Attendances at the Bowl

[stubbo-admin]

So much as most think he's a wind up cսnt (and he clearly revels in that) Whetstone has produced an article for Iain Dale that lays bare the real attendance figures at our 'World Class' home.

Each week the attendance given is the tickets sold figure, but the fans that turn up are quite a different thing.

You can read the article here, but in average since 23/24 season, whilst 62,400 is what is what is published most weeks, the real attendance is typically nearer to 50,000, with averages dipping below 50k this season for the games that data is available for via FOIA.

https://www.westhamtillidie.com/posts/l ... es-exposed

Just another example of the shambolic state of that stadium and the draw of the world class team the board have worked so effectively to have playing within it.

[Eastside surge]

I dislike the stadium as much as the next person, but does anyone ever stop to think it’s the fans that have changed in 10 years rather than the stadium (which I know is still going to be a part of it) being shit. Look at spurs yesterday for instance, there stadiums superb, but it was pretty shit. I don’t know if any of you saw the video taken from the spurs end (next to away end) when Arsenal scored. As the phone holder turned around I was shocked at the state of there crowd, looked like the same people you’d see on a national trust tour, the vast majority still seated and actually filming the Arsenal fans celebrating. No anger no emotion no hostility and you’ll see similar next week at Anfield as well. 

An awful lot of people who were season ticket holders for many years have packed up after giving the bowl a few seasons to see if it improved 

[smartypants]

I dislike the stadium as much as the next person, but does anyone ever stop to think it’s the fans that have changed in 10 years rather than the stadium (which I know is still going to be a part of it) being shit. Look at spurs yesterday for instance, there stadiums superb, but it was pretty shit. I don’t know if any of you saw the video taken from the spurs end (next to away end) when Arsenal scored. As the phone holder turned around I was shocked at the state of there crowd, looked like the same people you’d see on a national trust tour, the vast majority still seated and actually filming the Arsenal fans celebrating. No anger no emotion no hostility and you’ll see similar next week at Anfield as well. 

[wils]

Attendances about to plummet further. 

[Massive Attack]

It would have been a purpose built Football Stadium as well with none of the hodge podge mess we have now because of how they went about the Olympic Stadium. 

[Mad Ferret]

There's a reason that even when we had the ambitious Icelandics in charge, they wouldn't entertain redeveloping the Boleyn.

They wanted to move us to a new ground behind West Ham Station.

 

I remember this. That would have been the best solution. Direct trains from Central London and Essex. Jubilee line south and north to Stratford. DLR. And the station named after the club. Such a missed opportunity.

Yep. The old Parcelforce site, I believe?

We've not actually ended up very far away, just a bit further north.

Always thought that corridor alongside the River Lea would be a good place for a ground. Loads of brownfields sites around there.

[wils]

There's a reason that even when we had the ambitious Icelandics in charge, they wouldn't entertain redeveloping the Boleyn.

They wanted to move us to a new ground behind West Ham Station.
 

I remember this. That would have been the best solution. Direct trains from Central London and Essex. Jubilee line south and north to Stratford. DLR. And the station named after the club. Such a missed opportunity.

[El Scorchio]

The local infrastructure couldn't cope with 35k, so imagine another 10k or so.

 

Yes it did and yes it could. It wasn't perfect but neither is it now after the move to the supposed "World Class" set-up. Where there's a will,  there's a way and certainly where palms can be greased/vested interests can be accommodated things can be done, as Spurs proved with their infrastructure being improved when they said that couldn't be done either before they began redeveloping the area. I'd certainly put up with a bit of inconvenience if it came to that than what we have now anyway. 

By 'redeveloping the area', you mean including torching a few non compliant local businesses?

I should say ALLEGEDLY, shouldn't I

[El Scorchio]

 

The club had a plan I don't know why they didnt just see it through. Build the new East Stand and fill in the corners.

The local infrastructure couldn't cope with 35k, so imagine another 10k or so.

