Last Update:
January 8, 2025
Where is the away section at London Stadium?
Away fans are housed in both the upper and lower tiers in the South West part of the stadium, in the Sir Trevor Brooking Stand.
What is the away allocation at West Ham?
Just under 3,000 can be accommodated for League games, or up to 8,000 for domestic cup ties.
Away section view at the London Stadium
Supporters enjoy fine unobstructed views. However, fans are housed quite far away from the playing area, especially at the back of the upper tier, so make sure you bring some binoculars, or more practically, if you can, get yourself a seat in the lower tier or at the front of the upper tier.
Due to the nature of the retractable seating, there is a sizeable gap between the lower and upper tiers of the visiting fans sections, which looks odd and makes it difficult to generate an atmosphere from the away end.
The more vociferous West Ham fans are located to the left of the away section in the upper tier. However, with the stadium roof being rather high above the supporters and the gap between tiers, the atmosphere is somewhat hindered, even for the home supporters.
On the plus side, the facilities inside the stadium are mostly very good, with ample food and drink outlets located on spacious concourses. Food on offer inside the stadium includes a range of pies, hot dogs and nachos.
Entrance to the stadium is through electronic turnstiles, meaning you insert your ticket into a bar code reader to gain entrance. But before that, you need to pass through a security cordon around the stadium, where searches are carried out. Then, expect to be searched again after going through the turnstiles. With this in mind, ensure you arrive in plenty of time before kick-off.
How long does it take to get out of London Stadium?
After the match has ended, home and away fans are well separated immediately outside the stadium by a large fence, and there is normally a sizeable Police presence. Those fans who have travelled by coach are directed to use a separate walkway back to the coach park.
Fans returning to Stratford are sent on a long walk away and around the stadium. This is to keep home and away fans apart, which it does mostly but near the end, away fans will come into close proximity with West Ham supporters moving along a walkway above and to the side of the visiting supporters.
Away entrance
Away fans will be permitted entry into the London Stadium through turnstile D, which is located within the Sir Trevor Brooking Stand and can be accessed via Bridge 4.
Away fan best view
Due to the running track that surrounds the pitch at the London Stadium, all fans are housed incredibly far away from the action compared to other grounds.
This distance is worse for supporters sat at the back of the upper tier, so if you are able to, get yourself a ticket for the lower tier for the best views.
£4 million legal battle with owners
One of the biggest stories surrounding the London Stadium in recent years is the ongoing legal battle, believed to have cost around £4 million so far, between West Ham United and the owners of the London Stadium.
Due to an anti-embarrassment clause in the agreement between the two parties, the stadium owners, known as LLDC, believe they are now owed more money by the Hammers after Daniel Kretinsky purchased a 27% stake in the club.
The finer details of the dispute are confidential, and the outcome remains to be seen.
Solar panels given the green light
In October of 2024, the club confirmed that “London Stadium is set to become one of the world’s greenest sports and concert venues as work begins on the installation of 6,500 square metres of solar membrane panels.”
The development is part of a wider initiative at the London Stadium to reduce energy consumption, with a number of improvements set to take place in the coming years, including:
- Solar membranes
- LED lighting
- Chiller and air handling improvements
In total, the renovations are expected to cost the club an estimated figure of around £4.35 million.
Given that the Olympics were held at the London Stadium back in 2012, some of the biggest names in the world have been pictured including Prince William, David Beckham and Mick Jagger.
In terms of watching West Ham play at the London Stadium, the following celebrities have been spotted:
James Corden
TV Presenter, actor and comedian, James Corden, is a lifelong West Ham fan and has been pictured at the London Stadium on several occasions. Now that he has moved back to the UK from the US, we can expect to see Corden spent more time at West Ham matches.
Danny Dyer
British actor, Danny Dyer, is a big West Ham fan and is a frequent visitor to the London Stadium. Dyer’s daughter, Dani, is the partner of Jarrod Bowen which likely means more free tickets for the actor.
The song most commonly associated with West Ham is ‘I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles.’ Other songs frequently heard at the London Stadium include:
- Come on you Irons
- Bowen’s on Fire
- West Ham are Massive
There is a selection of West Ham chants in the video below.
While West Ham supporters do not make use of tifos as often as some other major fanbases around Europe, the crowd at London Stadium still enjoy a good banner now and again.
A reminder of their roots
Bubbles and TIFO display pic.twitter.com/J932UcjcKE
— West Ham Football (@westhamfootball) November 30, 2024
There is nothing too complicated about this one, but the tifo that reads “1895” is a reminder of West Ham United’s rich history and their lengthy presence within English football.
Champions of Europe
Champions of Europe pic.twitter.com/jW96X10AGF
— West Ham Football (@westhamfootball) August 20, 2023
Next up we have a tifo in honour of the Hammers’ magnificent triumph in the UEFA Europa Conference League.
It made for a memorable rendition of the club’s pre-game ‘Bubbles’ chant.
As the majority of West Ham United fans, and football fans in general, are all too aware, views at the London Stadium are not the venue’s strongpoint.
However, the reason for that is fairly unique.
Rather than the expected explanation of poorly designed stands or frustrating support pillars that obstruct views of the pitch, London Stadium’s achilles heel si the fact that it was originally a venue at the 2012 London Olympics.
As a result, there is a 400-metre running track that surrounds the pitch and pushes fans incredibly fara way away from the action.
If you are desperate to get the best views possible, then get yourself a ticket either at the front of the upper tier or in the lower tier, in either the East or West Stands as centrally as possible.
Seating Plan
Entrances
Away fans access the stadium via Turnstile D, and there is a dedicated supporters’ tent directly opposite where visiting fans can ask questions.
Visiting fans should arrive via Bridge Four where there is a lift to gain access to Turnstile D.
All away tickets should be collected from window 5 of the North Stand Ticket Office, close to Turnstile J.
There is not much in the way of drinking outlets close to the stadium, so it is mainly the case for visiting fans to drink in Central London before getting the train to the stadium. If you’d rather stay in the vicinity then alcohol is served inside the stadium at least so you could just go in once the turnstiles open.
Some pubs in the local area that accept away fans are:
The Green Goose – 112 Anglo Rd, Old Ford, London E3 5HD
Hamilton Hall, Wetherspoons – Liverpool St, London EC2M 7PY
The Cow – 4, Chestnut Plaza, Montfichet Rd, London E20 1GL
Home fans
Naturally, West Ham supporters have a wider variety of pubs to choose from both before and after any Hammers match at the London Stadium.
Below are some of our top suggestions:
- The Carpenter’s Arms, 17 Carpenters Rd, London E15 2JH
- The Cow, 4, Chestnut Plaza, Montfichet Rd, London E20 1GL
Pie, mash and liquor at West Ham United (@WestHam)
💷 £9 pic.twitter.com/ct5kypqu7T
— Footy Scran (@FootyScran) January 16, 2024
Doner burger at West Ham (@WestHam)
💷 £11 pic.twitter.com/EO5RZR759c
— Footy Scran (@FootyScran) March 11, 2023
Lamb doner kebab at West Ham (@WestHam)
💷 £8.50 pic.twitter.com/88oSKzGJCZ
— Footy Scran (@FootyScran) January 13, 2024
Rib meat roll with hot sauce at West Ham (@WestHam @theribman)
💷 £8 pic.twitter.com/pQo2UguYzh
— Footy Scran (@FootyScran) May 15, 2022
Bacon sandwich at West Ham United (@WestHam)
💷 £11.50 pic.twitter.com/Ibtj0tkryB
— Footy Scran (@FootyScran) December 23, 2023
By train
What are the closest railway stations?
The London Stadium is served by three railway stations, all of which are around a 10-15 minute walk away. These are Stratford, Stratford International and Hackney Wick. The stadium and stations are well-signposted around the area.
Stratford Station is located next to the large Westfield Shopping Centre. It is the main station in the area, as not only does it have overground connections to London Liverpool Street and Clapham Junction, but it also has an Underground station, which is located both on the Jubilee and Central tube lines. In addition, it is also located on the Docklands Light Railway.
Stratford International Railway Station is located on the other side of Westfield Shopping Centre. It is served by local services from London St Pancras, the journey time from which is just seven minutes. It is also located on the Docklands Light Railway.
Hackney Wick Railway Station is located on the opposite (West) side of the stadium compared to the Stratford Stations and Westfield Shopping Centre. It is served by trains from Clapham Junction, Richmond and Stratford. It also stops at Highbury and Islington, which is also situated on the Victoria Tube line and can be handy for those fans travelling down to London Euston, which is around 20 minutes journey time away.
What is the closest tube station to London Stadium?
The only tube station is close proximity to the London Stadium is Stratford Station, which is served by both the Jubilee and Central Lines.
By car
The London Stadium has been designated as a ‘public transport destination,’ which, in other words, means that people driving by car to the venue are actively discouraged. So, for example, an extensive Residential Parking Zone is put in place around the area of the stadium on matchdays, meaning that you need to have a permit to street park.
Also what limited paid parking is available close to the stadium, such as the Aquatics Centre and Copper Box, are off-limits to the normal fan.
If you still wish to drive, leave the M25 at Junction 27 and take the M11 towards London. At the end of the M11 motorway, keep in the left-hand lane and follow the signs for the North Circular A406 (S) (A12, A13). At the bottom of the flyover, where the roads merge, move into the left-hand lane for the A12. At the roundabout, take the fourth exit onto the A12, which goes towards Central London and Stratford.
Keep straight on the A12 for around four miles. At this point, you should be able to see the Velodrome building on your left. Exit here onto the A106 signposted Stratford and Westfield. Take the left-hand filter lane towards Stratford and Westfield at the bottom of the slip road at the traffic lights.
Continue along this road and reach the stadium on the right and the Westfield Centre on the left. Just before the Westfield Shopping Centre, you will reach a set of traffic lights, where you turn left for the Westfield Car Park, A, B & C, which are clearly signposted from this point.
Where to park at West Ham United
The nearby Westfield Shopping Centre offers car parking at £10 for a day (Saturday or Sunday), or £8 for a weekday evening.
The overall capacity of the London Stadium for football matches is 62,500. This was expanded from 60,000 in 2022 due to licencing regulations. For concerts, the stadium can hold up to 80,000 people. The Hammers are currently looking to expand the capacity for football games to 68,000 following talks with the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC), which started last year. If these plans are fully approved, West Ham’s stadium would be the second-largest in the Premier League behind Old Trafford.
On the north side of the ground is the Bobby Moore Stand, which has a lower and upper tier with a big screen in between them. There are two big screens at the London Stadium, with the other located at the opposite end of the ground in between the lower and upper tiers in the Sir Trevor Brooking Stand.
The Billy Bonds Stand is on the east side of the ground and can accommodate over 20,000 people, making it the largest stand at the London Stadium. It is named after the former Hammers player who made 799 appearances for the club.
Finally, the West Stand was reconfigured ahead of the 2022/23 season, bringing the upper and lower tiers closer together. As a result, 1,800 seats were added, and at the time the club said: “The changes will increase connectivity to the upper tier, enhancing the matchday experience and atmosphere, and continue the overall aesthetic improvements.”
As you might expect from the club that call the one time Olympic Stadium home, there is a vast number of fans who want to get inside for a guided tour and West Ham do not disappoint. They offer a range of tours, which are detailed below:
Stadium Tour:
- Adults – £22
- Seniors/Students – £19
- Under 15s – £13
- Under 5s – Free
Matchday Tour:
- Adults – £35
- Seniors/Students – £30
- Under 15s – £25
- Under 5s – Free
Matchday VIP Tour:
- Adults – £45
- Seniors/Students – £40
- Under 15s – £35
- Under 5s – Free
Stadium VIP Tour:
- Adults – £40
- Seniors/Students – £35
- Under 15s – £30
- Under 5s – Free
Legends Tour:
- Adults – £45
- Seniors/Students – £40
- Under 15s – £35
- Under 5s – Free
Full details of the West Ham stadium tours can be found on the official website.
Being located in London comes with a lot of perks, one such perk being that there are plenty of attractions close to the London Stadium for supporters looking to make a day, or perhaps even a weekend, of their trip to West Ham.
Westfield Stratford City
Arguably the most popular and well-known of all attractions located near the London Stadium is Westfield Stratford City – a massive shopping mall with over 300 different shops for your entertainment.
Expect it to be very busy, even on weekdays – it is a shopping mall in the heart of London after all – but thankfully, it is located a mere 18-minute walk from the London Stadium.
ArcelorMittal Orbit and Olympic Park
Somewhat of a 2-in-1 attraction, although both offer entirely different things, is the ArcelorMittal Orbit, better known as the Olympic Tower, which is located within the Olympic Park.
The Olympic Tower itself is 114 metres tall and offers a viewing platform where you can gaze at the London Skyline.
Whereas, in the Olympic Park, visitors can enjoy tours of the various venues of the London 2012 Olympic Games and take part in a range of activities.
Better yet, the park is also just a seven-minute walk from the London Stadium.
Given its truly enormous size, it is perhaps no surprise to learn that the London Stadium has been used as a host for a wide variety of music concerts since 2016.
Some of the more standout artists and bands to have performed at the ground include:
- AC/DC – 2016
- Guns N Roses – 2017
- Robbie Williams – 2017
- Rolling Stones – 2018
- Beyonce & Jay-Z – 2018
- The Weeknd – 2023
#TBT this time two years ago🤔
First night of On the Run II tour from Beyonce and Jay Z
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ pic.twitter.com/Oa8QycQgw7
— London Stadium (@LondonStadium) June 15, 2020
That trend is expected to continue in 2025, with Iron Maiden set to perform live at the London Stadium on June 28.
