Post by IROOOONS on Feb 13, 2014 22:49:30 GMT
Now when the move to the OS was announced, I like many others was extremely excited, as although it meant leaving The Boleyn behind, it promised a future for our club. But some were wary of the plans, mainly due to not wanting to leave our current ground, understandable as it has all our history, memories and everything we've ever done (not much but still). Everyone wanted to be sure that we would still have the same great experience we all get from Upton Park, and once that tit Barry Hearn was finally told to do one for the millionth time, the issue on everyone's minds seemed to, and remains to be, the seating.
See as we all know the stadium houses an athletics track, one which we are not allowed to remove and so our board put all our minds at ease with innovative retractable seating which gave views equal to wembley. Some photoshopped stadium shots and a marketing team later, and we were all content with the plans. Apart from, you know, a LOT of fans who never want to leave Upton. But who cares about them right?
Now then onto the issue at hand.Today i read an interesting article from Sean Whetstone at Westhamtillidie which discussed the publicly available schematics for the retractable seating. Honestly I feel a bit cheated. The whole issue was that we have some of the best fans and support in the league and we all wanted that replicated at the OS. THAT was why the athletics track caused a concern as none of us want to be viewing the game through binoculars. But these schematics show that the lengths of the pitch will not have the seating fully covering the track and will have a good 9 metres between the pitch and the furthest forward seats Now I'm sorry but 9 metres and more for the people sitting in the proper stands is a bit much to be honest. This was one of the biggest issues most fans had about the move and i feel like the board have misled us with mock ups promising far more than these plans show. (https://www.westhamtillidie.com/posts/2014/02/13/running-track-to-remain-between-fans-and-pitch-at-the-os)
For a lot of west ham fans, particularly the older ones, Upton Park will likely always be considered our ground and quite rightly, but for the majority especially younger fans like me, the future of our club at the OS is extremely important and has to be good for us from a fans point of view not just a 'public image/business' POV. I will hopefully be spending the next 70/80 years of my life watching us at the OS and i am feeling increasingly uneasy about the move. I'd very much like to hear your views on the move, the retractable seating and what if anything gives you doubts about the move.
COYI
See as we all know the stadium houses an athletics track, one which we are not allowed to remove and so our board put all our minds at ease with innovative retractable seating which gave views equal to wembley. Some photoshopped stadium shots and a marketing team later, and we were all content with the plans. Apart from, you know, a LOT of fans who never want to leave Upton. But who cares about them right?
Now then onto the issue at hand.Today i read an interesting article from Sean Whetstone at Westhamtillidie which discussed the publicly available schematics for the retractable seating. Honestly I feel a bit cheated. The whole issue was that we have some of the best fans and support in the league and we all wanted that replicated at the OS. THAT was why the athletics track caused a concern as none of us want to be viewing the game through binoculars. But these schematics show that the lengths of the pitch will not have the seating fully covering the track and will have a good 9 metres between the pitch and the furthest forward seats Now I'm sorry but 9 metres and more for the people sitting in the proper stands is a bit much to be honest. This was one of the biggest issues most fans had about the move and i feel like the board have misled us with mock ups promising far more than these plans show. (https://www.westhamtillidie.com/posts/2014/02/13/running-track-to-remain-between-fans-and-pitch-at-the-os)
For a lot of west ham fans, particularly the older ones, Upton Park will likely always be considered our ground and quite rightly, but for the majority especially younger fans like me, the future of our club at the OS is extremely important and has to be good for us from a fans point of view not just a 'public image/business' POV. I will hopefully be spending the next 70/80 years of my life watching us at the OS and i am feeling increasingly uneasy about the move. I'd very much like to hear your views on the move, the retractable seating and what if anything gives you doubts about the move.
COYI