West Ham’s legal team told appeal judges that stadium owners E20 used stadium safety as a convenient excuse to withhold a capacity increase in the London Stadium in early 2017.
During the appeal hearing, which was streamed live on Youtube last Thursday, West Ham’s barrister said: “What we say was happening here is the true reason is they wanted to rinse us for more money and they decided to use safety as an acceptable pretext to be difficult.
No we can’t possibly go forward with this because there are too many safety worries here but of course that meant they could dig their heels in and adopt a strong position in the commercial negotiation.”
The evidence describes a number of exchanges with Newham’s London Stadium Safety Advisory Group Chairman Sheila Roberts and Safety Consultancy Chris Allison.
The Hammers legal case with E20 Stadium LLP will be heard at Court 30 at the 7 Rolls Buildings, Fetter Lane, London EC4A 1NL Before Mr Justice Zacaroli tomorrow on Monday 19 November 2018 starting from 10:30 AM. It is expected to last for several weeks.