Olympic Stadium

So I went as part of a large party of existing Band One season ticket holders this morning and it was an okay experience. We had the promotional video, as narrated by Ray Winstone, followed by some facts and figures by the main host. We were told that the club is on course to fill the stadium and they are very confident that this will happen, based upon uptake of the additional seats to date, the appointments to come and even the waiting list of 10,000 that paid £10 each. So after the encouraging speach, we were led into a boardroom to look at the seating arrangement on a big screen. I sat at the back awaiting my turn after the Band One ticket holders, me being a Band Four at present, and I found it interesting as there selections were very different to where I wanted to be. As an existing season ticket holder of a lower band you can move up as part of the additional allocation of a friend/family etc in a higher band, but not in the same central sections. So here's the stupid part, if I wasn't an existing season ticket holder and wanted to sit with someone in Band One in the central sections then I can!!! A few people round the table today were shocked and let it be known, the hosts agreed that they didn't think this was right. So the selection process started and the focus was the East Stand upper area, which most of them sit in currently, although it will be a 'kop' like stand unlike the West side with two tiers. The group decided to get as close to the '1966' areas that take up the middle sections and went for rows 48-50 just above, which will provide a great view overlooking the play. My heart was set on being in the lower section and although I couldn't pick in the middle sections, moving one or two sections along meant better availability for the row I wanted so I ended up with Row 18 of Block 133. I have been in Row 13 at Wembley and the view was good, so to be able to go back a few rows is even better I think. I left there a happy Hammer in thinking I have been lucky to buy great seats but, everyone agreed that until we sit in the new stadium we will never know for sure as it will be totally different.

David Gold has stated that the retractable seating will be used for the rugby games later this year so, 'should I stay (and wait) or should I go?'

I obviously have '0' imagination/creativity as, even though I have bought seats in the new stadium I'm totally confused as to how the retractable seating will work? What happens to the already shallow seats at ground level? Do they go to make way for the retractable seats? I just don't get it so any ideas?

A mixture of comments, I have read elsewhere, but the majority of fans seemed to love the new stadium. It made me smile reading about our fans going to the stadium to basically walk round, in West Ham attire!, checking out the view from any section they could access. The proof will be in the pudding on day one in 'football' mode and the lower levels that make up the retractable seating are yet to be installed. The catering experience's were worrying though with a pint of Heineken at £5.10 and hot dogs at £5 a pop, and the fact that they were running out of food within 30 minutes? Lower margins equals increased sales and revenues for the club so surely this will not be the same experience on match days? I have spoken to a large number of season ticket holders over the past couple of years and we all thought that the prices would be too high for food and drink, which means we will end up drinking locally out of glasses at £3.50-£4.00 a pint and having fresh bacon sarnies for £3 a pop before taking the trains to Stratford. We would rather give the money to the club but, at those prices for shite beer out of plastic cups and over-rated/priced hot dogs? The other worry is the fact that most of the people present at the weekend commented on how long it took to get from the ground to Stratford station, a number of people stating that it was worse than Wembley! So it looks like the view will be good, the beer and food overpriced and the journey home a nightmare......one out of three ain't bad as a hammer!

And was gutted as my phone was in my suit pocket in the hold and I could have got some good pictures of the new stadium, we flew almost directly over it at an angle. A lot of the retractable seating looks to be in place and I have to say it was a fantastic site, gave me goose bumps it did.