There was an almighty fuss made when West Ham announced their stadium move from Upton Park – the Boleyn Ground – to the London Stadium; it was understandable as they’d called Upton Park home since 1904 – that means it had been home for 109 years when the announcement was made.
Fast forward another three years and the move in was complete. Anyway, whilst the move tugged on the heartstrings of Hammers fans, it’s not like the Boleyn had been the club’s only home. In fact, they’d almost been a nomadic club in the early years.
The Hammers – or Irons as they’re also known – were formed in 1895. In the first nine years, they played at three different stadiums, with two – Hermit Road and Browning Road – barely the West Ham ground for over a season. The other was the Memorial Grounds. The club stayed there for seven years before heading to the now-famed Upton Park.
Although work has been completed on the West Ham stadium over the years, there are some key changes to note. The Second World War saw a bombing and a rebuild of one corner, whilst the all-seater legislation in the nineties also saw big changes to many of the stands.
However, their home is now the London Stadium, as mentioned, and this time, it looks like they are there to stay. The magic of the Boleyn Ground may have been lost, at least from the perspective of West Ham fans, but their new home has already seen the club lift European silverware.
If the London Stadium can continue to propel the Hammers to heights not previously seen by the club, then it is possible that one day, that bond between supporters and stadium may just return.
In 2023, West Ham announced that the London Stadium’s matchday capacity is set to increase to 68,000. Not too much work will be required but as West Ham don’t own the stadium, they are in the hands of their Landlords, London Legacy Development Corporation, as to when the work can be completed.
As mentioned above, the London Stadium has 66,513 seats, but the club are licenced to use only 60,000 seats on matchdays.
When West Ham first took on the tenancy of the stadium the club were only allowed to use 57,000 seats, but this was later increased to 60,000 and it is expected that this will further increase in the coming seasons.
The next increase will take the capacity to 62,500, which could happen before the end of the 2019/20 season. This makes the London Stadium the biggest Premier League Stadium in London and the second largest in the League (only Old Trafford, the home of Manchester United, is larger, at 74,879).
As alluded to, at the top of the guide, West Ham has also received the go-ahead for a massive solar panel project at the London Stadium. The project will see a total of 6,500 solar panels installed into the ground as the Hammers focus on becoming more ‘green’.
Record Attendance
62,477 vs Manchester United Premier League, May 2023.
Average Attendance
- 2022-23: 62,462 (Premier League)
- 2021-2022: 58,569 (Premier League)
- 2020-2021: N/A (Covid-19)
- 2019-2020: 59,925 (Premier League)
- 2018-2019: 58,336 (Premier League)
- 2017-2018: 56,885 (Premier League)
West Ham vs Millwall rivalry
When you talk about football rivalries, every club is keen to state that it is the fiercest. Well, the West Ham vs Millwall derby has been scripted for film it’s so big; hate doesn’t come much bigger than that.
The roots of the hatred date back to the early 1900s, when the two sets of fans held different stances on workers’ rights down at the dockyard. It creates division between them, and football has become a stick for beating
As time ticked on, the two faces off frequently with things getting feisty. With the rise of hooligans and gang culture in the capital, that became something else. Nowadays, the two play each other less often, but go to West Ham’s ground when Millwall visits, and you see more than a game.
West Ham vs Tottenham rivalry
West Ham and Tottenham aren’t particularly fond of one another. The two are located in the city of London and, as such, a large proportion of their fans love in close proximity to one another.
This aids the ‘banter’ they share whilst the clubs’ hierarchies haven’t always seen eye to eye either. This fixture also saw the infamous lasagne gate back in 2006; this saw Spurs struck down with a bout of food poisoning before a huge game in their quest for Champions League football. West Ham ended those dreams.
West Ham vs Chelsea rivalry
West Ham vs Chelsea is another London derby but it’s not the city that causes the hatred between the pair – although the Hammers are more worried about this rivalry than their Blue counterpart. For years, there had been an on-and-off rivalry, but one transfer between the clubs really revved it up: Frank Lampard. Since he left Upton Park for Stamford Bridge, the fans of each club have never seen eye to eye.
Having been constructed specifically for the 2012 London Olympic Games, the London Stadium is among the more modern grounds in the country and boasts good disabled facilities as a result.
Some of these facilities include:
- Accessible entrances
- Accessible seating
- Welcoming police regarding assistance dogs
- British sign language interpreters available for selected events
- Dedicated kiosks for wheelchair users
- Accessible toilets
If you have any specific needs that require extra assistance, please contact the club ahead of your arrival to ensure you have the best matchday experience possible.
As with the vast majority of football clubs these days, the price of a West Ham matchday ticket depends on the category of fixture you plan on attending.
The price list for 2024/25 West Ham tickets is as follows:
Category C
- Adult – £30-60
- Over 66 and Under 21 – £15-60
Category B
- Adult – £35-£90
- Over 66 and Under 21 – £25-£90
Category A
- Adult – £50-£105
- Over 66 and Under 21 – £37.50-£105
Category AA
- Adult – £55-£120
- Over 66 and Under 21 – £41-£120
It is worth noting that all Claret members will receive a £5 discount on the above ticket prices during their dedicated discount sale window.
- Official Programme: £3.50
Ground Layout
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Images
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
West Ham United v Brighton & Hove Albion
Premier League
Saturday 1st February 2020, 3pm
Andrew Walker (Brighton & Hove Albion)
West Ham United v West Bromwich Albion
FA Cup 4th Round
Saturday 25th January 2020, 3pm
Lee Jones (West Bromwich Albion)
West Ham United v Bournemouth
Premier League
Thursday 2nd January 2020, 5:30pm
Lewis Wright (Bournemouth)
West Ham United v Manchester United
Premier League
Sunday 22nd September 2019, 2pm
Barry Ashfield (Manchester United)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the London Stadium?
It was another stadium to tick off and this was my first away game of the season.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I got the train to London then walked from Euston station to Kings Cross Station. From there I got the train to Stratford International. It was easy to find the stadium from there.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I called into a pub called the Rocket which is not far from Euston station. On this day Manchester United, Liverpool, Aston Villa and Wolves were all playing in London too, so the pub had a fair number of football fans inside. I then walked across the road to the Euston Flyer pub.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the London Stadium?
From the outside, the stadium looks good. But inside I didn't like it. I was sat in the upper tier but lucky I was in 3rd row from the front. So my view was good but hate being so far away from the pitch.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The atmosphere was generally poor from the West Ham fans, except when they scored. The Man Utd fans tried hard to get behind the team, but it was very a poor game and Man Utd were rubbish and lost 2-0. I was not a happy man.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
The away fans were made to walk a long way around the stadium, back to Stratford, which wasn't great.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Not a good day as my team lost. Plus I disliked the way the visiting supporters were made to walk a long way around the ground after the match. I did not think much of the London Stadium and will not be rushing back to.
West Ham United v Manchester United
Premier League
Sunday, 22nd September 2019, 2pm
Tony Cannan (Doing the 92)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
This would be ground number 86 of 92 so I often check on clubs’ websites for ticket availability, and on a random check on the West Ham site, tickets for this match had reached general sale! This was too good an opportunity to turn down, so I asked two friends if they fancied coming along to help keep the travel costs down (coming from Plymouth) as there were three tickets together. They jumped at it as I did so I bought the tickets online that very day – this was with less than two weeks until the matchday so couldn’t afford to wait – the game did, as to be expected, sell out as it was Manchester United they were playing.
For me, this was one I particularly wanted to do as you hear a lot about the view, atmosphere etc and I wanted to satisfy my curiosity, but also because I attended the site in 2012 when the Olympics were on but not having a ticket for an event, I couldn’t even get into the complex, never mind the stadium. The nearest I got back then was to the cordon/gate just by the swimming pool. I was keen to get in this time.
External View
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
In a bid to keep costs down we opted to all go by car. With less than two weeks’ notice, getting a cheap train ticket to London from Plymouth is impossible. Thanks mainly to other reviewers on this site, and from what I’d seen on social media pages, I knew that driving all the way to the stadium and being able to park was out of the question. Therefore, we did what most people from this part of England do when driving to London – we drove to the nearest tube station to Plymouth which is Richmond on the District Line, and tubed across to Stratford station from there. Luckily the A303 and M3 were kind (I should point out this was a Sunday) and the actual driving time took about 3 and a half hours. Left at 7am, parked up in Richmond station (£5 for the day) by 11:30 (we stopped a few times). The tube journey, with one change at Westminster from the District to Jubilee lines was bang on one hour. After that, it’s about a 10-15 min stroll to the stadium which is easy to find from Stratford station, so we arrived with just over an hour spare. There are overland trains that go near the stadium from Richmond and this is perhaps something I’ll explore next time I go.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
As I said we had just over an hour to kill but I’m not one who leaves it until the last minute to enter as I like to get in and soak up the atmosphere and takes pictures etc but we did have a little wander about. What was interesting to me was walking past the pool. When I came here for the Olympics, I managed to get to that point and noticed how big it was. It was odd then, to see the two ‘grandstands’ that were previously attached to it had been removed and replaced by large glass coverings. All part of the plan I know and it is good to see it’s still in use.
So past that and across the bridge and it was the first time I’ve ever been to any ground where there’s been a security cordon. I’ve been searched and scanned at many turnstile entrances, but this was more reminiscent of security at an airport, set away from the stadium under tents with tables set up for placing items on, and dozens of stewards right across the entrance. Bear this in mind when you go – the queues here weren’t too bad but I’d reckon if you arrive later the queues will be longer so allow time for this. Seeing this much emphasis placed on security is of course a sign of the times, and you can’t be too careful in London – but this particular set-up has a flaw……. I’ll get to that later….
As I wasn’t there as an away fan and was in amongst the home fans I can’t really comment on friendliness or hostility. From what I could see, the two sets of fans seemed to mingle together ok and the police seemed fairly relaxed with not much to do – whether that was the case after the game I don’t know as I was not around that side but there was a police helicopter hovering around afterwards but that might be standard practice for every match.
The ArcelorMittal Orbit
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
So, imagine a clock. The stadium is round – well almost. Our entry point was at point A which is in the 10 o’clock position. We approached the stadium at the 2 o’clock position – but once past the security cordon – it still a good 10 minutes to walk around as the crowd was very large. The walk across the bridge, past the pool (now called the London Aquatics Centre), was picturesque with a lot of people stopping to take pictures. It reminded me of Wembley Way. You can certainly tell there was no expense spared in building the whole complex for the Olympics. As for the stadium itself, it looked ‘nice’ I guess, nothing spectacular. It’s just a big white round metal frame, but I do like how the club has dressed it up by covering it in West Ham colours, and the big screen was a nice touch too. I did like the lettering at the top spelling out ‘WEST HAM UNITED’, leaving you in no doubt where you are. I assume these are also neon lights that light up when it’s dark but as this was early afternoon we weren’t going to see it.
Inside – very impressive. Our seats were in section 204 (upper tier) same side as the TV cameras and pretty much level with the goal line at the home end, and I was worried about the view from here before we went in. It actually wasn’t too bad and isn’t really all that much different from Wembley. I’d guess that the view from the upper tier from behind either goal would probably seem a bit far away but I was pretty happy with our tickets. The pitch certainly stood out, probably helped by the fact the club have recently added a claret coloured ‘carpet’ around the entire perimeter of the pitch right up to the stands. It certainly gives the place the West Ham touch.
Mind The Gap
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc.
Now I love when I go to a new ground for the first time to see what the pre-match build-up is like, especially if the Club has a song, so I was eagerly anticipating Forever Blowing Bubbles. It didn’t disappoint. Everyone joining in, and I particularly like how they cut the music for the last four lines so all you can hear is the crowd singing it. Magnificent. Certainly better than the dull affair I saw at Anfield with You’ll Never Walk Alone. I just wish we could emulate something like that at Home Park.
So West Ham won 2-0. A goal in each half. The first goal coming on 45 mins and the home crowd I have to say certainly weren’t very vociferous with most of the singing coming from the Manchester United fans over on my far right – but it was a very nervy and scrappy game if I’m honest. When I watched it back on MotD, the presenter pre-warned the viewers that the highlights for this game were going right in at 35 mins from the off. That tells you how much action there was – not an awful lot save for the off flurry of forward play. I was expecting more from Manchester United if I’m being honest but they were absolutely dire, clearly in a rut at the moment, but the second half was a much better game and West Ham were fully deserving of their win and were by far the better of the two sides.
My View Of The Match
Facilities and prices. Now being London, you expect to pay a lot of money – but even I wasn’t willing to pay £7.20 for a pint – that’s just ridiculous. I’d already splashed out £70 for the ticket which even for the Premier League is extortionate. A standard 330ml plastic bottle of Coke was £3.60. I didn’t even look at the food prices….
One snag with being where we were – I don’t know if it’s the same all the way around – but up on the second tier, there is an absolute abundance of toilet facilities which is great, but then just the odd little popcorn stall posted about. For the main food and bar facilities, you have to go right down to ground level. Needless to say, I didn’t bother, especially after seeing the prices so I remained in my seat the whole time, only standing up during half time but stayed in my place.
