The London Stadium was purposely built for the Summer Olympics in 2012. Construction started in 2008, and the first public event was held in March 2013 as the finish line for a celebrity run.
After the Olympics ended, there was hope by some people in the athletics community that it would forever be the new home of United Kingdom Athletics (UKA). However, fast-forward ten years, and it’s now the home of English Premier League side West Ham.
It has also hosted several other one-off sporting events and music concerts. The question being asked here is, should the London Stadium be more regularly used for other sports?
Facts about the London Stadium
Here are some fun facts about the London Stadium, which is currently home to ‘The Hammers’ (West Ham).
- Name: It was originally called the Olympic Stadium, then from 2013 to 2016, it changed to The Stadium at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Today it is known simply as London Stadium
- Location: Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, London
- Construction started/ended, and total cost: May 2008-March 2011, costing £486 million + a further £274 for million for renovations (2013-2016). It was renovated after the Olympics to become a multi-purpose stadium
- Capacity: Regular seating capacity – 66,000 for sports. Regulated capacity 62,500. Maximum capacity for concerts – 80,000
- Tenants: UK Athletics, West Ham Football Club
- Events hosted: 2015 Rugby World Cup matches, rugby league and rugby union matches, Premier League football matches, music concerts, baseball matches, track and field events, 2017 World Athletics and World Para Athletics Championships, 2018 Athletics World Cup, cricket matches, and various other events
If you happen to be looking for somewhere to place a wager on any sporting events at the London Stadium, one of the best places you can turn to for football, athletics, rugby, and cricket betting is the official TopBookies website.
Should the London Stadium be more regularly used for other sports?
The controversial construction of the London Stadium cost millions, and there was always a debate as to what it should become after the Olympics ended in 2012 and whether it would end up being one big waste of money.
West Ham’s average attendance per game is 57,915, which is fairly impressive, so the stadium doesn’t need to be used regularly for other sports.
Too many other venues in London can be used for sporting and music events.
However, to keep drawing in the money, the stadium could continue to host one-off events, especially in the summer months after the Premier League season ends. It could keep on hosting weekly events until the Premier League starts back up again in August. Cricket and music concerts would be the perfect fit.
Is there still time to watch West Ham at the London Stadium before the 2022/23 Premier League campaign ends?
Yes. There is still time to watch West Ham in action at the London Stadium, but time is running out, so you had better hurry. The Hammers have just two Premier League games to go before the end of the season, and one of these games is away to Leicester City on Sunday, May 28th.
Their next home game at the London Stadium is on Sunday, May 21st, against Leeds United. West Ham are safely out of the Premier League relegation zone, which means they have managed to survive another season and will be back in the Premier League for the 2023/24 season.
Things to do near the London Stadium
If you’re thinking of visiting London and want some ideas of things to experience near the London Stadium during your visit, here are some great ideas.
You have the iconic Slide at the ArcelorMittal Orbit (which is just a four-minute walk from the London Stadium), as well as CRATE Brewery Tours (approx. 8 minutes walk) and the Abba Arena (approx. 9 minutes).
You also have the London Aquatics Centre (approx. 6 mins), the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park (approx. 7 mins), and The View Tube (approx. 7 mins).
Suppose that’s not enough to keep you going during your stay. In that case, other things you can experience near the London Stadium are the Capital Ring (approx. 6 mins), the Howling Hops (approx. 8 mins), and the Westfield Stratford City experience (approx. 11 mins).
Honourable mentions that are slightly further away are Victoria Park, Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, The Yard Theatre, the Copper Box Arena, the National Gallery, St. James’s Park, and St. Paul’s Cathedral, to name a few top attractions in London.
Image Source: Pixabay
