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Wils 11:19 Thu Apr 7
Is the London Stadium beginning to feel like home for West Ham fans?

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/apr/07/is-the-london-stadium-beginning-to-feel-like-home-for-west-ham-fans

"West Ham are “massive” to quote the chant of the moment – and so, surprisingly, was the London Stadium in the memorable Europa League win against Sevilla. Six years after moving from Upton Park, the club’s troubled new ground had changed from corporate dome to a cauldron of noise. Is Stratford finally starting to feel like home for Hammers fans?

For all Karren Brady’s promises of a successful migration, it did not start well in 2016, with fans who preferred to stand put next to fans who wanted to sit and fights breaking out in an early game against Watford. The stewarding was poor and in a League Cup tie against Chelsea rival fans used the circular concourse to cause aggravation.

It seemed difficult to get a chant going all around the vast stadium. The diehards had many complaints: the distance from the pitch, plastic fans, the long walk from Stratford and the sale of popcorn. It was forgotten that sometimes Upton Park could be quiet, too. The club improved the stewarding and moved fans to more appropriate areas, but many problems remained.

The nadir for the London Stadium was the pitch invasion during a 3-0 home defeat to Burnley in March 2018. David Moyes was in his first spell as manager with the club, as ever fighting relegation rather than moving to the promised next level. One middle-aged fan planted a corner flag in the centre circle. With the stewards as proactive as the West Ham defence, Mark Noble found himself acting as a makeshift bouncer, manhandling one miscreant and inspiring the Guardian cartoonist David Squires to draw Noble singing “I’m forever throwing Herberts, stewards vanish in thin air”. Several hundred fans gathered around the directors’ box chanting: “You’ve destroyed our club” at owners David Sullivan and David Gold. There didn’t seem any coming back from that.


Another problem was how to cover the athletics track. When Sofiane Feghouli scored against NK Domzale in the first Europa League match there and kissed the massive green carpet around the pitch, it highlighted how the playing area looked like one giant chunk of AstroTurf. The then manager Slaven Bilic complained in 2017 that it made it psychologically difficult for his players to track back: “You look up and it is not easy, because everything is green ahead of you, to appreciate exactly where is the end of the pitch.”

In 2016 the distance from the managers dugout to the pitch at the London Stadium was reported to be 90 feet, and the athletics track was covered by a green carpet.
In 2016 the distance from the managers dugout to the pitch at the London Stadium was reported to be 90 feet, and the athletics track was covered by a green carpet. Photograph: Calver/MDI/Shutterstock
For a long period there was a standoff between West Ham and the stadium’s owners, the London Legacy Development Corporation, which would not allow a claret carpet to be installed over the running track area. Eventually, relations improved and the carpet finally arrived in April 2019. It was not, as some feared, a shagpile offcut from Sullivan’s home, but a claret surround with the club’s name emblazoned at the sides.

Michail Antonio was so impressed he celebrated a goal against Leicester by lying down and fondly stroking the carpet. Renaming the East Stand the Billy Bonds Stand was another positive move. Bonds came on to the pitch before the game against Newcastle and was moved to tears by the reception he received.


But even the Irons’ magic carpet couldn’t prevent the Manuel Pellegrini years turning sour. Moyes returned and West Ham were out of the relegation zone on goal difference when lockdown happened. They played their final games behind closed doors and stayed up. In the Covid season of 2020-21 Moyes started to make dramatic progress.

West Ham finished an improbable sixth and the fans had a team they could be proud of, if only on TV. When 10,000 fans were allowed for the final game of the season against Southampton they discovered the stands at either end had been squared off, making it much more like a football ground.


When this season began with a 4-1 home demolition of Leicester the fans realised they were grateful to be back watching West Ham, whatever stadium they were in. It felt like a homecoming. Fans were more used to their pubs and matchday routes. The incremental improvements had worked: the carpet, the squared ends, playing music outside the stadium, the razzle-dazzle before matches of flame throwers, DJs, bubble machines and light shows. The ground was slowly developing an identity.

Home wins against Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea created the best atmosphere since the last season at the Boleyn. And selling popcorn really didn’t matter much. Memories are being made, such as a tearful Andriy Yarmolenko scoring against Villa and raising his hands to the sky. The Sevilla match put it up a notch again. When the two goals went in under the lights the whole place was bouncing.


