West Ham beat Tottenham to 2012 Olympic Stadium

11 February 2011 15:57
West Ham have hailed their 'momentous day' after being confirmed as the future occupants of the Olympic Stadium - beating off competition from rivals Tottenham.[LNB]The Hammers, as previously revealed by Sportsmail, were officially named as preferred bidder by the Olympic Park Legacy Company.[LNB]The choice of West Ham will see the athletics track retained inside a 60,000-capacity stadium in Stratford.[LNB] Delight: David Gold (left) Sir Robin Wales, David Sullivan, Kim Bromley-Derry and Karren Brady[LNB]        HAVE YOUR SAY...     Should West Ham celebrate Olympic Stadium victory? The Hammers have snatched the keys to the Olympic Stadium over rivals Tottenham as new tenants of the Stratford site after the 2012 Games. But with fans voicing several concerns, chiefly over the running track and attendances, should the club celebrate victory just yet? TELL US WHAT YOU THINK The OPLC rubber-stamped West Ham's triumph -a formality that is itself likely to be nodded through by the Government and London Mayor Boris Johnson to complete the process by Easter.[LNB]Hammers vice-chairman Karren Brady said: 'Today is a momentous day. I would like to thank the Olympic Park Legacy Company for making us preferred bidder and acknowledge everyone involved in what has been a truly professional process.[LNB]'I would also like to recognise the significant contribution of Newham Council, who have shared in our exciting vision from day one, and thank our supporters for trusting in us to take West Ham United to a new level.[LNB]'We are proud to have been passed the Olympic torch and fully embrace the responsibility we have for keeping the flame alive. We have been working on this project for some time now and are just at the starting line of the race to make this a stadium that will really make the nation proud.[LNB]'With our partners we know exactly how to do it. We are working on realising our proposals already. We would like to say far more but fully understand we are still under the process and must continue to respect it - as we have to this point.[LNB]'To West Ham supporters, I look forward to extending our consultation process - now that we have the mandate from the OPLC to do so - and I guarantee their views will continue to be heard. We simply cannot wait to show them around this impressive and intimate stadium so they can truly experience the awe and excitement that all who visit are compelled to feel.[LNB]'The club is run by supporters and today is another great day in our proud history. This will be your stadium and an atmospheric home for generations to come. Our vision is to move forward always with an eye on the past. [LNB]We have been granted a once in a lifetime opportunity to grow our club in a way its huge fan base deserves and to really give something back to the community of which it is such an intrinsic part. The nation has kept its promise and we'll keep ours. I promise.'[LNB] Party time: West Ham's supporters celebrate their victory in the race for the stadium[LNB] Johnson said: 'This is a very significant step forward towards delivering the Olympic Park legacy and the Legacy Company has run a thoroughly professional and robust process.[LNB]'This milestone means we now have theprospect of a local football club and a multi-use venue capable of hosting athletics, a range of other sports and a vibrant programme of events for the local community and schools.[LNB]'I am thrilled that the Legacy Company board has arrived at a recommendation for me and my colleagues in Government to consider. I am confident that we will be able to respond quickly to the advice of the Legacy Company in making our decision.'[LNB]The Hammers are already turning theirattention to renaming the stadium at a price that could generate around?150million in an auction between blue-chip companies.[LNB]They have the right to keep the word 'Olympic' in the title after being given special dispensation by the IOCto do so because, unlike Spurs, they promise to keep the athletics track as well as providing facilities for the community.[LNB]West Ham - and the mastermind of their success, Brady - who are planning to unveil a host of initiatives in and around the iconic arena which will become their home from the start of the 2014-15 season.[LNB] Up in lights: How the stadium will look once West Ham move in after the 2012 Games[LNB] [LNB]They are confident that they will succeed in re-opening the National Football Museum, previously in Preston, in east London, providing a showcase for Bobby Moore's shirts and the 1966 World Cup winning medals won by the club's golden generation. The plan is to name the gates after legendary manager and stalwart John Lyall.[LNB]Away from football, a deal to bring Madonna to perform at the stadium - which would expand to its maximum size of 107,000 for the concert - is well advanced. An agreement has been struck with Essex County Cricket Club to play Twenty20 matches there. [LNB]The signs are that West Ham's bid wasunexpectedly deemed more financially robust by the OPLC, not least because they are partnered by Newham Council.[LNB]As the local authority, they were seen as more rooted and reliable than the banks who were due to lend Tottenham ?250m. It is an irony given that they made great play of theirsuperior monetary power.[LNB]They are left with the problem of what to do next. Spurs need a bigger ground than the 36,000-seat White Hart Lane but have baulked at finding ?450m to move to a 56,000-seat stadium next door. No wonder they are smarting.