As West Ham fans, we will be infinitely aware of the stories which arise each season detailing the annual losses the London Stadium has made. The figures have historically varied between £20 million and £30 million per season, but the tale remains the same: the London Stadium loses vast amounts of money.
It is why they accept that West Ham pay far too little rent in a deal arranged by Baroness Brady, which at the time was labelled the deal of the century. Unfortunately, West Ham find themselves in a rather sticky situation, with strained relationships between landlords and tenants.
So whilst we demand the London Stadium at a peppercorn rate, we also do not have the kind of facilities expected of a modern-day football venue. In many respects, it is something of a halfway house where West Ham do not get the stadium cooperation we would like, and the stadium management organisation do not receive the money needed. It is a situation where nobody wins.
Athletics row highlights deeper London Stadium issues
Factor in the continuing rows between West Ham and the stadium, which have gone legal more times than I care to remember, and it is clear to see that there is a breakdown in the relationship between the two parties.
This has not been helped by West Ham’s recent reluctance to allow UK Athletics to hold the World Championships in September 2029. West Ham have correctly cited the fact that the Premier League season is already up and running during the month of September, and have so far refused to approve athletics use of the stadium.
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However, I cannot help but feel we are being… unnecessarily awkward. Because, as is standard during the month of September, there tends to be a two-week international break. Factor in one home game and one away, it is entirely possible that West Ham would only need to move one home fixture, which the Premier League would be more than happy to do.
London mayor Khan doesn’t enjoy a great relationship with West Ham
A chance to repair the relationship
Taking off my claret and blue spectacles for a second, it is easy to see why the club’s reluctance to do this has peeved the stadium owners. Because make no mistake about it, hosting the World Athletics Championships would be one of the few events which would turn a profit for the London Stadium.
Much of what goes on around West Ham are vanity projects, with Major League Baseball being a case in point. London Mayor Sadiq Khan wants to host the event, but overall, it has made a loss. The same will not be said for the World Athletics Championships, which would pack the stadium out day after day and might actually revive some goodwill between landlords and tenants, whilst also allowing the venue, which is beginning to come apart at the seams, to receive a much-needed cash injection.