The London Stadium will never be as intimate as Upton Park and the stands at the sides really could do with being closer to the pitch. But opposition teams do not fancy playing there now and 60,000 fans turn up every game. A new generation don’t even remember the Boleyn.

It has been a long journey, but it does feel like the Hammers finally have a ground that is not only literally massive, but also has the power to intimidate once more.

Pete May is the author of Goodbye to Boleyn (Biteback) and blogs at hammersintheheart.blogspot.co.uk."

Side of Ham 11:22 Thu Apr 7
Re: Is the London Stadium beginning to feel like home for West Ham fans?

The beauty of West Ham’s support is that anywhere they go in numbers is our home for as long as they choose to be there :-)

Stowie.40 11:28 Thu Apr 7
Re: Is the London Stadium beginning to feel like home for West Ham fans?

No, not for me. It’ll always be a cunt hole of a place.

ATBOG 11:32 Thu Apr 7
Re: Is the London Stadium beginning to feel like home for West Ham fans?

"and the carpet finally arrived in April 2019. It was not, as some feared, a shagpile offcut from Sullivan’s home"

Nice dig!

Lato 11:45 Thu Apr 7
Re: Is the London Stadium beginning to feel like home for West Ham fans?

I think its getting there but, for us old timers it will never beat Upton Park in the 70' and 80's

Mad Dog 12:02 Thu Apr 7
Re: Is the London Stadium beginning to feel like home for West Ham fans?

It's not perfect. But it's where we play. For me it feels like home now. And it's only a matter of time till we own it and can make a few more homely changes to it.

The big problem is that no forward thinking was employed when they built it.

Also it could be the best stadium ever and some would not accept it.

As far as I'm concerned I loved the boleyn when it had standing. Bringing in the seats and the new west stand ruined it for me. I understand it needed to be done, but after the changes we were miles from the pitch there too and there were games where you could hear pins drop.
Also we got relegated a few times there so it was hardly a fortress.

Games like Chelsea, bin dippers and sevilla prove it can be a good stadium. Yes it has its problems. The sterile walk, the lack of close pubs, the gaps etc, but it's fans that make an atmosphere, not concrete and seats.

I've got a decent seat, reasonably priced and decent people around me.

It helps that we've finally got a decent team (despite the board's refusal to invest... but nothing new there)

, 12:20 Thu Apr 7
Re: Is the London Stadium beginning to feel like home for West Ham fans?

I feel the same about this as mad dog. The ground we left had morphed, over the years, into something I did not feel much affinity with. This made the transfer to the OS acceptable for me but the way it was carried out was managed very badly and caused unnecessary ill feeling between groups of fans.

As regards this place feeling like home to me, despite the cosmetic changes, it is all about how the team is responding. As long as our current owners are prepared to back the team with the necessary money to sustain and build on where we are fan’s focus will be on our performances. However any parsimony by the owners that leads to us dropping out of the top eight will see the return of fan discontent and the toxic home game atmosphere we have previously experienced.

Summing up it seems like home now to some of us because we are doing reasonably well.

⚒️ 12:25 Thu Apr 7
Re: Is the London Stadium beginning to feel like home for West Ham fans?

The stadium is far from perfect, and won’t ever be till it gets bulldozed and rebuilt as a football stadium.

However, I think most people now recognise the reasons for leaving the Boleyn.

And it seems people are used to the area more now. It’s easy to look back with rose tinted glasses, but Upton Park was a proper shithole of an area. The Olympic Park is a far superior place to come to watch football.

BRANDED 12:28 Thu Apr 7
Re: Is the London Stadium beginning to feel like home for West Ham fans?

About 25,000 weren't able to go to the Boleyn regularly. They must be cuffed to death. There's always a great buzz about the place and winning helps.

Charoo 12:29 Thu Apr 7
Re: Is the London Stadium beginning to feel like home for West Ham fans?

To answer the question - yes

Football is about emotion and feelings and the remembering those wins and those atmospheres with mates and family.

Yes I have love memories of Upton Park and loved going there, like anything that has a monumental change on routine and surroundings it takes time but a good side, some amazing atmospheres, European football and for me introducing my oldest son to West Ham has made the difference.