It’s a pity so many others didn’t do the same. Looking around, I have to say I’ve never been to any ground where so many people can’t stay in one place for 45 mins. The first 10 mins of the first half we were up and down like blue-assed flies as people were still trying to find their seats. The middle 20 mins were fine, but on 35 mins it all started again as people wanted to leave early to get down to the kiosks and toilets. It absolutely staggers me that someone would pay £70 for a ticket, to be more interested in getting that last pint in and being first at the queue for the concessions at half time. They all missed West Ham’s first goal. Then the same happened all over again in the second half, especially 10 mins from the end as people wanted to be out early. I swear probably about a quarter of people in attendance that day must have only seen about half the match live, the rest of the time they were under the stands. I’ll never understand it. It happens everywhere of course but I’ve never seen it as rife as at West Ham. It’s almost of epidemic proportions.
Anyway, rant over – now this is where I come back to the security and stewarding issues:
So at Home Park, there is a big thing at the moment about people persistently standing. It’s causing an issue between certain sections of the fanbase and Plymouth Argyle Football Club. I don’t want to get too much into that, but I point it out because it seems that at Premier League clubs, they don’t seem to bother about it too much. The whole lower tier behind the home end goal at the London Stadium for this match were stood consistently from start to finish. That’s not a complaint, I think that’s a good thing that the fans seem to have established a ‘standing area’ and the Club are happy to let it go.
But to another issue up with us….just on the row in front of me, a man asked his wife to ‘go get him a beer’. She duly obliged and came up with two bottles of alcohol which the two of them happily sipped from their plastic cups they’d brought – obviously something they do often. Then, the guy sparks up a cigarette and sat there happily puffing away – no one around him seemed to care! But then – and this is the cherry on top – the man sat in front of this bloke hands him back a line of ‘something special’ which this guy duly snorts up his hooter and licks the remainder from the palm of his hand!
I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Now I’m no prude. Each to their own. And there honestly were no children in our immediate area that I could see and he wasn’t being a nuisance to anyone, he was actually quite jolly (no surprise!) but I was staggered that given the security measures outside the ground that his mate was even able to get the gear in, and that no-one stopped his missus at the entrance to the seats for taking alcohol out. That was a first for me at any game, but especially at a ground that has such a high presence of security measures. There’s clearly something wrong somewhere.
Come On You Irons!
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
It took an hour to walk back to Stratford station. The crowd is ‘controlled’. The surrounding streets are cordoned off and you walk through designated pathways. It’s very stop-start, I guess to avoid overcrowding at the stations and the nearby shopping mall. Necessary I feel, but just a tad annoying as it takes an age to get back to Stratford. I think I’d be trying another station next time, but all well controlled and obviously well-rehearsed. But with the hour on the tube back to the car, it was almost two hours from the final whistle to getting back to Richmond but you do kind of accept that there will be delays when a large stadium kicks out and we did have to walk around from the opposite side. It also explains why so many people leave before the end, obviously to avoid the queues to get out. Those that did hang about seem to stay in the bars until the crowds clear. Quite a good idea.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
An excellent stadium. The match was ‘okay’. Crowd good. Food and drink vastly overpriced (to be expected). The drugs, alcohol, and cigarette man might be something the Club want to look at because if too many people are doing it you’re going to end up with a problem, but overall it was a great day out and happy I’ve done it. Now have to try and get tickets for Chelsea and Spurs!
West Ham United v Norwich City
Premier League
Saturday 31st August 2019, 3pm
Martin Thirkettle (Norwich City)
West Ham United v Norwich City
Premier League
Saturday 31st August 2019, 3pm
John Holland (Norwich City)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the London Stadium?
A new ground (for football at least), a relatively short journey and a chance to see how we faired in the Premier League, all appealed.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We travelled by train as there is a direct train from Norwich to Stratford. This ran to time but was full with a significant number of fans for both teams.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We had something to eat in the nearby Westfield Shopping Centre, but as it was a nice day we spent time reading the programme and using the free wi-fi in the park near the stadium. We met a few older West Ham supporters who were very knowledgeable and friendly.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the London Stadium?
We had been to the ground for athletics but it is an impressive sight from outside. Fans queued up before the gates opened at 1.30. We could have had drink outside the ground but the queues were too long so we went inside. We had seats in the lower tier 2 rows from the front. We had comfortable seats with lots of space and good view but the upper tier looked to be very distant.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was rather one-sided with West Ham deservedly winning 2-0, we put in plenty of effort but they had the quality. The atmosphere seemed good but there was a suspicion of pre-recorded cheering at one point. The food and drink offering was the only real let down for the stadium with a poor drink selection and a few hot dogs for sale, but it was good to watch other matches on the screens and the toilets were better than average. The stewards were fine, they had to deal with a couple of non-away fans in the away end who were asked to leave and allowed a flag to be placed on the barriers. I didn't notice them apart from that which is good.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
With it being an August afternoon it was fine, we could clearly see where we were heading but it was rather long-winded. I think it would be trickier when dark and there was an edge to the attitude of some of the home fans at this point. We had a meal and then caught the train back to Norwich joined by many happy Hammers.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
It was a better football experience than expected apart from the result. I am not sure whether we would have enjoyed it as much if we were travelling from the other side of the country in the middle of Winter and sitting in the upper tier but our experience was fine.
West Ham United v Newcastle United
Premier League
Saturday 2nd March 2019, 5.30pm
Ryan (Newcastle United)
West Ham United v Newcastle United
Premier League
Saturday 2nd March 2019, 5.30pm
Jack (Newcastle United)
West Ham United v Birmingham City
FA Cup 3rd Round
Saturday 5th January 2019, 12:30pm
Rich Swainson (Birmingham City)
West Ham United v Birmingham City
FA Cup 3rd Round
Saturday 5th January 2019, 12:30pm
Tim Eldridge (Birmingham City)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the London Stadium?
Blues have never played at the Olympic Stadium before and it was a decent FA cup draw, so pretty much impossible not to go.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I got the train early doors from Brum with it being a 12.30 kick off. Into London Kings Cross then a tube across to Liverpool Street. Then eventually the train from Liverpool Street to Stratford which took six minutes, easy.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Zero boozers around the ground so we headed into the Hamilton Halls Wetherspoons on Liverpool Street station for a few beers with breakfast, then headed over to the Woodins Shade across the road. The norm for whenever we're connecting to an away game at Liverpool Street.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the London Stadium?
It's simply not a football stadium. the atmosphere was flat, even with 5,200 Bluenoses it wasn't great. The bridge that separates the upper and lower tier is ridiculous and you're about 100 yards away from the pitch from where my seat was towards the back of the upper tier.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Five quid a beer in the ground, standard for London. The atmosphere was flat probably due to the stadium and early kick off and the stewards were a bit over the top. Three security checks walking into the ground then when you're in you may be asked to undo your jacket again. The concourse is big with plenty of kiosks doing beer and food so you won't have to queue long.
The game was killed by a very early West Ham goal but we gave it a good go with the squad that we have, the game finishing 2-0 with them scoring in the 90th minute to wrap it up.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
A nightmare. The police simply couldn't control the two sets of fans when they merged together under the bridge heading back to Stratford station. Once the trouble settled down it was a simple case of thousands of people heading towards one station, mixed with people doing their Saturday shopping at Westfield, a toxic combination so expect delays.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A cracking day out in the capital, the game was poor, the stadium was poorer but we made the most of it.
West Ham United v Brighton & Hove Albion
Premier League
Wednesday 2nd January 2019, 7.45pm
Andrew Davidson (Doing 92)
West Ham United v Watford
Premier League
Saturday 22nd December 2018, 3pm
Stephen B (Watford)
West Ham United v Chelsea
Premier League
Sunday 23rd September 2018, 1.30pm
Alby (Chelsea)
West Ham United v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Premier League
Saturday 1st September 2018, 3pm
Josh (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the London Stadium?
As it was the first time Wolves had played at the London stadium it was another ground to tick off the list. I had also always enjoyed a trip to Upton Park with the atmosphere from the home fans.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I travelled by train to London Marylebone as Euston Station was closed. An easy trip across London on the Central Underground Line to Stratford International.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
As I had previously been to the London stadium for the athletics we decided to have a drink in central London. Didn't really come across many home fans because of this.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the London Stadium?
With all the west ham wrap around the ground, it looks fairly impressive. The walk through the Olympic Park was okay but it does feel very soulless and is understandable why some West Ham fans don't like the stadium. One odd feature is the bridge between the bottom and top tiers which must mean the top tier is about 50 foot away from the pitch!
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
A pretty poor game with both sides having a number of chances without being clinical. However, in the 94th minute, the away end came to life and we won the game and with it claimed our first three points in the Premier League. The atmosphere was very quiet other than the away end. The old Upton Park atmosphere just isn't there anymore.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
After the game, we had a bit of a trek back to Stratford International Stadium as the Police sent us out a strange way to avoid any conflict with the West Ham fans. The wait for the tube was about 15 minutes as most West Ham fans aren't going back to the centre of London.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A fantastic win. However, the London Stadium wouldn't be a ground that I would hurry back to. It's a shame that Upton Park has been bulldozed as it was a much better place to watch football no matter how intimidating the West Ham fans were.
West Ham United v Watford
Premier League
Saturday 10th February 2018, 3pm
Paul Dickinson (Doing the 92)
West Ham United v Shrewsbury Town
FA Cup 3rd Round Replay
Tuesday 16th January 2018, 7.45pm
Chris (Shrewsbury Town fan)
West Ham United v Newcastle United
Premier League
Saturday 23rd December 2017, 3pm
Derek (Newcastle United fan)
West Ham United v Bolton Wanderers
League Cup Third Round
Tuesday 19th September 2017, 7.45pm
Jim (Neutral fan)
West Ham United v Everton
Premier League
Saturday 22nd April 2017, 3pm
Andy Barton (Everton fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the London Stadium?
Obviously, it was the chance to experience a new stadium. Also as Everton are going to also move to a new stadium, I was interested to see what worked well / not so well here. I didn't expect it to be as atmospheric as the old Boleyn Ground but I went with an open mind.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We travelled on a supporters coach. Entering the drop off area at the stadium was fine, but it was a bit of a walk to the ground. It was generally sasy to get to by road without being stuck in traffic as this can be a pain in London.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Had a pint outside the ground as its too far to a pub unless you are really early. Plenty of food stalls etc. Outside was policed well. Fans mixed with no problems.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the London Stadium?
Absolutely shocking. I genuinely feel for the West Ham fans who have followed them for years. This is simply awful as a football ground. It is not fit for purpose. Loads of space on the concourse, wide aisles, loads of leg room, massive toilets. 9/10 in those areas. But I don't find any of that important as part of the match day experience. The lay out is terrible. It would have been better had they left the track there, that's how poor the conversion is. Hard to be anything but miles from the game even in the lower tier. The uppers tier seemed to be miles away from us too. It had a really negative impact on the atmosphere as the away fans are split into two completely different sections. It would have been better knocked down and rebuilt as the location is fine. Thankfully the architect for Everton's new ground were there and I can only pray that he heard the supporters views. Steep stands on top of the pitch please. It was a resounding thumbs down and many people's favourite away has been turned overnight into the worst away experience. Given the choice between this and another 100 years at Goodison with a lick of paint every now and again I'd rather stay put and I bet most West Ham fans feel the same.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was dreadful, a 0-0 draw, which didn't help, our players seemed to have their flip flops on for their holidays. Atmosphere no longer exists which is sad.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Again easy exit and on the motorway quickly.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
The London Stadium was a massive let down. I'm sure it was fine for the Olympics but this is not a football ground and should be torn down and rebuilt.
West Ham United v Everton
Premier League
Saturday 22nd April 2017, 3pm
Eddie Ritson (Everton fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the London Stadium?
The London Stadium was a new ground to visit. Plus I wanted to see what had West Ham been gifted.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Tube from Euston to Highbury & Islington, then a train to Hackney Wick. The stadium was then around a five minute walk away.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Visited the Crate Brewery for a few pints. Atmosphere very good, but a small bar. For lager drinkers there were extra pumps outside. Only three or four minutes walk to away turnstiles.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the London Stadium?
Walking to ground it looks impressive, the only time you could use that word. The game was awful but far better than the stadium (if you can call it that). It is no way a football ground, Easier to watch on the big screen than on the pitch. It feels and looks like a ground of temporary seating. Does not look as if there is a good seat in the ground, even the dug out is miles from the pitch.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Terrible game, no atmosphere in the ground, most probably impossible to generate. Feel sorry for West Ham fans having to go there regularly, it is not a patch on the Boleyn ground, just hope Everton directors looked at what is not a football ground when planning our new stadium. Must mention the stewards who were excellent, more like ushers in a theatre.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Although slightly further due to the usual closing of gates in one direction. Still back at Hackney Wick within ten minutes.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
At least I can cross off another stadium. The only highlight was the Crate Brewery.
West Ham United v Swansea City
Premier League
Saturday 8th April 2017, 3pm
Mike Rhodes (Doing the 92)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the London Stadium?
This was yet again my last ground to visit of the current 92 Premier and Football League grounds.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Living in Preston and being a Preston North End season ticket holder I picked a game when North End were playing away and had pre-booked a return train ticket from Preston to London. I used the tube to Stratford.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I always take a packed lunch to away games and spent some pre-match time in Stratford.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the London Stadium?
