High profile West Ham United fans have blasted what has been described as ‘double standards’ at their new home.
The Hammers‘ move to Stratford from their beloved Upton Park has been beset by problems from the start.
From in-fighting among the club’s fans to segregation issues, violent scenes between home and away supporters and a general dissatisfaction with the atmosphere and feel of a ground many refer to as ‘soulless’, it has left a bitter taste in what was supposed to be a memorable and historic campaign.
Having signed a 99-year lease many supporters are disillusioned at the prospect of a long-term future at the ground in it’s current state.
Popular fans website Knees Up Mother Brown compiled a brilliant 10-point message to David Sullivan, David Gold and Karren Brady detailing what needs to change if supporters are to embrace the stadium long-term.
One bone of contention for supporters has been the way they are treated by nearby Westfield Shopping Centre and the way athletics and music fans have been treated during events there.
At the weekend, KUMB editor Graeme Howlett put it to Westfield and London Stadium operators that they treated Hammers fans with double standards over access to and standing in the ground.
“Athletics fans, Depeche Mode fans and away supporters all stand. Yet West Ham fans, who pay the most, are ordered to sit at the London Stadium,” Howlett put to the stadium operators on Twitter.
That came after Tom Peck, a political correspondent at the Independent, blasted the shopping centre company as he tweeted a picture showing that barriers usually in place on West Ham matchdays were down for the Athletics, as they also were for music events earlier this year.
“The route past Westfield Stratford shops and cafes wide open for athletics fans, not locked and bolted like it is for West Ham fans. Utter joke,” Peck said.
Howlett then followed up Peck’s tweet up by asking for some clarity from Westfield.
“Your policy, Westfield Stratford – I’m sure I’m not the only West Ham supporter who’d appreciate an explanation. Pretty please?” Howlett said.
The club’s relationship with Westfield Shopping Centre next door is crucial and at the moment West Ham fans are being treated like second class citizens there despite pouring millions of pounds into its food and drink outlets and shops already.
At the first two games at the stadium last season – against Domzale in the Europa League and Juventus in the official opening game – the various exits in Westfield were open which allowed a number of options for fans to filter down on their way to the stadium.
Not only did that ensure fans did not feel like second class citizens, it also avoided the ridiculous bottleneck which now takes place inside the shopping centre as fans and shoppers have one single exit to use.
The decision to close off the exits before the game means a long walk, thousands of fans getting in the way of shoppers and people turning up to the game in a bad mood from the get go.
After all the Hammers fans are spending their money in and around Westfield just like anyone else and as long as they behave themselves should be treated with more respect.
There is a distinct lack of common sense being used in all aspects so far and it must be sorted for next season.
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