Hammers have three rivals for Olympic Stadium

23 March 2012 16:17

West Ham face competition from three other bidders wanting to become tenants of the Olympic Stadium, the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) confirmed.

The Hammers, who won the now-disbanded process to move to the stadium in Stratford, east London, after the London 2012 Games, have confirmed they are one of the bidders.

An OPLC spokesman said: "We have received four bids from parties interested in using the stadium after the Games."

They continued: "The Legacy Company will shortly start its evaluation process, with the aim of announcing which concessionaires will occupy the stadium alongside athletics before the Games. Legacy planning is further ahead than any previous Olympic host city.

"The stadium will become the new national centre for athletics and host of the 2017 World Athletics Championships and we remain on course to reopen the stadium as a multi-purpose venue in 2014."

The OPLC will start evaluating the four bids with the aim of making a decision before this summer's Games.

A statement on West Ham's club website read: "West Ham United vice-chairman Karren Brady has today confirmed the club's intention to submit a bid by lunchtime (Friday 23 March) to be the anchor user of the Olympic Stadium post-Games in line with the OPLC deadline."

Ms Brady said: "Having spent the last two years dedicated to this project, I am privileged to once more be submitting West Ham United's bid to become the anchor concessionaire of the Olympic Stadium post-the 2012 Games."

Co-owners David Gold and David Sullivan have said they remain fully committed to the idea of leaving Upton Park.

In a joint statement, they said: "As we have always said, we remain committed to this magnificent stadium and provided we are able to offer a world-class stadium for football for our prolific, loyal and passionate supporters, we believe there is nobody better placed to help deliver the legacy for the East End community than us."

Source: PA