He didn’t know Upton Park but he does know the OS and although only 5 he lives in his West Ham kits, sings West Ham songs morning, noon and night and goes on constantly about going to matches, so that has been the change for me.

Plus we have found a better route in, a good place to drink, really like our seats and surrounded by good West Ham fans.

So it’s very much home to me now and I hated it at first.

Fo the Communist 12:31 Thu Apr 7
Re: Is the London Stadium beginning to feel like home for West Ham fans?

The problem was the combination of a shit team and a shit stadium. Now the team has sorted itself out somewhat then the stadium issue is not as much of a factor as it once was.
That said, it is still an abortion of a football ground and if things turn ugly on the pitch then it wont take long for old sores to re-open.
I don't buy Mad Dog's argument that there would always have been deep-rooted and enduring opposition to a new stadium though. Had we moved to a purpose-built, proper football ground that wasn't detached from the surrounding community and had that move not been based on a tissue of lies, then I think most - me included - would have gone for it.

The Fonz 12:40 Thu Apr 7
Re: Is the London Stadium beginning to feel like home for West Ham fans?

Will feel like home if we win.

Will hate the stadium if we lose.

Repeat.

Mad Dog 12:41 Thu Apr 7
Re: Is the London Stadium beginning to feel like home for West Ham fans?

Fo communist. I genuinely think no matter what some.people.wouldnt let go of the boleyn
Case in point there are several people that have refused to even go to a game at London stadium.

Fo the Communist 12:49 Thu Apr 7
Re: Is the London Stadium beginning to feel like home for West Ham fans?

Mag Dog - impossible to know the reasons behind every personal choice but had the move been to a purpose-built soccer stadium in a decent location and had that move been done in good faith I think anyone refusing to step foot in it would be in a very tiny minority.

cup of tea 12:58 Thu Apr 7
Re: Is the London Stadium beginning to feel like home for West Ham fans?

No. No matter how successful we are will never feel right to me. Sold our soul for money. Moving had no bearing at all on improving our chances of attracting players or winning something. It's a shit hole and will always be a shit hole

Dicko75 12:59 Thu Apr 7
Re: Is the London Stadium beginning to feel like home for West Ham fans?

It ain’t changing.

So you can either go with it or do one. Whingers gonna whinge.

The last couple of seasons have been fantastic and there is plenty to be optimistic about.

Stowie.40 1:04 Thu Apr 7
Re: Is the London Stadium beginning to feel like home for West Ham fans?

the fact the side have been winning more the last couple seasons doesn’t change what a dump the place is. I struggle to see one positive with the place, each to their own though.

Northern Sold 1:05 Thu Apr 7
Re: Is the London Stadium beginning to feel like home for West Ham fans?

As probably everyone on here knew I was a massive anti stadium mover… not been since… happy to have my memories of my time at UP since my first game in 1971… move wasn’t for me and plenty of others… some have dribbled back but in the main the ones that stayed away have done so… the ones that stayed I’m glad the toilet bowl is feeling more like home and they are actually enjoying their experience… I’m not that shallow that I hope people think it’s shit and that it’s not as good as UP was… new times… new people… new memories… think the majority of us whatever side we batted for can live with that…

SecondOpinion 1:07 Thu Apr 7
Re: Is the London Stadium beginning to feel like home for West Ham fans?

Never been, nor have had the desire to go.

I might go just the once and then leave it

the coming of gary 1:26 Thu Apr 7
Re: Is the London Stadium beginning to feel like home for West Ham fans?

.. Dont like the stadium at all, but the Seville night was great. Hopefully many more to come

.. I am a lifelong West Ham fan , but much prefer traditional grounds like Fulham
.

Percy Dalton 1:48 Thu Apr 7
Re: Is the London Stadium beginning to feel like home for West Ham fans?

I did migrate with everyone else and thought I'll give it a go but the wrench of leaving Upton Park was too much for me.
Hadn't missed many home games since 1960 but I saw the first season out at Stratford and didn't renew and for me I found it quite easy not to go as I was surrounded by newbies and there was no atmosphere.
Got stared at if you shouted out FMOB.

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