West Ham United captain Kevin Nolan has revealed his excitement at the conversion work that has got underway at the Olympic Stadium.
Nolan joined Vice-Chairman Karren Brady and team-mates Mark Noble, Joe Cole and Mohamed Diame at a special ceremony in Stratford on Tuesday. There, the joined LLDC CEO Dennis Hone and London Borough of Newham CEO Kim Bromley-Derry in witnessing preparations get underway to facilitate the venue's magnificent new roof.
With the stunning conversion of the iconic arena moving on apace, the first of 14 floodlight panels are to be removed later this week, such that construction of the new roof, twice the size of the original, can begin in earnest next spring.
Nolan was impressed by what he saw on his latest visit to the Olympic Stadium, saying: "Myself and a few of the lads had the pleasure of visiting the Olympic Stadium to see the latest stage in its conversion from the home of London 2012 to our new home in 2016.
"It's exciting. Every time we visit the Olympic Stadium, I can't help but be excited by it. This Stadium is going to be fantastic for everyone involved - the players, supporters, staff and everybody associated with the Club.
"When the fans are lucky enough to see the Stadium for themselves, I think they will agree with us that it is something truly special.
"To see the Stadium has moved on from the last time I visited in the summer was great and I am already looking forward to getting back there again to see the next stage in its transformation."
Read about the latest new chapter for Olympic Stadium
Nolan said he and every West Ham player was already envisioning the day when the Hammers step out for their first game at their 54,000-capacity new home in summer 2016."The work that started this week was to move the floodlights and start the construction of the new roof, which will definitely help to keep in the amazing noise you lot make when the Hammers supporters are in full voice!
"The atmosphere they create at the Boleyn Ground - and on the road at away grounds - is already something special. So, when you think we only have 35,000 in at home games and we'll have around 54,000 at the Olympic Stadium, it's just going to be incredible. I just hope I'm the one who is leading the team out amid all that noise!"
Between now and 2016, of course, the Hammers want to build on two successful seasons by continuing to establish themselves in the Barclays Premier League.
Nolan admitted the start to the 2013/14 campaign had not gone to plan, but restated his commitment to producing improved results over the coming months.
"For us, as players, it is now about getting things right on the pitch so that, when we go to Stratford and move into that fantastic Stadium, the Club is still in the Premier League and doing really well.
"We have had a tricky start to the season, but we believe we are not far off from where we want to be performance-wise. We have just got to keep believing.
"When we move to Stratford, we want the quality on the pitch to match the quality of the Stadium we're playing in."