The London Stadium looks impressive from the outside and from a distance but once inside it is quite soulless and if you look carefully you can see the meccano like construction. The fans are located quite some distance from the pitch and the roof casts awkward shadows on the pitch. The temperature was in the 70s and the roof offered no protection from the uninterrupted baking hot sun. I struggled to get WiFi on my phone and there didn't seem to be any televisions showing Sky Sports at half time.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
For a Premier League game it was fairly unexciting with few opportunities created by either side. West Ham had the better of the exchanges and deserved the three points.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away was easy with all the immediate roads being free from traffic and there were no queues at Stratford tube station.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I can't understand why the game was declared as sold out as there were literally hundreds of empty seats. Got my ticket via the season ticket exchange system which West Ham operate. I am glad Preston don't play at such a stadium.
West Ham United v Leicester City
Premier League
Saturday 18th March 2017, 3pm
Andrew Fergusson (Leicester City fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the London Stadium?
There are very few league grounds that I have not been to but the London Stadium was one of them.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I used public transport as I do with all London games. The trip to Stratford station was straightforward and uneventful and the area around the ground seemed calm and trouble free.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I eat and drink away from London grounds to avoid overcrowding. The public transport is so good that you can go wherever you fancy.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the London Stadium?
Any ground which was built for athletics I view with deep suspicion. I felt that the latest incarnation of the Boleyn Ground was terrific. I so feel for the fans. This new ground is even worse than the old Wembley Stadium, which had long distances between the pitch and behind the goals and looks just as bad on the wings. I was in the upper tier, four rows from the back. Our own fans in the lower tier looked a mile away and the match. The closest seats to the pitch in the whole stadium are near the corner flags (which is usually a far from ideal location).
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game (such as I could see in the distance) was great, in that we came away with our first away win of the season. I understood that the ground was sold out, but in areas, the top rows at the back were sheeted over, and there were many empty seats visible. The distances involved and the big separation between tiers makes the atmosphere pretty flat. We made plenty of noise but I doubt if it reached the pitch. There was a mass exodus of home fans over the last ten minutes. The stewards were fine, friendly and helpful. I didn't sample the pies.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Contrary to earlier reviews the system seems slick, organised and helpful. There is an element of segregation in the ground and immediately outside. We were then then sent (joining home fans) along a very direct route to Stratford station, avoiding the shopping centre on traffic free roads. There were occasional and brief stop signs (similar to leaving Wembley) but the impression was of a very rapid return to the station and away. Full marks to the club and Police from this grateful fan.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
This should be a GREAT ground, but has similar problems to being behind the goal at the old Wembley, The Withdean or The Don Valley Stadium. I won't bother again, and if I was a West Ham fan I would be heartbroken at leaving the Boleyn for this.
West Ham United v Chelsea
Premier League
Monday 6th March 2017, 8pm
Dave (Chelsea fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the London Stadium?
It was my second visit to the London Stadium this season and I was interested to see if things had improved following our visit there in the cup earlier in the season. There had been a lot of well reported problems and there is no love lost between certain elements of both sets of supporters.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I drove down and parked in the Bow area. There is a reasonable amount of parking there if you get there early enough. You then have the option of either a 20/25 minute walk or using the DLR to Pudding Mill Lane.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I walked straight to the ground, there were more stewards along the route once you got to the bottom of Marshgate Lane. Still not many signs and lighting still very poor, especially in the couple of short tunnels en route. Distinct lack of Police until right near the stadium.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the London Stadium?
More mixing of fans outside than last game, security seemed fairly lax, my lad who is 15 was not searched at all. We were in the upper tier, row 35, which although at the front of the upper level, is a long way from the pitch. I walked up to the back for a look and row 66 is miles away. Upper tier is a big gap away from the lower. they need to knock this down and start again.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Game was a stroll, West Ham put a decent shift in but we were well organised and once we were two up the game was as good as over. West Ham fans were leaving long before the end, probably only about one fifth of them left by the final whistle.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Fairly low key, with so many West Ham fans leaving early there was no segregation once you got to the bottom of the steps onto the loop road.Walk back to car was thankfully uneventful. Some idiot had thought it a good idea to close the A12 and then M11 was down to one lane, so roads were chaos.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Lot better at the London Stadium this time, than cup game last October. Both result wise and fans behaviour. Hopefully I'll be back in the lower tier for next seasons visit.
West Ham United v West Bromwich Albion
Premier League
Saturday 11th February 2017, 3pm
Ray Owen (West Bromwich Albion fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the London Stadium?
Really looking forward to my first visit to West Ham's new stadium. Although I was a bit concerned because of previous reviews.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Very easy to get to the ground I thought. We travelled down to Euston by train. We prepared for the day having a relaxed breakfast at the Double Six Café in Eversholt Street (next to Euston Station). A regular haunt of mine for many years and well used by football fans of all teams. Then we caught the number 30 bus from outside Euston Station. This bus goes all the way to Hackney Wick. It is then about a 15 minute walk to the ground.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
The number 30 bus to Hackney Wick goes via Highbury & Islington so, our first stop was the White Swan (Wetherspoon's) on Highbury Corner. Due to the fact that Arsenal had a lunchtime kick off against Hull City it started to get quite busy. Therefore it was back on the bus 30, this time getting off at Hackney Town Hall. Then it was the Baxter's Court (Wetherspoons), fairly busy with a mixture of West Ham and Albion fans. Our final pub before the game was the Cock Tavern virtually opposite the Baxter's Court. We got there just after the pub opened, it was quiet when we arrived but soon started to get busy with once again a mixture of home and away fans. Because the beer was so good we decided to stay there. An excellent pub with 7 hand pumps serving real ale and 7 hand pumps serving real cider. It was then back on the bus 30 for the 10 minute ride to Hackney Wick.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other side s of the London Stadium?
As we approached the ground I couldn't help thinking how impressive it looked. However, on entering the away end my thoughts changed completely. Yes, I was impressed with the stadium but as a football ground it's definitely a thumbs down. The gap between the lower and upper tiers of the away fans diluted the atmosphere.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
A good game of football between two equally matched sides and on reflection I couldn't argue with a draw. I thought the stewards were really friendly and helpful. Didn't have food and drink in the stadium so can't comment on that. The flight of steps to the upper tier are quite daunting so I was glad I didn't need the toilets at half time. As regard to the toilets it's definitely a thumbs down from me (just not enough urinals).
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Now this my biggest complaint. As we left the stadium we were forced by the Police to go the opposite way to which we wanted to go. This not only doubled our walking time back to the bus stop but also involved walking through the exiting West Ham fans. By this time the Police presence had evaporated. Luckily we didn't have colours on so there were no problems. Once we did get back to the bus stop we managed easily to get on the first bus (30) and were back at Euston in around 35 minutes. In my opinion much better and quicker than queuing for trains or underground. We then had time for a quick beer in the Doric Arch before the train home.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Overall an excellent day out and a good game. However, I don't think we will be rushing back to the London Stadium.
West Ham United v West Bromwich Albion
Premier League
Saturday 11th February 2017, 3pm
Julian Worrall (West Bromwich Albion fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the London Stadium?
First time that the Baggies had played at the London Stadium. Having been fortunate to visit the stadium during the Olympics I was curious to see how they have spent a further £200m on it!
London Stadium
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
As I was travelling on my own for this one and due to the problems the stadium had faced in it's early months with trouble in and around the ground I decided to travel on the official supporters coaches.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Due to heavy traffic and poor weather we didn't reach the designated away coach park until 90 minutes before kick off. The ground was a good 10 minute walk away as we had to follow a supervised walkway designated for away fans. I believe t his may have been set up following the recent problems that had occurred. Due to the location of the ground there wasn't time to explore too far so I walked around the ground and visited the club store. As I wasn't wearing any colours and as I was on my own I didn't feel intimidated and it was interesting to see what they had done to the Olympic Park. There were lots of food and drink kiosks outside the ground which all offered the same sort of food and drink at over inflated London prices with limited variation between them. It is possible to walk entirely around the ground on the broad pedestrian area. Even with nearly 57,000 people it didn't feel crowded and I felt there were a lot of tourists in attendance to see a football match in London, which West Ham have cleverly incorporated the city name into their badge for marketing reasons I would imagine.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the London Stadium?
Walking up to the ground and around it looked very impressive with lots of interesting touches of historic facts bright screens and signage, akin to Wembley Stadium. However, once inside I was very disappointed. Whilst the stadium may look impressive from outside and on TV, close up it didn't feel finished and didn't have the same feel as the Olympic Stadium before. The concourses felt too small and crowded and whilst I was aware there would be a gap between the bottom tier and upper tier I wasn't expecting the actual drop and distance between fans, with the bottom tier looking very temporary. It just didn't feel like a football ground.
Mind The Gap!
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was an entertaining 2-2 draw with balance of play swaying between teams. The Baggies took an early lead but the Irons fought back to take the lead in the 85th minute. With a corner in the 93rd minute the Baggies equalised with 3000 Albion fans in the stadium going wild. The atmosphere was okay but with the fans being so far from the pitch and from each other it sort of got lost. It certainly isn't any way near as intimidating as being in Upton Park and I think West Ham have lost that advantage. In fact, I think this vast stage may even be a disadvantage to the home team as it brings out more in the opposition team! I didn't use the catering facilities inside the ground but plenty of Baggies appeared to be enjoying the beverages on offer which I would imagine were the same as available outside.
View From The Away Section
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
As soon as the final whistle went I darted straight out of the ground and made my way to the away coach park. Same ten minute walk with the home fans unable to access this walking route. Once everyone was on board the coach we got underway at about 17:30 getting back to the Hawthorns at 8.15pm. The first five miles or so was slow but once we got going the journey back was okay. It appears the Police and Stewards have now sorted out the initial teething problems and we didn't experience any problems on the way out however those using public transport or cards may have had a different experience.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I enjoyed the day out even though I felt a bit confined using the official coaches however I feel that this was the best option for me on this occasion. The ground looked good from the outside but was disappointing as a football arena inside and I believe the Hammers have lost a lot of the intimidation that Upton Park had once inside the ground. The view from my seat in the lower part of the upper tier was good but any further back I think I would have felt too far away. I'd recommend trying to get seats at the rear of the lower tier for the best view. As I'm only able to go to a few away games now each season, this wont be high on my agenda to return in the near future.
West Ham United v West Bromwich Albion
Premier League
Saturday 11th February 2017, 3pm
Christopher Powell (West Bromwich Albion fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the London Stadium?
As with everyone this season it was a chance to visit a new ground and West Ham away always has been a great away day. Also London away games are great days out.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We got the train to Euston and then underground to the London Stadium. The ground was signposted from Stratford underground station and visible as you come out. Then a steward pointed us to follow a perimeter road around the ground to the away end which was very helpful as avoided walking directly outside the ground and took us straight to the away end.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We had a few beers around the pubs at Liverpool Street before getting the Central Line to Stratford, which was three stops away. Walking from the station to the ground we encountered no problems.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the London Stadium?
The London Stadium certainly looks impressive, although there ain't a lot around the ground. The away end was easy to find with the help of that steward and I got in with no problems. The concourse is a decent size. The stadium is a wonderful ground, but it's simply not a football ground. We were towards the front of the bottom tier and seeing the far end is not possible, you have no idea whether they are 20 yards from goal or 40 yards. We resorted to watch the big screen at the far end which was very good quality for a stadium screen. That is how I watched our first goal which was weird. The gap between the top tier and bottom tier is huge, across this platform that takes you to the temporary seats on the running track. In the home and away ends people are singing, you can see them but there is such a gap it is very difficult to get any atmosphere going.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
It was a great game, 4 goals and both sides leading at some point. Based on our second half performance we were probably lucky to get a point from it but was brilliant scenes when we scored at the end right in front of our travelling fans. As I have said above, I thought the atmosphere not for the effort of the fans was poor. A friend of mine wasn't allowed in due to his ticket being 'invalid', after speaking to a head steward he was directed into the next turnstiles and ended up in the home end. Then whilst explaining to the stewards there he was in the wrong end and showed his ticket he was kicked out. We were told his ticket didn't scan and because his name is not on the ticket it was invalid, we advised them this ain't no concert, your names never on the ticket. Apparently they have had this problem several games this season. He has details of the people in the ticket office (who were very friendly and tried to help) and will be writing in for a refund. Incidentally they even had misspelt our club name wrong on the match tickets mine read: West Ham United v West Bromich Albion!
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
We were all sent down the steps to a loop road, then sent all along this road by the stewards. I would imagine the idea of this is to keep the two sets of fans separate. You then turn right under a railway bridge but then there wasn't any more stewards directing you the way to the station or no signs. We ended up walking round some back streets and came across a bridge on Kennard Road which led us to Stratford Station. Very poorly organised by the stewards to send you a complete different way than the one you came and then leave you in some back streets to find your own way to the station.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Overall it was an enjoyable day out helped by a last minute goal and another ground visited to get me back to 20 Premier League grounds. But I can't help feel that West Ham have sold their soul by moving to the stadium. Upton Park was hostile for fans, players and officials and a brilliant intimidating atmosphere, Saturday it wasn't any of that and you can see why so many teams are coming away with some points.
West Ham United v West Bromwich Albion
Premier League
Saturday 11th February 2017, 3pm
Chris Scrine (West Bromwich Albion fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the London Stadium?
It was the first time Albion had played at West Ham's new stadium and I wanted to add it to the list of grounds visited. I came down with my wife and son.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Although I'm an Albion fan we live in Leicestershire. The journey down the.M1 was very good. We left the car at Finchley Central and first took tube to Tottenham Court Road where we left my wife to do shopping and then we took tube to Stratford. All straightforward.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Had lunch in the nearby Westfield Centre which was crowded but no problem. Sat at table with a West Ham fan and his wife. Had interesting and enjoyable conversation.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end the other sides of the London Stadium?
