Vice-Chairman Karren Brady writes to supporters ahead of a momentous fortnight for West Ham United
Vice-Chairman Karren Brady writes to supporters ahead of a momentous fortnight for West Ham United...
We’re almost there. The first game at our magnificent new home is less than a fortnight away. To think how far we’ve come in six years and how close we are now is astounding.
Together, we have built a magnificent new home. A home that rightly stands alongside the very best in world football and a home that I know you will be every bit as proud of as I am.
Be in no doubt, we are part of the most successful stadium migration in history. David Sullivan, David Gold and I have always believed in the West Ham fanbase and our faith was certainly not misplaced.
The transition from a capacity of 35,000 to 54,000 was no mean feat, but to then make the leap to 60,000 was remarkable.
As of today, we find ourselves going into our first season on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park with more than 52,000 Season Ticket Holders, a similar number on the Season Ticket Waiting List and our Membership numbers have exploded too. The demand for tickets is simply incredible.
Though not without its challenges – nothing ever is – the move has been a complete success on every level.
When you first walk through the London Stadium turnstiles you will be in no doubt whatsoever that you are standing in the home of West Ham United. Our honours adorn the middle tier, the shirts of iconic West Ham players hang on the concourse and, of course, your claret and blue seating, crossed hammers and all, awaits.
Right from day one, our home will celebrate our legends. And we will continue do so, as the current crop make their mark on West Ham history.
Just as we promised, the West Ham-inspired lounges in Club London are absolutely stunning. We’ve set a new global benchmark in sports hospitality and, what’s more, they’re full of poignant West Ham touches, with tributes to players, managers and supporters alike.
We’re almost there. The first game at our magnificent new home is less than a fortnight away. To think how far we’ve come in six years and how close we are now is astounding.
Together, we have built a magnificent new home. A home that rightly stands alongside the very best in world football and a home that I know you will be every bit as proud of as I am.
Be in no doubt, we are part of the most successful stadium migration in history. David Sullivan, David Gold and I have always believed in the West Ham fanbase and our faith was certainly not misplaced.
The transition from a capacity of 35,000 to 54,000 was no mean feat, but to then make the leap to 60,000 was remarkable.
As of today, we find ourselves going into our first season on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park with more than 52,000 Season Ticket Holders, a similar number on the Season Ticket Waiting List and our Membership numbers have exploded too. The demand for tickets is simply incredible.
Though not without its challenges – nothing ever is – the move has been a complete success on every level.
When you first walk through the London Stadium turnstiles you will be in no doubt whatsoever that you are standing in the home of West Ham United. Our honours adorn the middle tier, the shirts of iconic West Ham players hang on the concourse and, of course, your claret and blue seating, crossed hammers and all, awaits.
Right from day one, our home will celebrate our legends. And we will continue do so, as the current crop make their mark on West Ham history.
Just as we promised, the West Ham-inspired lounges in Club London are absolutely stunning. We’ve set a new global benchmark in sports hospitality and, what’s more, they’re full of poignant West Ham touches, with tributes to players, managers and supporters alike.
Construction projects of this magnitude are notorious for their delays, but we are on schedule, to the very day, to open in full football mode, for the Premier League curtain raiser against Bournemouth. That’s of enormous credit to everyone on the construction side, not least with the added complexity of Europa League football.
Thanks to the success on the pitch last season, we start our campaign more than a fortnight earlier than we expected. It’s a sign of where this Club is headed and we fully expect it to be the first of many memorable European evenings at our new home.
As we explained after the draw on Friday, we’ll be operating at a maximum capacity of 54,000 for the Europa League game. This is all part of the ramp up to the Stadium opening at its full 60,000 capacity for the Premier League opener, but I think we all agree an earlier start to the season due to European football is a position we’re happy to be in.
Yes, the Stadium has been delivered on time, but there are of course still many elements and finishing touches that are scheduled to be fully in place early in the season. Of course (just like a new house) there will be elements we need to assess and get right once we’re in and we’ll always be striving to improve and add things, just as you would expect of any world-class venue.
For one thing, once the complete seating solution is in place, work will begin on the bold West Ham branding to sit at the back of the lower tiers.
Likewise, the world-class Stadium wrap will be in place for the first Premier League fixture, against Bournemouth, with Europe’s largest digital screen embedded into the wrap and fully operational for the Hammers’ meeting with Sunderland in October.
As you may have seen in my last video update, the Stadium will of course be fully connected in the fullness of time. The WIFI is being installed in stages, over a number of months, and should be finished later this year.
All in all, we’re in exceptionally good shape and have so much to look forward to in the coming weeks. These are moments that will live long in the memory of the football club and I cannot wait to share them with you.
Karren Brady
FAQ
What part of the wrap solution will be in place for the first Premier League fixture against Bournemouth?
The external ring of the stadium will be covered in two ways. 88 per cent is covered in static banners, boasting West Ham colour ways and five large West Ham crests. All 86 Claret and Blue fabric banners will be in place for the visit of Bournemouth on Sunday 21 August, the first of which is likely to be installed in the next 48 hours.
The remaining 12 per cent will be covered by the spectacular digital screens. Due to planning permission delays, Europe’s largest digital screen will then be fully operational for the meeting with Sunderland in October. In the interim, temporary screens or alternate West Ham branding will stand in its place.
Thanks to the success on the pitch last season, we start our campaign more than a fortnight earlier than we expected. It’s a sign of where this Club is headed and we fully expect it to be the first of many memorable European evenings at our new home.
As we explained after the draw on Friday, we’ll be operating at a maximum capacity of 54,000 for the Europa League game. This is all part of the ramp up to the Stadium opening at its full 60,000 capacity for the Premier League opener, but I think we all agree an earlier start to the season due to European football is a position we’re happy to be in.
Yes, the Stadium has been delivered on time, but there are of course still many elements and finishing touches that are scheduled to be fully in place early in the season. Of course (just like a new house) there will be elements we need to assess and get right once we’re in and we’ll always be striving to improve and add things, just as you would expect of any world-class venue.
For one thing, once the complete seating solution is in place, work will begin on the bold West Ham branding to sit at the back of the lower tiers.
Likewise, the world-class Stadium wrap will be in place for the first Premier League fixture, against Bournemouth, with Europe’s largest digital screen embedded into the wrap and fully operational for the Hammers’ meeting with Sunderland in October.
As you may have seen in my last video update, the Stadium will of course be fully connected in the fullness of time. The WIFI is being installed in stages, over a number of months, and should be finished later this year.
All in all, we’re in exceptionally good shape and have so much to look forward to in the coming weeks. These are moments that will live long in the memory of the football club and I cannot wait to share them with you.
Karren Brady
FAQ
What part of the wrap solution will be in place for the first Premier League fixture against Bournemouth?
The external ring of the stadium will be covered in two ways. 88 per cent is covered in static banners, boasting West Ham colour ways and five large West Ham crests. All 86 Claret and Blue fabric banners will be in place for the visit of Bournemouth on Sunday 21 August, the first of which is likely to be installed in the next 48 hours.
The remaining 12 per cent will be covered by the spectacular digital screens. Due to planning permission delays, Europe’s largest digital screen will then be fully operational for the meeting with Sunderland in October. In the interim, temporary screens or alternate West Ham branding will stand in its place.