[LNB]In a statement, the British Olympic Association said: 'The recommendation announced today by the Olympic Park Legacy Company is a victory for athletes, for sport and, importantly, for the generations of young people who will see their lives transformed as a result of the London 2012 Olympic Games.[LNB] Looking to the future: An artist's impression of how West Ham's home may look[LNB] [LNB]'We hope this recommendation will ensure the London Games will be the beginning, rather than the end, of a dynamic new era for Olympic, high performance and grassroots sport in Great Britain.[LNB]'This is also a victory for the reputation of British sport globally. When the London 2012 bid team stood before members of the International Olympic Committee in 2005 and asked for their vote, they did so with a commitment to deliver a meaningful legacy from the Olympic Games, including the retention of an athletics track inside the iconic Olympic Stadium.[LNB]'The recommendation announced today, if ultimately accepted, will be a major step forward in delivering on that promise.'[LNB]Baroness Ford, chair of the OPLC, insisted the selection process had been fair and robust. She described the decision as 'the very best legacy for the stadium, cracking for the community of east London, excellent news for the UK taxpayer and very good for sport'.[LNB]Ford said: 'Each bidder has put an enormous amount of effort into this. We are delighted to have two robust, competitive bids. Our job today was to judge the merits against the five criteria we have set out from the start of the process.[LNB]'Our board has considered this really carefully and we have made a unanimous recommendation to select West Hamand the London borough of Newham as the long-term tenant for our Olympic Stadium.[LNB]The right direction? A sign points to West Ham outside the Olympic Stadium in Stratford[LNB] 'This has not been an easy decision and, despite what has been trailed in some of the newspapers, this has not been a fait accompli. We have taken this very seriously indeed. Both bidders were considered seriously on the merits - that's what our job was.'[LNB]London 2012 chairman Lord Coe said: 'We are delighted with the news that the Olympic Park Legacy Company has recommended West Ham United as the preferred bid to take over the Olympic Stadium after the London 2012 Games.[LNB]'I would like to thank Baroness Ford, her board and her team at OPLC for conducting such a thorough process in what has been a highly competitive bidding process.'[LNB]UK Athletics chairman Ed Warner said the decision made 'commercial sense', telling Sky Sports News: 'This is a fantastic opportunity for generations to come. We are looking at a lease which goes on for more than 100 years.[LNB]'There is going to be football sitting side by side with athletics and a whole host of other community events at this stadium. It was what the legacy of the Olympics was always intended to be about.[LNB]'We have worked very hard with Newham council and with West Ham to come up with a vibrant solution that sustains the stadium. It's great for West Ham and really good for the sport of athletics.[LNB] Key figures: Baroness Ford, Chairman of OPLC, sits next to board members Andrew Altman, Keith Edelman and David Edmunds at the annoucment[LNB]'The commercials really stack up, the legacy company have taken their time to take a fine toothcomb to this bid and the Tottenham bid and they have taken a decision which is right for London, right for the Olympics and makes commercial sense.'[LNB]Sir Robin Wales, Mayor of Newham, said: 'We are delighted by the announcement. We think this decision is the right one and the nation will be the biggest winner. [LNB]'We are pleased the OPLC has recognised our bid. London won the right to host the Olympics by making a promise to leave a lasting legacy, not just for us and our children but for future generations. It will inspire people in Newham and beyond.[LNB]'We were delighted when public opinion supported this view, and this overwhelming public support has been recognised by the OPLC.[LNB]'Our bid is about giving something back to the community, to London and the country. We will make the stadium a magnet for visitors across Britain, Europe and the world, to view and participate in a wide range of sport and entertainment fixtures.[LNB]'We want to create a situation where people will feel good about community education projects and more. That means every member of our community could access the Olympic Stadium. Spectacular events drawing huge crowds could sit side by side with community activities. You could go to a Madonna concert - then sing on the same stage in a community choir the next day.[LNB]VIDEO: West Ham unveiled as winners... Spurs hit back at Olympic Stadium decision as they consider legal actionSugar demands U-turn as West Ham target ?150m naming rights dealWest Ham strike gold: Tottenham lose battle to move into Olympic Stadium Leo's London: Enough of the Olympic Stadium saga... Spurs must move onAll the latest West Ham news, features and opinionAll the latest Tottenham news, features and opinion [LNB]  Explore more:People: Karren Brady, Bobby Moore, John Lyall, Boris Johnson, Madonna Places: London, United Kingdom, Europe, Olympic Stadium Organisations: Newham Council, International Olympic Committee, British Olympic Association

Source: Daily_Mail