The approach is excellent, with easy access to the ground. The London Stadium itself is very impressive both with regards to the facilities in the concourse and the seating area. My one criticism was the lack of toilets.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Despite what I had been led to believe there was an excellent atmosphere created by both sets of fans. The stewarding was fine and the game itself was an exciting 2-2 draw with quite e few contentious decisions, which I thought the referee got correct.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
This was the bit that I was not looking forward to as I'd read the reviews prior to coming, which were not complimentary. However, I was pleasantly surprised. I thought that the stewarding was well organised and despite the vast numbers we reached the tube station much quicker than anticipated. Once in the station we got straight onto the tube which was not crowded. Perhaps we were lucky going into the centre of London and not to the east, as more fans go that way.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
It was a very cold day but overall, it was a pleasant experience at the London Stadium, made all the better by the Baggies scoring a very late equaliser!
West Ham United v Crystal Palace
Football Premier League
Saturday 14th January 2017, 3pm
Harry Cambridge (Crystal Palace fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the London Stadium?
First time visit to the Olympic Stadium. Local away day being from Croydon and it was a London derby.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The journey was simple. East Croydon to London Bridge and then London Bridge to Stratford using the Jubilee Line.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Visited a few pubs in London Bridge before heading to the Olympic stadium. Nice and friendly atmosphere on tube heading towards Stratford. Good banter between home and away fans.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the London Stadium?
My first impressions were good. It is a modern stadium which looked impressive. My thoughts soon turned sour due to the walk which seemed endless, despite the station being a relatively short distance from the ground. My friend and I had to walk against the tide of home fans to the away end. The concourse inside was spacious. Food and drink were expensive (as is at most grounds). Our seats were easy to find after climbing many, many stairs towards the back of the second tier.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was a right off. Palace living up to recent form with a 3-0 loss. West Ham deserved the win. There was little atmosphere inside the ground and the only 'noise' was when each time West Ham scored a goal. Palace fans are passionate but on this occasion I was left disappointed. A few times the fanatics tried to get the fans going but the noise quickly muted due to the stadiums design. It was so quiet that many fans were chatting quietly whilst the game was going on. I feel that the lack of noise level is due to the stadiums design. We were also in the second tier and a million miles away from the pitch and it was hard to see what was happening at times.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away was easy but a long walk to the station. Had to queue at Westfield for ten minutes or so but that is understandable due to the huge crowd.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Enjoyable pre match. Glad I went but I won't be rushing back to the Olympic Stadium due to no atmosphere and poor views from the second tier.
West Ham United v Hull City
Premier League
Saturday 17th December 2016, 3pm
Kieran Bleasby (Neutral fan in away end)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the London Stadium?
With Christmas coming up and my Dad being a Hull City fan – I thought this would be a great early Christmas gift seeing as we live in Suffolk and he’s unable to see Hull as regularly as he’d like. The London Stadium would also be a new ground for me to tick off the list and a chance to see some Premier League football.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We got the 10:50 train from Manningtree and arrived in Stratford within 45 minutes. A very easy journey which didn’t involve the task of trying to park. Once at Stratford you’re within 10 minutes walk of the stadium.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We had three hours to spare before kick off so we had a wonder around Westfield and picked up a bite to eat at Subway. After that we made our way to the stadium and passed a bar (I can’t remember what it was called) that was showing the Palace v Chelsea game. The guys on the door will check your tickets as it’s a ‘home fans only’ pub. As our tickets were in the away end we were asked if we had any colours on? My dad had his black Hull shirt on under his jacket and we were allowed in as long as he kept it covered and that we kept ourselves to ourselves. Fair play to them, and we had a couple of pints and watched an hour of the footy before leaving with no bother. We did however see a lot of Hull fans get turned away so I guess its down to what you’re wearing and/or how many of you try to get in. With it being just me and my Dad wearing normal clothes I suppose its a lot easier for them to let us in rather than a ground of six lads all in Hull gear etc. Didn’t really fancy getting into conversation with any of the locals just in case it backfired. We’ve all seen the media regarding the altercations at the ground already this season.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the London Stadium?
It was a very foggy afternoon so it looked quite bland on approach. We had a quick walk around the stadium and the digital LED screens make it look spectacular. The concourse is fairly spacious but inside the ground I have mixed views. Spectacular in some senses but the lower tiers behind the goal have been moved so much further forward to the pitch it leaves a huge no mans land walkway where it used to be. Even in the lower tier you’re miles from the pitch so goodness knows what its like in the upper tier.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
How West Ham won I do not know. Hull hit the post three times and had two off the line. A soft penalty won the game for West Ham who only really got going in the last 15 minutes but that is the Premier League. You have to take your chances to stay up and that is what West Ham did. Facilities and food/drink is very good but expensive – no surprise. Atmosphere I must admit was awful. I’d never been to the Boleyn but that seemed so noisy whenever I’d watched games on the telly however here you could hear a pin drop. Noise only picked up when the goal went in but from both sets of fans it wasn’t anything special. Not surprising however because the stadium lacks so much character and with it being so open its difficult to get an atmosphere going. Stewards act like customs officers at the airport. Twice I went to the toilet and on both occasions on my way back to my seat I was asked to show proof of my ticket. Yep nice one lads, I’ve sneaked up through the urinals clearly!
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Since all the fights at the start of the season, security is on full alert. That is not even an exaggeration. Away fans are diverted out the stadium, if you’re on the coach, you’re fine, on you get and happy days you don’t get any hassle. However, if you want to turn left or right – tough s**t, you have to follow this mile long diversion (yes a mile) around the stadium, then back across where you’ve already come before being herded like sheep to Stratford station. This took around 35-40 minutes when it should normally take 15-20. Police and steward presence is so heavy you would it was Millwall being led out and not Hull City. I suppose it works because I did not see a hint of any trouble but my word it’s so overkill.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
It was a great day out and an exciting game to watch. I enjoyed myself but I can imagine it will be such a boring dull away game to go to if you’re in a big group. There is practically nowhere to drink, and the overkill security presence makes you feels as if you’re at an airport getting ready to board a flight, rather than going to a stadium to watch a game of footy. Such a shame – but I suppose that is what football is becoming. Overall a solid 7/10
West Ham United v Hull City
Premier League
Saturday 17th December 2016, 3pm
Marcos Brown-Garcia (Hull City fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the London Stadium?
I was looking forward to this game and to get another ground ticked off. I was also looking forward to seeing the new stadium. I had heard mixed reviews so wanted to see what all the fuss was about!
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The journey was easy as most games are in the capital. Underground to Stratford and then a walk to the ground. It is a fair walk to the stadium and as an away fan as it took ages to walk around to the away fans entrance. This is because the visiting supporters section is located at the opposite end to the main approach. It was a real task trying to find out where you were and also battling to get passed the queuing Hammer fans. It didn't help that the three stewards I asked for directions, didn't have a clue themselves.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
The Westfield shopping Centre is a shoppers dream. It is huge and has just about every brand/shop you could imagine. It also contains lots of eateries. We went to Pizza Express and although we were there a good two hours before kick off, it was very busy. All the restaurants were developing queues outside. If you are eating my advice is to get there very early. It is really easy to waste time in the shopping centre browsing as there is plenty to look at. Since it was Xmas I did my present buying and time zoomed by. The Hammers fans I spoke to in the shopping centre were friendly enough, although a few gave us unfavourable glances. Considering I was with my 11 year old daughter I found this a little pathetic.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the London Stadium?
Upon seeing the London Stadium I was really impressed. The ground clearly wasn't done on the cheap. The access was good, and the big screen outside was huge and really good quality. After fighting my way to the away end and getting inside, my first impression of the ground was "wow". After sitting down and looking around, its really hard to form an opinion. The ground has clearly not been built for football, that is clear. I was in the lower tier and the view was fine. The screens in the ground are that good you can watch any action at the opposite end in real time. The picture is superb quality. If I was in the upper tier I imagine the view would not be as good as fans are very far away from the action and there is a huge gap between the two tiers. Definitely try and get a lower tier ticket. The leg room is great but the seats are shallow so if the fans stand, children have no chance of seeing the game. The other areas of the ground look spectacular, but it all looks a long way from the action.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The match ended 1-0 to West Ham. It was a really entertaining game and how Hull City got beaten I will never know. We hit the inside of the post three times and had one cleared off the line. West Ham got a dubious penalty and that was that. I don't often say this about Hull but we were the better team and absolutely battered West Ham. Atmosphere was okay if unspectacular. The stewards were some of the most clueless I have ever encountered. The three I asked for directions to the away end didn't have a clue where to point me. Once at the away end I wanted to know if I left early would I be able to go through the barrier to run back to the underground. Again the four I asked wasn't sure what to tell me or what would happen. A real mess. The one thing I would like to mention is that West Ham is a very intimidating day out. The West Ham fans spat abuse at the away end all game. It wasn't a pleasant sight for someone with a child. Their behaviour is absolutely pointless and it is actually amusing to see grown men act like blown up teenagers. West Ham need to stamp this behaviour out.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
I left the ground on 82 minutes due to hearing horror stories about getting away. Thankfully the stewards let me through the barrier to go back the way I came. I do not have any clue what I would have done if this was not the case as the away fans were being ushered in the opposite direction. I was surprised to see that even at this time, West Ham fans were leaving in droves. I ran all the way back to the station and some fans must have left well before 80 minutes as fans were visible right up to the underground. I can only predict that leaving on 90 minutes would be absolute hell. A stop start system is in effect all the way back to Stratford, I would predict if leaving on full time it would take easily an hour to get back.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A good day out, tough to say if I would go back. It was nice to see the new stadium but there are much much better away days to be had in the Premier League.
West Ham United v Arsenal
Premier League
Saturday 3rd December 2016, 5.30pm
Joe Fisher (Arsenal fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the London Stadium?
I'd already visited the London Stadium prior to this match when I saw West Ham lose to Astra Giurgiu in the Europa League. I was looking forward to returning to see what it was really like for away fans as I'd heard mixed things from other supporters.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We got the High Speed Train to Stratford International. which made that part of the journey really easy. From Stratford International. it's roughly a 10/15 minute walk to the stadium. When I visited before we got the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) to Pudding Mill Lane but I was advised by my friend that this was the unofficially designated Home station and to avoid it if possible.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
This is where the first of my issues with this day started. There is absolutely nothing near the stadium, unless you want to attempt to mingle with the home fans in either the shopping centre casino bar or wander aimlessly around Stratford. Finding a pub in the area we could get into proved impossible. We were advised by my West Ham supporting friend that the "Away Pub" was the Wetherspoons in Liverpool Street so we headed there. Straightforward enough, get the Central Line from Stratford and it's 3 or 4 stops. Drinks were London Wetherspoons prices but it was full of Arsenal fans so there was a bit of the usual pre-match buzz.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the London Stadium?
When you see the stadium externally, at night with the lights on it does look quite impressive. Similar to the Emirates in some ways with West Ham trying to impose their own feel on the stadium. We got there early to get in as my Chelsea supporting friend said they missed the start due to the chaos outside before the match. We got in without any problems using the electronic ticket system that most grounds have. The concourses are fairly spacious in comparison to some grounds but they do fill up very quickly. However this is where the singing was pre-match as per usual so we stuck around to have a bit of a sing song and another beer. We were quite annoyed to find out after buying a bottled beer that was just over half a pint when emptied that if you head towards the lower tier you can get a pint for virtually the same price. My West Ham supporting friend asked where we were sitting and told us to expect a poor view. However I had no issues with the view whatsoever, We were fairly high up in the upper tier, not sure what it would have been like for those higher up with the triangular floodlight frames possibly in the way though. But you can't help but feel that it just isn't a football stadium and probably never will be, the pitch is miles away from the stands and I was starting to understand what people were saying about the atmosphere.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game itself was a belter for us scooping all three points with a thumping 5-1 win. But the atmosphere was one of the worst I've ever experienced at an away match. Aside from a rather lackluster rendition of 'forever blowing bubbles' to start with the West Hams seemed to be silent throughout most of the match. We were in good voice but another big issues is that the upper and lower tiers are so far apart that each tier was singing something different, it took us a while to get in-sync with the lower tier. The ground seems to have the ability that most "dome" stadiums do; where the sound just evaporates. The stewards were absolutely fine, no issues with standing, we even had a few laughs with one of them at half time who told us (Chelsea aside) he prefers to be in the away end because there is less trouble. The facilities were pretty decent I thought, no excessive queuing for toilets or for food and drink. The prices are in line with most London clubs and there seemed to be a good selection, although we didn't sample any of the food. As the second half drew to a close, Arsenal went into overdrive putting four past them in the space of 20 minutes much to our delight. I have never ever seen a stadium empty so quickly though and I include the Emirates in that. At 2-0 there was a mass exodus, at 3-0 it just continued and even after they scored it didn't stem the flow of people leaving. At full time the stadium was all but empty.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Thanks to the West Ham fans pouring out of the stadium from the 70th minute getting away from the stadium was a breeze. However I wouldn't rely on any of the stewards outside of the stadium to help you get anywhere, none of them seems to know where they are, let alone where to send you. We ran into some Arsenal fans going totally the wrong way after being sent in two different directions to Pudding Mill Lane by two different stewards, both of them wrong!