 

Yes it did and yes it could. It wasn't perfect but neither is it now after the move to the supposed "World Class" set-up. Where there's a will,  there's a way and certainly where palms can be greased/vested interests can be accommodated things can be done, as Spurs proved with their infrastructure being improved when they said that couldn't be done either before they began redeveloping the area. I'd certainly put up with a bit of inconvenience if it came to that than what we have now anyway. 

By 'redeveloping the area', you mean including torching a few non compliant local businesses?

[Council Scum]

There's a reason that even when we had the ambitious Icelandics in charge, they wouldn't entertain redeveloping the Boleyn.

They wanted to move us to a new ground behind West Ham Station.

A new East Stand was just never realistic. Would have cost a fortune all for about an extra 8-10k max

You couldn't even park anywhere near the ground or your car got towed, so everyone was coming in on the old district line, it needed a new station for trains as well as tubes and no one was footing that bill. 

[Mad Ferret]

There's a reason that even when we had the ambitious Icelandics in charge, they wouldn't entertain redeveloping the Boleyn.

They wanted to move us to a new ground behind West Ham Station.

A new East Stand was just never realistic. Would have cost a fortune all for about an extra 8-10k max

[Massive Attack]

Proper Football Ground, you mean. Would go back in a heartbeat, even in that current state than the pigsear Stasiym of today. Filled with proper support to the rafters too.

 

The club had a plan I don't know why they didnt just see it through. Build the new East Stand and fill in the corners.

The local infrastructure couldn't cope with 35k, so imagine another 10k or so.

 

 

Yes it did and yes it could. It wasn't perfect but neither is it now after the move to the supposed "World Class" set-up. Where there's a will,  there's a way and certainly where palms can be greased/vested interests can be accommodated things can be done, as Spurs proved with their infrastructure being improved when they said that couldn't be done either before they began redeveloping the area. I'd certainly put up with a bit of inconvenience if it came to that than what we have now anyway. 

[El Scorchio]

I don't know why. Nothing says small time, tinpot club like that embarrassment of a former stadium.

Proper Football Ground, you mean. Would go back in a heartbeat, even in that current state than the pigsear Stasiym of today. Filled with proper support to the rafters too.

 

The club had a plan I don't know why they didnt just see it through. Build the new East Stand and fill in the corners.

Basically the shysters Gold and Sullivan seeing an opportunity for a quick buck/big payday for nothing. That's why. Sell the ground that stadium is on and move into the Olympic stadium, and then if an opportunity ever arises then buy that on the cheap and sell it for another big profit. I think it's the only reason Sullivan is still around. If he ever gets his grubby hands on that stadium then he's selling the club quicker than he sold Rice and Kudus and laughing all the way to the bank. The fact the 'no selling the club after moving' clause or whatever it was was put in as a condition of renting the stadium speaks absolute volumes as to what everyone thought his intentions were and are.

FWIW By the time we left, UP was only the East stand away from being a very fit for purpose stadium. The only issue was getting people to and from it with further increased capacity as the district line and UP station just wasn't really up to it any longer. 

[Mad Ferret]

I don't know why. Nothing says small time, tinpot club like that embarrassment of a former stadium.

Proper Football Ground, you mean. Would go back in a heartbeat, even in that current state than the pigsear Stasiym of today. Filled with proper support to the rafters too.

 

The club had a plan I don't know why they didnt just see it through. Build the new East Stand and fill in the corners.

The local infrastructure couldn't cope with 35k, so imagine another 10k or so.

[Massive Attack]

I don't know why. Nothing says small time, tinpot club like that embarrassment of a former stadium.

Proper Football Ground, you mean. Would go back in a heartbeat, even in that current state than the pigsear Stasiym of today. Filled with proper support to the rafters too.

 

The club had a plan I don't know why they didnt just see it through. Build the new East Stand and fill in the corners.

