was hard to pick faults with the views on offer “I guess realisation that we are moving finally kicked in last night, it is a sanitised version of football which I am not used to, away from local pubs and residential areas that I grew up around in the East end.
“This is a personal thing for me and I understand not everyone has the same views or local attachment around the Boleyn Ground. It will just take some getting used to.”
I’m a bit concerned about how the access and exits will be managed. I was hoping to see the end of the long queues at UP tube station after every game, but it sounds like we may be swapping one problem for another.
The club has often mentioned the multiple travel connections available, but if the old Bill funnel everyone in a single direction then they count for nothing. I think the club probably need to publish a proper access plan so we can all work out how it’s going to be for us on the day. Stratford, Stratford International, Pudding Mill Lane -there are loads of options but we need to know what’s going to be available.
I went to the OS myself a couple of weeks ago just to get a feel for it. It’s a good ten minute amble from Westfield to the stadium, and that’s after fighting the shoppers along the way. Having spent thirty years developing a nose for finding obscure car parking opportunities around UP, having to go in by public transport is going to be a shock – extra cost, longer access times, no pubs on the way, no caffs or pie shops.
It’s going to take some getting used to…..
Thanks Nigel. It makes a difference when someone with strong opinion is prepared to change his mind. Gives me hope.
Overall it looks pretty good though lads.Imagine 50,000 Irons supporters in there as we stuff Chelski or Spuds.The place would be jumping!
When ever a penalty is awarded against us, just as he is about to take it flash a bright white light from the screens……!!!!!!! Lol 😀
Hahaha,you do realize you have just revealed one of our master plans for next season all over the internet.Sullivan & his rising Krays will be coming for you now,haha 😀
Yeah the big screens are bloody massive,haha,i think they look sort of smart though in an over the top kind of way.Beckhams probably got one in his TV room,lol 😀
Is the gap down the sides of the pitch to the stands the same on boths sides???
I’m not overly impressed with the look of the stands behind the goals, the giant screens seem to swallow up the whole stand.
You know Sean loved writing that for sure,lol.Just watching the rugby from there again on tv,does look impressive i must say.
You better believe it, although Nigel signed off personally on the final draft of the article and only changed three words.
Lol,yeah i ment the U-Turn comment more than the article,though i guess both put a smile on your face while writing them.Everyones a Mockney to Nigel i think.He is the only Cockney on the planet you do realize that dont you 😀
Yep,good on Nigel for giving an honest assessment.Though i am actually finding it more amusing reading some guys on Wetties popping at Sean about the U-turn comment he made.Guess they dont get Sean & Nigels wind up they have with eachother,lol 😀
Hahaha,clearly not.I bet Sean had a big smirk on his face as he was writing the U-Turn comment.Funny 😀
Nigel didn’t bite. He knew it was click bait
Obviously you have learnt well the art of Headline writing.
Though it did lead to many thinking either i had lost my mind of the Article was a stitch up,
though it was neither.
im never afraid to change an opinion once i can see the evidence. im still opposed to teh move, but i cant argue about the view, as it was OK.
i wouldnt want that view week in week out though and i think many may find that the move is a step in the wrong direction, as i still do
I had to laugh and point it out 🙂
Haha,i bet Sean is sat there smilng waiting for Nigel to turn up on there & read the U-Turn comment,lol 😀
Haha It is cat and mouse game with Nigel. We first met a SAB meeting at the Bar in one of the West Ham lounge with opposing views. He was one of the founding members of WHUSVIEW an anti Olympic Stadium group when I went on to become the chair of SAB Olympic Stadium group and write the board report compiling feedback from fans on the move. Nigel and I have keep in touch ever since whether it is him coming on the Moore Than Just A Podcast, meeting pre match at the Black Lion or going to watch an audience with Sam Allardyce together. From our opposing views we have become good friends although I am not sure he would admit that, me being a Mockney and all that LOL
Keeping poking & you will get a bite 😀
Fair play to Nigel,could easily have just stuck to his guns & said it was sh#te just to mantain his stance.But good man for what he has said in this article,both positive & negative.Gives a good balanced idea of what to expect in many ways.I am expecting a sanitized type of experience also.But we are moving whether we like it or not.Just have to get on with it.