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Overall I did enjoy the day mainly cause of the scoreline, as an away day it was okay, but there is a lot of work to do to make it a better experience for both home and away fans. I won't be in any rush to go back.
West Ham United v Stoke City
Premier League
Saturday 5th November 2016, 3pm
Bill Dean (Stoke City fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the London Stadium?
Stoke were on a roll of good form and it is always nice to visit a new ground.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I was staying with some friends in Bishops Stortford, so a simple journey into London.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Stopped at Liverpool Street Railway Station for a couple of pints in the Wetherspoons there. Inside there were fans from a number of different clubs. It was very quick service for a Wetherspoons and real glass pint jugs!
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the London Stadium?
Fantastic on the approach up to the Stadium and with the number of people walking along it almost felt like a trip to Wembley. After the initial excitement then once inside you soon register how far away everything is. Including some of your own fans in the bottom tier. Seems a bit of a mish-mash.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Stewards were fine and food okay but massive queues. Seemed to have about 30 urinals for 2700 fans?
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Nightmare getting away. Usual police trick of making you walk in circles so you don't realise you're not actually getting any closer. I would advise people not to go shopping there on a Saturday if a game is on!
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I'm glad that I've been, but would never go again. Clever trick blowing the old ground up quickly, to stop fans trying to go back.
West Ham United v Chelsea
Football League Cup 4th Round
Wednesday 26th October 2016, 7.45pm
Dave (Chelsea fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the London Stadium?
I was looking forward to a London derby and cup tie, but pretty concerned about the prospect of crowd trouble.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Living north of Watford and having my lad with me I chose to park up as near to the stadium as possible with a 20 minute walk. A West Ham friend suggested street parking near Leyton tube, but given that would have entailed a long walk around the outside of the stadium I opted for street parking off Bow Road/Mile End road. This gave us options of tube, DLR or as we did, walking up Bow Road, under A12 onto the High Street, a left turn onto Marshgate Lane, took us past Pudding Mill DLR and straight into Gate 4 at the away entrance. This route was not very well lit and not well signposted, no sign of any Police or stewards until reaching Pudding Mill station.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We arrived about 45 minutes to kick off so headed straight for the turnstiles, At no point were our tickets checked, only 8 turnstiles were open for 5000 people. I was expecting security to be tight but there were no metal detectors and searching by stewards was pretty random, one guy was just waiving people in his queue straight through.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the London Stadium?
It's a cracking looking stadium from the outside, but when you get in it's a rather odd layout. From turnstile to seat, it was chaotic with no room to move and a real crush getting from one side to the other. Also the section we were seated in wasn't signposted, so a bit of guesswork needed. Once up the first set of stairs there is a large and unnecessary area before you drop down towards your seat and in this area there are no barriers just a few stewards keeping two sets of fans apart. The lower section of the away end has a good view and is not too far from the pitch, but the stands on the left have a running track covered over in front of them and looking behind the seats in the upper tier they are a long, long way from the pitch.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Limited selection of food, pies £4 a pop, so gave them a miss. At no point was my ticket checked, I could have taken any seat, which often happens at away games, seats are designed for sitting and one row is not much higher than the one in front. Atmosphere was pretty intimidating and problems on the night have been well documented, lack of proactivity from stewards lets people think they can behave how they like and trouble soon escalated on both sides. Game itself became secondary, Conte messed up with team selection and West Ham took full advantage, game was done and dusted off a 2-0.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
We left on 90 minutes as I'd had enough of both the game and the problems. For some reason only one exit was open and there was a bit of pushing to get through it. Outside there was an initial heavy Police presence but once through that nothing until we went passed the DLR, there are a couple small tunnels to pass through and the whole area was dimly lit. Many people branched off to the left towards Stratford and from what I've heard were left to their own devices. We had a trouble free walk back to the car and were soon on A12 on the way home.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Disappointing result, but overall just glad to get in and out safely. We are back there in March, so something needs to be done before then. Authorities need to get a grip.
West Ham United v Chelsea
Football League Cup 4th round
Wednesday 26th October 2016, 7.45pm
Billy Clark (Chelsea fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the London Stadium?
I was looking forward to this game as it was the first London derby in West Ham's brand new stadium and Chelsea's first ever visit here. I went to the Paralympics in 2012 and had hoped that it had changed.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Driving up from the South Coast was frustrating after joining the M25, 30 minute delay before our junction didn't help, onto the A2 and another hold up at the Blackwall Tunnel. We had done our research and decided to park in Bromley-By-Bow for free on the streets, from here it was a right at the end of the High Street, cross the A12 intersection and then left down by a small industrial area and a walk through the Queen Elizabeth Park.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We walked from Bromley-By-Bow to the ground and was greeted by quite a few coppers to say the least! One of them told me to do up and jacket and hide my Chelsea shirt… I knew it was high risk but it ended up being damn right dangerous, stewards were confused and had no clear instructions, probably still getting used to the stadium but they had no control.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the London Stadium?
The stadium when walking through the park looks absolutely stunning lit up in the night, I presume during the day it would look quite bland and like a white elephant. The away section is awful, despite this being a modern stadium they didn't plan it well, the gap between fans in the upper and lower tiers is woeful and you could literally fit a London Bus in there! Home fans also have this problem but it ruins the atmosphere a bit, toilets are not football toilets, having only two separate urinals which you queue so much for to enter another queue… not well thought out!
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was Chelsea's poorest display of the season, we played terrible and West Ham had their killer instinct when needed..Stewards need some sort of training and adjusting to their own ground, very confusing messages when conducting with away fans. Food is lovely! Best part of the day, atmosphere was excellent until about the 80th minute after that; No comment!
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away from the ground was havoc! Trying to avoid the trouble and remembering every little alleyway you went through to get to the game back to Bromley-By-Bow wasn't helped by what happened in the ground. There was a heavy Police presence which did help against the idiots scuffling.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
West Ham should not had moved from the Boleyn, a lovely ground now unfortunately gone. I shall not be returning to the London Stadium for the league fixture later this season. Maybe next season but until they sort it out I'm taking a break from the London Stadium. Onto Southampton on Sunday!
West Ham United v Sunderland
Premier League
Saturday 22nd October 2016, 3pm
Callum (Sunderland fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the London Stadium?
It was the first time that Sunderland were to play a game at the London Stadium.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We were staying in Stratford with some family who lived there so the stadium was easy to find and walk to.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We went to the Westfield Shopping Centre for some food at Pizza Express and all of the West Ham fans we spoke to were well mannered and a delight to talk to.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the London Stadium?
The stadium looks huge but the directions around the area aren't that great. Luckily we had some time to kill in the morning so we came to the club shop and found the away entrance well before we needed to come back for the match, meaning that we knew where we were going. The concourse inside the away end is nice and spacious and the prices aren't as bad as I thought they'd be. Not a bad view of the pitch either.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was embarrassing both on and off the pitch, which the atmosphere being virtually non-existent. The first half was dominated by West Ham with Payet causing us numerous problems, including hitting the post. Zaza also went close with an overhead kick. Sunderland grew into the game with the best chance of the game falling to Wahbi Khazri, who failed to bury a one on one with Adrian. As the game came towards the end, we became ridiculously defensive with awful substitutions by David Moyes, which welcomed an onslaught of West Ham attacks. Then, in the final minute, Winston Reid scored from the outside of the box (even though their offside player obstructed Pickford's view) and won the game for West Ham. Sickening.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Left the away end to find a load of West Ham fans waiting outside looking to incite trouble, with stewards severely outnumbered. Luckily, I had a coat on which covered up my shirt so I could blend in with the majority of fans who didn't want to cause trouble. The stewards sent us on a huge detour though, with leaving the match being very confusing, making our journey back to the family's house much longer than necessary.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Nice pizza, bad football, terrible atmosphere.
West Ham United v Middlesbrough
Premier League
Saturday 1st October 2016, 3pm
Alex (Middlesbrough fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the London Stadium?
A new stadium to tick off, and living in London, an easy one to get to.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Journey was by tube from London Bridge to Stratford. Easy enough before the game. After the game, due to some trouble and shoddy policing we got sent on the nearby Docklands Light Railway to West Ham, and then onto the Jubilee tube line back to central London. We later learned that Stratford was closed after the game due to overcrowding and more fan disorder, so lucky to avoid it. Also, when we arrived at Stratford pre-game we were told there was no need to tap out our Oyster cards as we would be identified… i'm skeptical of this, and will be monitoring my account to see if I have been charged correctly for this journey, as we were denied the opportunity to tap out.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We drank and ate at Borough Market, and hopped on the Jubilee line from London Bridge. A quick and painless journey, and of course a great selection of food and drink. The Market Porter, while a great pub, has stopped allowing fans in colours on a match day. Fortunately, we had a bag to stash our scarves in, and covered our shirts, and the doorman was spot on about it.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the London Stadium?
It's impressive from the outside, as you'd expect, given it was the Olympic stadium. Of course there is the weird twisty red thing and other parts of the Olympic park around you. Plenty of people taking photos, as to be expected. A bit different to your usual walk up to a football ground. The away end isn't exactly well signposted, and you all approach through the same path. There seemed little Police presence, nor stewards to approach if you didn't know where you were going.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Inside the concourse is spacious, more so than most, and it was easy to get a pre-game and half time beer. (Plastic bottles of Heineken which were less than 4 quid, so not too bad overall I suppose). The game was a good result for us. We took the lead through a Stuani header, only to be pegged back by an individual effort by Payet. Of course, West Ham have not had the best start to the year, and the atmosphere was noticeably sour in the home end, with fans booing the team, and later chanting how they hated Stratford and wanted to 'go home'. Building on the said sour atmosphere, I will add that in spite of the many claims of 'sold out' games and 'waiting lists' coming from West Ham, there are clearly thousands of empty seats. More so than are even visible on cameras, with swatches of plastic dotted among fans. That is even excluding the seats held back the club are yet to have a licence for (do they need them?) The atmosphere is poor, with the weird 'conversion' of the stadium, which seems to consist of dropping some temporary stands half way across the athletics track at an extremely high cost. That seems not only conducive to a bad atmosphere, as there is a huge gap between the upper and lower tier of both sets of fans, but also fairly ridiculous, given even the fans in the lower tier are still not particularly close to the pitch, making you wonder why they bothered at all. The atmosphere was nasty from the home fans, particularly to the left of the away section, who seemed to spend the entire game trying to goad the visiting supporters. Numerous bottles and coins were thrown after our and then West Hams goals, and stewards did nothing. Police presence in the ground was negligible, consisting of a few marching in with ten minutes to go.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Having read a few reports of fans being harassed and overcrowding following prior games at the Olympic Stadium, we discussed among ourselves and decided we'd have a beer after the game and let the crowd dissipate. I had approached a steward before the game and asked if the concourse would be open after the match, and he informed me it would be open until 6. I was then surprised to find all of the bars and facilities in the concourse closed with shutters down following the end of the game. So we would have to leave and queue, given going somewhere else for a drink nearby is not an option. We left the stadium to find a Police line holding packs of baying West Ham fans back on either side, and were forced to walk an alternative route which eventually took us to a DLR station rather than Stratford, which we intended to head towards, but could not because of the Police. We later found numerous reports of Middlesbrough fans being attacked outside the stadium, which we did not experience ourselves, but can full well believe given the unfolding situation. Whilst I don't for one second believe Boro fans are the shy and retiring type, it was clear where the main aggravation was coming from, ably abetted by terrible stewarding and Policing, and a stadium which does not seem suited to host Football matches. There have been reports of disorder in the prior matches with Watford and Bournemouth at the stadium, so it doesn't stretch the imagination too much to predict the inevitable disorder when the likes of Chelsea, Tottenham and Man United visit.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I enjoyed the result, and it was good to tick a stadium off. I live in London, and even then I can't say I feel like rushing back. The view is awful, the home fans hostile and the entire operation is badly run. I know a lot of people will want to visit, and I'd like to be able to offer some advice as to how to make the day better, but the experience in, and especially in the area immediately around the ground, is not good.
West Ham United v Middlesbrough
Premier League
Saturday 1st October 2016, 3pm
Steve Dent (Middlesbrough fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the London Stadium?
It was Boro's first game at The London Stadium.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The journey from St Pancras to Stratford International was straight forward and a good chance to talk with some West Ham fans. We were then directed to the stadium by the most direct route, which was also we'll sign posted.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We met in the Euston Flyer, which is located on Euston Road in-between Euston and Kings Cross Stations, as we do whenever visited games in London. On this occasion there was a very visible Police presence outside the pub, with three Police vans were parked up at one point although there was no hint of trouble. This was very different from our previous visits.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the London Stadium?
