The prospect of West Ham United being able to transform London Stadium into a ground more conducive to football fans has grown after it emerged that UK Athletics have held preliminary discussions around quitting their 50-year deal to stage events in East London.
As first reported by the Telegraph, UKA are in talks about receiving a one-off payment to step away from their right to host events in the publicly-owned stadium. No agreement is imminent, a source close to the process told Mirror Sport, but there is optimism that an agreement can be struck.
Recent track and field events at the venue have failed to draw significant crowds and this summer’s Anniversary Games has been relocated to Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium, which has been redeveloped ahead of this year’s Commonwealth Games. The departure of athletics from London Stadium would bring fresh scrutiny around the legacy of the 2012 Olympic Games.
It costs about £3m to convert the stadium into use for athletics. Should a deal be completed it would create an opportunity for additional seats to be moved closer to the playing area for football games.
West Ham fans have slowly become used to the stadium despite widespread criticism following their relocation from Upton Park in the summer of 2016. Infrastructure issues remain, with many frustrated by congestion outside the ground and transport queues in Stratford, but the atmosphere has improved along with the relative success of David Moyes’s team.
The club has paid only £2.5m in rent a season since moving but that contract runs out next year and they will need to pay a windfall tax of up to 30% on any profits.
This summer the stadium will host a Monster Jam trucks event and gigs featuring Green Day, Fall Out Boy and Red Hot Chilli Peppers. It has previously featured rugby union and Major League Baseball, with the latter expected to return next year.
"I kicked a ball back at a ball boy so I apologise for that.," Moyes said after being red carded. "He threw the ball very softly at me. I just feel disappointed at the moment, we've played better teams than Frankfurt and I thought this was a real chance.
"But we lost the game when we conceded in the first minute of the game at the London Stadium. We were chasing the game ever since."