Bad combination of firstly dragging our heels as a Club, then dealing with relegation thanks to Roeder. As well as also dealing with an unfortunate set of circumstances happening with the banking crisis that then followed under the Icelandics, that ultimately resulted in the present incumbent vultures spotting a lucrative opportunity to capitalise on the subsequent Olympic Games White Elephant of a stadium. The perfect shitshorm of cuntery that has cursed us ever since. 

[Come On You Irons]

That's had me feeling very nostalgic for my seat in the back row of the chicken run lower

I don't know why. Nothing says small time, tinpot club like that embarrassment of a former stadium.

 

I'm not suprised. Consistent with everything you post. Nothing says 'know-nothing johnny come lately cսnt' like that 

I was a season ticket holder there for decades. Jog on.

[scott_d]

One of the issues here is the lack of any incentive from the clubs owners to ensure that people turn up - not an excuse, but could have something to do with it.

For food and drink, West Ham only get 30% of the profits above the first £500,000.  Not a huge incentive to put bums on seats and get people into the ground drinking and eating.

If I was the club, I would be looking at why up 20% of the fans don't turn up and would try and put it right.  But I can't see the current regime caring about that.



 

[BillyJenningsBoots]

That's had me feeling very nostalgic for my seat in the back row of the chicken run lower

I don't know why. Nothing says small time, tinpot club like that embarrassment of a former stadium.

Proper Football Ground, you mean. Would go back in a heartbeat, even in that current state than the pigsear Stasiym of today. Filled with proper support to the rafters too.

 

 

The club had a plan I don't know why they didnt just see it through. Build the new East Stand and fill in the corners.

[onsideman]

 

That's had me feeling very nostalgic for my seat in the back row of the chicken run lower

I don't know why. Nothing says small time, tinpot club like that embarrassment of a former stadium.

 

 

I'm not suprised. Consistent with everything you post. Nothing says 'know-nothing johnny come lately cսnt' like that 

[El Scorchio]

When people criticise The dwarf and Brady for not delivering on “world class team for a world class stadium“ it suggests the person doing it had bought into the promise in the first place. How many did?

More likely to be sarcasm mate

 

I would like to think so. But that view doesn't tally with the 'lies! lies! lies!" chant.

That "world class team for a world class stadium" statement is the least of the problems. If that stadium was as impressive as Tottenham's, which get's labelled 'world class', it would still be shit. I never wanted a 'world class' stadium, so whether it's true or not is not the point.

You don't have to have believed anything to call it out as a lie either at the time or further down the line. 

[Massive Attack]

The LIES, LIES, LIES chant is just factual to remind them they made so many, even though they claim they never fucking did.  

[wils]

When people criticise The dwarf and Brady for not delivering on “world class team for a world class stadium“ it suggests the person doing it had bought into the promise in the first place. How many did?

More likely to be sarcasm mate

 

 

I would like to think so. But that view doesn't tally with the 'lies! lies! lies!" chant.

That "world class team for a world class stadium" statement is the least of the problems. If that stadium was as impressive as Tottenham's, which get's labelled 'world class', it would still be shit. I never wanted a 'world class' stadium, so whether it's true or not is not the point.

[Massive Attack]

 

That's had me feeling very nostalgic for my seat in the back row of the chicken run lower

I don't know why. Nothing says small time, tinpot club like that embarrassment of a former stadium.

Proper Football Ground, you mean. Would go back in a heartbeat, even in that current state than the pigsear Stasiym of today. Filled with proper support to the rafters too.

[Come On You Irons]

 

That's had me feeling very nostalgic for my seat in the back row of the chicken run lower

I don't know why. Nothing says small time, tinpot club like that embarrassment of a former stadium.

[Massive Attack]

 

That's had me feeling very nostalgic for my seat in the back row of the chicken run lower

I moved to the back row of the lower Chicken Run in the final season from the BML. Amazing view of the game even with them making a pigsear of moving the touchline away so to rebuild the new stand that never happened.

I did think about adding a health warning before viewing such distressing images.

[onsideman]

 

That's had me feeling very nostalgic for my seat in the back row of the chicken run lower