The stadium itself is impressive as you approach it, the stewards etc.. were friendly and you could talk easily with the home fans. The concourse is wide. I noted that the first bar inside sold only bottles of beer, however if you go further along the concourse they sell pints of beer for just 10p more. The view from the seats was very good but it does feel odd being separated from half of your own fans with some in the upper tier, like we were, and those in the lower.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The quality of the game wasn't great, although Payet's equalising goal for the Hammers was good, it was poor defensively to concede from the Boro. The home fans were largely silent, apart from the regular chorus of blowing bubbles when the bubble machines were turned on. There were also some chants stating they'd rather have stayed at The Boleyn. When the Boro scored there were some objects thrown at the Boro fans, which led to Police appearing inside the stadium. This also occurred when West Ham equalised. There seemed to be a lack of understanding as to who would deal with this which is understandable if it was the Police's first operation in the ground.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Horrendous! We wanted to meet up with some West Ham friends but were told to move off in a different direction. In hindsight this may have saved us at it appears to have kicked off afterwards. The stewards, working hard to hold back some angry looking West Ham fans, directed us away from the stadium but once on the way there were no signs as to how to get back to Stratford International. It seemed odd that some West Ham fans were asking Boro fans where to go. Mobile phone coverage in the area was patchy so it was a struggle to use your phone to get directions. They really do need to put signs up or have stewards directing you more. It was only when you got back to near the station that stewards once more appeared, but then we encountered some strange queuing systems. Once back at Stratford International we we directed all round it, even tough there were no queues left – strange! We eventually met up with our friends back at The Euston Flyer, where even they were mystified by the strange stewarding.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Been there, seen it, won't go back. They really do need to look a t the experience of getting fans to and from the ground safely. It is a new stadium, clearly not designed for football, but it must ensure that all fans can enjoy the experience which, so far this season appears not to have been the case.
West Ham United v Southampton
Premier League
Sunday 25th September 2016, 4pm
Eric Spreng (Southampton fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the London Stadium?
Not having been to a Southampton game so far this season and never having been to the Olympic/London Stadium. I looked forward to the match with a great sense of anticipation.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Living in Scotland the day began with a 4.45am alarm and the 6.40am flight from Edinburgh to Gatwick. Train from Gatwick at 9am to East Croydon to catch up with family for 2/3 hours. Then got the train into London Bridge and the tube out to Stratford tube station which was all straightforward. Enjoyed the fifteen minute walk from Stratford to the ground in the sunshine.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Less than 100 yards from the stadium we came across a pub which seemed to be open to home and away fan s (can't remember what is was called but it had a lovely roof terrace) and we enjoyed a beer there in the pleasant autumn afternoon sun.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the London Stadium?
I thought the London Stadium looked magnificent as we walked towards it. I was apprehensive about going in as the stadium has been much maligned as a football ground, but I must say we were very pleasantly surprised. We were sat towards the front of the upper tier behind the goal and whilst we were not exactly 'on top of the action' we certainly had a good view of the pitch and could see everything clearly. I was very impressed with the huge screens behind each goal.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The food outlets in the concourse were well organised and we enjoyed a quick pie (reasonably priced and very tasty) and bottle of coke before taking our seats. West Ham fans obviously have a problem with generating an atmosphere in this new home as we never really heard them apart from their traditional 'bubbles' song at the start. However there was no lack of atmosphere in the Southampton end with almost non stop singing from the 3,000 Saints fans from the minute that Charlie Austin put Southampton ahead just before half time. The third and final goal for Southampton in injury time prompted a mass walk out of Hammers fans and prompted a rendition of 'we've got more fans than you' from the joyous visitors!
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away from the ground could not have been more straightforward (helped perhaps by the early departure of the home fans). We wandered back up to Stratford station, got on a tube straight away, and were at London Bridge after about half an hour. A short delay before getting a connection to Gatwick where we arrived in time for a quick bite to eat and our flight back to Edinburgh. Got home in time to watch it all over again on Match of the Day!
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I could not have had a better day out. Good flights, good weather, lovely modern day stadium, good seats and Saints playing out of their skin to record a comfortable 3-0 win. 'We are Southampton – we're off to Milan' as another song went. Bring it on!
West Ham United v Watford
Premier League
Saturday 10th September 2016, 3pm
Guy (Watford fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the London Stadium?
It was my first time watching a football match at the Olympic Stadium (although I had previously visited to see the London Olympics in 2012).
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I used the train to get there, straight forward as usual to a London club. Rail into London and then onto the London Underground. I went to Stratford station, which is big and well laid out. stewards direct you either to Westfield shopping centre or the ground on the way out. I went to the former first as I was early, however getting to the ground from the shopping centre was confusing, with permanent signposts pointing one way, only for you to reach barriers at the exit telling you you had to turn around and go a different way! Once on the right track, it's a fair walk to the stadium, alright for most but a long way for those with mobility problems.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Westfield Shopping Centre is full of your typical global brand food outlets, which I don't care for, so I headed towards the ground for a bite to eat. There's a pub/eaterie underneath the Orbit Tower but very much a home fans place. An outside barbecue next to it was doing no business – I imagine partly due to the rain and partly due to to the acrid smell of burning oil that swirled around! I continued to the stadium to find a row of burger-type huts, but at £7+ for a basic burger I decided to go for some chips, still baulking a bit at £3.20 a 'cone'! Overpriced plastic bottles of weak and room-temperature lager are also available. I suppose if you wanted a decently priced pint and fish'n'chips before the match, eat first before getting the tube to Stratford.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the London Stadium?
The Olympic Stadium (or Olmypic Stadium as the screens and perimeter advertising occasionally called it!) is huge, impressive, well laid out and absolutely perfect for watching…. athletics! Especially if you are in the upper tier, where like Wembley you get the impression you're watching a game of subbuteo from another room. The away support was in the Trevor Brooking end, split between upper & lower tiers, separated by quite a distance. The rest of the stadium is similarly split, with no architectural distinction between the stands at all.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game itself was a classic, with West Ham playing sublime football up front and taking a 2-0 lead within 30 minutes. Watford then scored twice just before half-time and mostly bossed the second half, scoring two more to win 4-2. As for the atmosphere, well, very strange! No doubt West Ham's capitulation on the pitch didn't help, but it changed very quickly from electric to toxic towards the end of the first half. A few minutes after West Ham's second goal, you could see groups of hi-vis jackets in amongst fans in a few sections, with scuffles breaking out in one or two places between home fans. The 'no persistent standing' rule was being strictly enforced, with some fans being removed by the stewards. Interestingly, this rule was not enforced among us away fans who could sit or stand as we pleased. After Watford's third goal, things did start getting nasty, with fighting breaking out in the Upper Tier near me. The home and away fans are separated by an easily negotiable waist high barrier and a 'no-mans land' of a normal gangway's width. The stewards struggled to cope, some looking frightened themselves and many fans, including crying children, trying to get out the way. It was not a great experience, keeping one eye on the pitch and one eye on the crowd. A Police presence only arrived some 20 minutes later, by which time the worst of the fighting had died down – luckily because I fear things would have been worse. As it was, after Watford's fourth goal saw a mass exodus of home fans towards the exits. When the final whistle went, nearly 75% of the home seats had been vacated and I imagined the queues for the station to be horrendous by the time I got there.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Towards Stratford station there is a 'traffic light' system to help relieve overcrowding and this worked well. The long wait to get on the tube that I'd anticipated didn't materialise and I was back into Euston station before 6pm, less than an hour after the end of the match. The atmosphere outside the ground after the game was most one of resignation from the home fans about how bad their team were, mixed with anger about the ground, the lack of atmosphere and the stewarding.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
It remains to be seen if those in West Ham's board room can quickly manage the issues around settling into a new stadium that isn't theirs. The match day experience is not pleasant at the moment, for both home and away fans and might deteriorate further. As an away fan in his 50's, I still would not wear my team's colours to West Ham for a while yet, sadly.
West Ham United v FC Astra Giurgiu
Europa League Play Off Round Second Leg
Thursday 25th August 2016, 7.45pm
Brian Scott (Neutral fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the London Stadium?
I tried to get tickets for this stadium for the Olympics but failed, so I have had to wait an additional four years. Also as I have been in the 92 Club for many years I wanted to keep my record up to date.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Travelling from Stowmarket to Stratford should have been really easy by a direct train, but on this occasion it was fraught with problems! There was a problem with a train at Norwich so the delays meant that instead of being able to get off at Stratford I had to get a fast train to Liverpool Street and then come back. The delays meant that I missed the first five minutes of the match and could not have the walk around the outside of the stadium that I had planned. I feel that a subsequent stadium tour is on the cards.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
There was no time to do anything except walk from the station to the stadium. At a steady pace this took 15 minutes to get to the closest part of the ground which is the South East corner. Due to the crowds outside, even at kick off time, I would suggest another 10 minutes would be needed to get to the far side of the stadium. Everyone seemed friendly.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the London Stadium?
The London Stadium looks truly amazing from both the outside and inside. I wasn't really sure of where the away fans would be but it turned out that my ticket was in the centre of the Trevor Brooking Stand (south) and the away fans were slightly to my left, not segregated. There were no problems at all that I could see.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The atmosphere was good, but I believe that it could be even better. FC Astra scored in the 45th minute and then in the second half they defended very well with their keeper making several fine saves to keep the score at 0-1 and West Ham went out of the competition.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Virtually everyone seemed to be heading for Stratford railway station. Even though the result of the match was in the balance right up to the end with West Ham pressing for an equaliser and then the prospect of extra time and perhaps penalties, thousands were heading back to the station before the 90 minutes were up. Normally I would never do this, but as a neutral I needed to be getting home on a booked train. So I left on 88 minutes. It was a steady walk back along the concrete walkways following the marked route. There was crowd control at many points with stewards holding stop/go boards to prevent any crushing. All was at go as I passed through. Eventually made it to the correct platform with plenty of time to spare to travel North East.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
It would have been better without the train disruption before the match, but on the whole it was a good evening out with lots to look and take in. For anyone who has the chance of picking their seat I would suggest about row 20. I was in row 5 and could not see the far end very well. The big screen helped though.
West Ham United v Bournemouth
Premier League
Sunday 21st August 2016, 4pm
Paul Sheppard (AFC Bournemouth fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the London Stadium?
Because it was our first away league game of the season and the first league match at the London Stadium.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Travelled by train from Manchester. Thanks to this website I knew the best way to get from Euston was to take the tube to Highbury and Islington and then the overground to Hackney Wick (this is not advertised on the club website as they are trying to reduce congestion on this line but it's a great route). The whole journey took just under 45 minutes, including the 15 minute walk from Hackney Wick to the London Stadium.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I was meeting my friend at the stadium 30 minutes before kick off so i just soaked up the atmosphere outside from an hour before kick off. Didn't really interact much with home fans but they seemed friendly enough and certainly more so than when I was in the ground itself!
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the London Stadium?
The stadium and the facilities are as modern and as spacious as you would expect. The stadium and surrounding area is very impressive as you approach. The away end is odd to say the least as there is a big gap between the lower and upper tiers where the away fans are located. There is loads of legroom although most people stood up (which stewards did nothing to try and stop). The view from our seats in the lower tier (Block 120 Row 22) were excellent, although the goal at the opposite end still felt too far away to get a clear view of the goalmouth action). I would definitely choose lower tier though given the choice as upper would feel too far away for me.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
My Everton supporting mate summed this up best when he sent a text straight after the match (having endured the game watching on Sky) that simply read 'That's two hours of my life I'll never get back'. Both sides were poor. Ibe had a golden chance in the slightly better second half but I shook my head in disbelief when Antonio was announced as man of the match, which could only be based on the fact that he scored the only goal but let the ball run out of play and miscontrolled the ball more times than I could count. Both Noble and Tore had better games in my opinion but they missed Carroll and Payet especially.
The big gap between the away fans in the upper and lower tiers really affected the atmosphere we thought and it all felt a little flat. The home fans generated a bit of atmosphere at times but seemed most concerned about their right to stand when they wanted and too many of them near us celebrated in a manner I can best describe as 'lairy' when they scored (the stadium reminded me of the Emirates and I was as close to the away fans there but generally the Arsenal fans celebrated their goals against us with more class). Did not have to queue at all for the loos and the food and drink was reasonably priced for a London ground I thought (£4.80 for a pint of Amstel for example).
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
In terms of speed this was not too bad getting to Stratford station as there were people with 'Go/Stop' traffic signals which seemed to work okay. We went to Pizza Express for something to eat and so when I got a train 90 minutes after the final whistle it was not too crowded at all. There was no segregation coming out of the stadium though and this will need sorting as fighting broke out between a small number of opposing fans that took longer than it should have done before stewards intervened. Hopefully and presumably the club will sort this out quickly.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Okay no more no less. It was helped by it being a nice sunny day and the sense of occasion with it being the first league match at the London Stadium. I liked the fact that there are places to sit and chill outside the stadium and it's certainly impressive in many ways that you would expect of a modern stadium (nice loos, good legroom) and it was very easy to get to and from Euston but it's not a ground I would be desperate to return to. My main tips would be go for lower tier and have a drink or something to eat after the match if possible to let the crowds disperse. Will be interesting to see how well West Ham fans take to their new home…..
West Ham United v AFC Bournemouth
Premier League
Sunday 21st August 2016, 4pm
Darren Feeley (AFC Bournemouth fan)
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Parked at the nearby Westfield Stratford Shopping Centre as this was known to me, having parked there before. Plenty of room and not too much delay leaving the car park afterwards.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Went to the Goldengrove pub which a Wetherspoons outlet. Inside were both home and away fans in colours. There was some good natured banter however the match was not a high risk encounter. Plenty of security at the pub entrance.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the London Stadium?
The stadium looks very impressive both inside and out.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Not the best of games, atmosphere from away end and the home fans next to each other good but couldn't hear the home fans at the other end of ground. Afterwards I spoke to some West Ham fans who were sat at other end of the stadium and they said that they couldn't hear the Bournemouth fans, so I don't know what that says about the stadium acoustics. The worst thing was once inside we had home fans mingling with the Bournemouth fans on the concourses, just walking through sections unchecked, luckily there was no trouble.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Nightmare. With lots of pedestrians leaving the stadium at once, the Club use staff with stop/go boards to control flows of people heading back to Stratford Station and the Westfield Centre. This meant it took us 45 minutes to walk the relatively short distance back to the car park.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
As a football ground, probably not the best place to visit, although on the surface it does look good.
