West Ham United supporters have been left disappointed over what they feel is a broken promise from vice-chairman Karren Brady.
West Ham fans at the London Stadium
The Hammers brought the curtain down on 112 years of history at their beloved Boleyn Ground at the end of the season with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Manchester United.
All eyes since have been on the big move to the 60,000 seater Olympic Stadium down the road in Stratford.
The iconic stadium has come a long way since Usain Bolt and Team GB’s athletes made history there back in 2012.
The London Stadium with the bright green covering visible in the background
Fans not happy with garish astroturf
The London Stadium – as it is now officially called – has undergone an extensive West Ham-ification but many Hammers fans aren’t happy with the bright green covering over the running track around the pitch.
The orange athletics track was covered at the beginning of August using a light green astroturf which jars in contrast to the dark green pitch.
Not only does it accentuate the gaps around the pitch to the stands it looks sore too.
West Ham United Vice Chairman Karren Brady during the Olympic Stadium press conference
Brady’s broken promise over better surface
West Ham vice chairman Karren Brady insisted the light green covering was only a temporary surface when replying to a fan on Twitter back on August 3.
Brady said a better solution which more closely matched the pitch colour would be in place for the Hammers’ opening Premier League game against Bournemouth.
In response to a fan posing the question: “Why is the astroturf so bright? Would be better darker to match pitch,” Brady responded: “It will be this is just temporary – finished product will be in for first Premier League match.”
it will be this is just temporary – finished product will be in for first PL match https://t.co/tIUBqjN9DX
— Lady Brady (@karren_brady) August 3, 2016
Alan Sugar
Spurs man Sugar weighs in
But the garish surface was still present for the 1-0 win prompting questions from fans on forums and social media as to why.
To rub salt in the wound Lord Alan Sugar, the former owner of West Ham’s bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur, also criticised the astroturf after watching the Bournemouth game on television.
“I think they should paint the outer bit in a dark colour to form strong contrast, might help,” Lord Sugar said on Twitter.
General view outside the stadium before the match
Teething problems to be expected
Perhaps, like many aspects of the stadium move, the permanent astroturf surface is running behind schedule.
Any stadium move of this magnitude is bound to have teething problems.
The giant screen that will adorn the wrap around the stadium will not be ready until October while the promise of names on seats for 1966 club members has also been delayed.
Then there was the issue with supporters not having seats to sit on after paying out for tickets against the Cherries and instead having to sit on concrete steps.
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