West Ham United v Juventus
Betway Cup (Pre-season friendly)
Sunday 7th August 2016, 1pm
Peter Deverson (West Ham fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the London Stadium?
My first visit to our new ground and only the second match to be held there.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I drove from my home in Scunthorpe to Doncaster Railway Station. I then caught a non stop train to Kings Cross. I then walked over to the adjacent St Pancras Station for a short seven minute train journey to Stratford International. It was then a case of walking through the shopping centre and into the Olympic Park and there it was! It was all very easy.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
A beer and a sausage in a bun from one of the many kiosks inside the concourse, no queues. Easy.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the London Stadium?
First thought was WOW! Everything was on a different planet to any other stadium I've been to, including Wembley and the Millennium Stadium.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Not a bad game for a friendly. Atmosphere obviously difficult to judge as the 'Away' fans were dotted about everywhere rather than in one spot. Food was good, toilets amazing, no queues apart from outside at the club shop. Stewards all seemed very helpful.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
A one way system was in place after the game which took me back to Stratford tube, so I had to go all the way through the shopping centre to get to Stratford International, but didn't take long and was well organised. Might be different with 3000 lairy away fans though.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Overall a fantastic day out. I actually think it was easier for me to get to the new ground from Scunthorpe than it was from where I used to live in Waltham Abbey in Essex to get to Upton Park. Facilities are on a different planet and certainly one of the best stadiums, if not the best stadium in the League.
West Ham United v Juventus
Pre-Season Friendly and Official Stadium Opening
Sunday 7th August 2016, 1pm
Joshua Hammond (Neutral fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the London Stadium?
I was looking forward to this match as it was the first time I had been back to the Olympic stadium since the Olympic Games. I was also looking forward to seeing Juventus play as a neutral supporter as I have never seen them play before.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Finding the ground was very easy getting off at Stratford tube station, Then walking straight to the ground or going thought Westfield shopping centre to grab a bite to eat, both ways to the ground are fully sign posted with West Ham staff also shouting out directions.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Before the game I decided to go to Westfield Shopping Centre where the queue to grab something quick to eat was ridiculous even at 11:30am in the morning, There are plenty of fast through places to eat but all really busy. I did see lots of fans drinking in the bars at the shopping centre as I walked to the ground.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the London Stadium?
The London Stadium looks very nice from the outside, but inside walking to my seat I thought the ground felt almost unfinished. To get to the front seats you have to walk across a scaffolded walkway across a gap between the concourse and the seated area. This open area looked very tacky with all the scaffolding on show. However once at my seat the ground looks very nice. However the seats in the upper tiers looked quite far away from the pitch itself.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was very entertaining with a score line of 3-2 in favour of the Italian visitors. The atmosphere was very good pre-match with lots of bubbles floating around the stadium, but was rather quiet whilst the match was being played. The facilities are very good with lots of bars and toilets at every block.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away from the ground was awful. It took a hour to get to Stratford tube station. The stewards block you from getting into Westfield Shopping Centre and send you all to the station on what seemed to be the longest route possible, everyone was made to go to Statford Station even if you wanted to do some shopping or get a bite to eat.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Very good day out nice to visit ground but still seems very unfinished and disorganised in the ground and coming out, but this was only there second match here so should learn and improve for when I go back to hopefully watch my team Ipswich Town.
West Ham United v Juventus
Betway Cup (Pre-season friendly)
Sunday 7th August 2016, 1pm
Kev Waldron (Aston Villa – but neutral on this occasion Doing the 92)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the London Stadium?
I was looking forward to this game because it was set as the official opening of the new stadium for West Ham, albeit they played their first game there a few days earlier in a Europa League qualifying game.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I drove down from the Midlands with no real problems. Although the stadium is deemed a 'public transport destination', there is parking at the adjacent Westfields Shopping Centre which is £9.50 per day. However I parked at Stratford International Railway Station multi-storey car park, which is only £6 on a Sunday. You don't have to be a train traveller and you can pre-book on-line, which I would advise given there is very little parking in the vicinity of the ground. It took just over 10 minutes to walk to the stadium.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
As it was a 1pm kick-off I arrived early at the stadium around 9.30am in order to have a good look round. Even at this early time there were plenty of West Ham fans around – probably due to the fact it was the official opening game for the stadium. There were outlets around the outside of the ground where you could get the usual pies, burgers etc, along with being able to buy a pint outside too!
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the London Stadium?
The London Stadium looks very impressive from the outside, and you get a great view of it, if you walk from the Westfields Shopping Centre side. It is now decked on the outside with the West Ham colours and badge, and some player images. Also around the perimeter are boards with some of the more famous Hammers players listed. Inside is just as impressive, with the seats now set in West Ham colours. The style inside somewhat reminded me a little of Wembley, especially the areas behind the goals where there are very similar large video screens set between the two tiers, albeit this stadium has two tiers as opposed to Wembley's three. Because this was a friendly, there was no official segregation so I am unable to comment on how it will be for away fans.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The opening ceremony itself was quite rousing, with the two stands behind the goals being officially opened, as poignant images were played on the large screens of the two players they are named after, namely Trevor Brooking and Bobby Moore. The players enter the ground to a rendition of 'I'm forever blowing bubbles' which I have to say was sang quite impressively by the fans. The game itself was quite an open affair, albeit Juventus played some lovely football especially in the first half to go 2-0 up. West Ham fought back to 2-2 during the second half, only for Juve to snatch it 3-2 with five minutes to go. The concourses are pretty spacious, but as you would expect get very crowded in the build up to the game, and especially at half-time. The usual pies, drinks and chocs are on sale at various outlets, and they seem to do a sort of 'Happy Hour' up to an hour kick-off before the game, where you can buy a Pint for £3.50 instead of the usual £4.70.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
On walking back to the car park there are plenty of stewards around, controlling the crowd as they see fit, with a 'stop/go' system in place to stagger fans as they head toward the Westfield Shopping Centre. I have to say getting away from the car park was much easier than I anticipated, but this was probably due to the fact there is such little parking nearby.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Very pleasant day out and overall a most enjoyable visit to this brand new London Stadium.
West Ham United v NK Domzale
UEFA Europa League – Third Qualifying Round Second Leg
Thursday 4th August 2016, 7:45pm
Daniel Turner (Groundhopper)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the London Stadium?
This was the first ever West Ham United competitive match to be played at the Olympic Stadium. I was so excited as I would be witnessing history and my ticket only costing £5!
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I got the train from Braintree to Stratford which was £11 return which was good. It takes an hour on the train with no stops so all was plain and simple.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
When we arrived in Stratford it was heaving with people for the game and commuters coming home from work so it was a bit of a struggle to walk around. We got a KFC and made our way to the stadium.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the London Stadium?
Walking up to the ground was a spine tingling moment, very similar like walking up Wembley Way. I made my way to get a programme and a pin badge for a very busy and hot club shop. We got to our turnstile entrance just before they opened and was very excited with anticipation. Once entering its a very impressive view with absolutely no obstructions anywhere offering fantastic views although situated a bit far from the pitch. But that didn't bother me.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
West Ham made the mark in their new stadium with an immediate impact scoring twice in just 30 minutes and then scoring again after the break. Shame to see so many fans leaving in the 80th minute even though they were winning 3-0.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
This was the down fall but was to expected to be honest with this being the experimental crowd control system. The walk from the ground to the station should take just 15 minutes… It took an hour! With thousands of people heading for the trains having to stop every 100 meters or so to allow other people to go. Once making it to the station I was almost pushed onto the track with so many people heading back into East Anglia!
West Ham United v NK Domzale
UEFA Europa League – Third Qualifying Round Second Leg
Thursday 4th August 2016, 7:45pm
Ian Townsend (Neutral fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the London Stadium?
I had heard so much about the stadium, that I had to see it for myself.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Travelled on the Underground Central Line to Stratford. Then it was only a short walk to the stadium.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Had a wander around the Westfield Shopping Centre. Okay if you like that stuff (I don't!).
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the London Stadium?
The stadium is generally impressive, however I should have brought binoculars. I was only seated half way back in the East Stand. Most seats are a long way back from the playing area. Seats are plastic and rather uncomfortable. They should have used cushioned seats (same as stadium MK). A little more leg room and seat width (given the size of today's population) would have helped too.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Surprisingly good atmosphere for the first Hammers game there. Stewards very helpful. Facilities good. Queues for food and drink moved quickly. Pies okay. The large screens inside the stadium were brilliant.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Thought there would be problems but we were well marshalled back to the station.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Weird that after the Hammers scored their third goal (3-0) at about 80 minutes, around 10,000 fans left before the final whistle. Maybe getting home was more important than clapping the Hammers off the pitch at the end. Glad to have visited but the seats are too far from the pitch and wouldn't go again.
West Ham United v NK Domzale
UEFA Europa League – Third Qualifying Round Second Leg
Thursday 4th August 2016, 7:45pm
Martyn Stimson (Neutral fan)
This was the first competitive game for West Ham at their new London Stadium. I had visited the stadium during the London Olympics and was curious to see what changes had been made and how well it would work as a football ground. Although I had no strong allegiance to West Ham, I was sat with friends who are West Ham Season Ticket Holders. Plus the Hammers did have a former Colchester player in the starting line up, so as a ColU fan I was backing the home side.
I took the Jubilee underground line to Stratford from London Waterloo, having been in Surrey for work during the day and it was an easy journey. Not that many football fans on the train but it was still early (before 5pm). Once out of the station it is then a short walk to the London Stadium.
As I had arrived in Stratford a few hours before kick off, I decided to find somewhere to eat and drink. A number of traditional pubs in Stratford that I passed looked as though they were gearing up for some West Ham trade that evening but I walked further afield to try some of the craft beer pubs in the area. First stop was Mason & Company in Here East. This is a bit of a trendy craft beer place with a kitchen attached. The beer was good and the food was very tasty – although pricey. Being a little further out of Stratford, it was also very quiet and it was also well staffed so there was no queuing for drinks and the food arrived quickly. There was also outside seating overlooking the canal.
Next stop was a short walk along the canal and over a bridge to The Crate in Queen’s Yard. This is a micro-brewery with pizzeria. The ale was superb, as you would expect, and the pizzas that came past looked pretty good too. This place was much busier, being a few minutes from Hackney Wick station. People were spilling out onto the outside table area and canal side area. There was even an outside bar set up which allowed quick service for lager and cider drinkers, and alleviated the queuing for real ale in the main bar. There were lots of West Ham fans here and everyone seemed friendly with anticipation for the first game building. As well as the home fans there were also some neutrals about, including fellow 92 Club members. From this bar it was only a ten minute walk around to the turnstiles on the far side of the stadium.
London Stadium itself looks very impressive from the outside, as you’d expect, it a lovely setting built as the Olympic Park but it had been rebranded from the Olympic Stadium as West Ham’s home. There were stalls selling food and programmes but there were huge queues at these, people were queuing virtually back to the stadium, impeding those walking around to their entrance – possibly simply because it was the first game though. Inside the concourses were big enough to handle the capacity crowd and the toilets were also capable of handling the crowd without too much waiting around jigging.
Our tickets were in row 14 in the lower tier, close to the halfway line. The view as we emerged was superb, especially with the flood lights on. The view was excellent. At the sides the pitch was separated by the running track, at the ends stands had been erected over the running track allowing fans a lot closer behind the goals. The more vocal fans appeared to be to our left but there didn’t seem to be any away fans. I was relying on the visitors scoring to be able to work out where they were and how many of them were but that didn’t happen. I suspect for league games the away fans will be behind the goal to my left in the Trevor Brooking Stand.
I’d been to Upton Park a few times and knew they could be vocal but I wasn’t sure how it would work out in the new ground. As kick off approached the home fans started singing and I was surprised at how good it sounded. During the game, which wasn’t a brilliant game but did produce a 3-0 victory for them and it was a full house (although a reduced capacity), the home fans tried to kick start the new ground with some singing. They did well in a new stadium – and one that was designed for athletics! However, it felt more like spells of atmosphere and pockets of atmosphere than the full on atmosphere that could be experienced at Upton Park. I hope I’m proved wrong but I think the fans will find it hard to get an atmosphere going on a cold February evening against an unfancied opposition.
The Pitch Was Looking Immaculate
Given this was effectively first test for the stadium as football stadium, we left right on 90 minutes and headed for Stratford Station. We were by no means the first to do so and everyone was being funnelled into one route back, hardly the most direct one either, to the station so it was a bit of a shuffle back. Once at the station the platforms were packed. The first train to arrive filled up quickly without seemingly making a difference to the number of people on the platform. I managed to squeeze into one to Chelmsford (last one in before the doors closed) and changed there before continuing my journey on another train from Liverpool Street that hadn’t stopped at Stratford. Others took trains into Liverpool Street to come out again. I suspect for those that left on the final whistle the journey back to Stratford would’ve been a slow shuffle and then a long wait for the right train. No doubt this will improve with experience as the season develops.
Overall I enjoyed the experience and the stadium worked as a football ground much better than I expected it to. However, as a fan of old grounds (especially those with terracing) and a Colchester fan who has seen his own team move from a dilapidated old ground with poor facilities but masses of character and atmosphere to a rather cold new out of town stadium, I did have a slight feeling of sadness that another old ground with character has been lost.