Hammers handed stadium keys
West Ham have beaten Tottenham in the race to take over the Olympic Stadium after being announced as the preferred bidder by the Olympic Park Legacy Company.
The OPLC confirmed in a news conference on Friday that West Ham have won approval to move into the Stratford venue following the 2012 Games after they were judged to have fulfilled more of the criteria set by the organisation than Tottenham.
The announcement came after the 14 voting members of the OPLC board gathered for a special meeting on Friday morning, where the future of the venue was the only item on the agenda.
The board's decision has to be ratified by two Government departments and the London Mayor's office, and that is likely to take place next week, but it would be highly unusual if their choice was not rubber-stamped by the ministers and Boris Johnson.
West Ham and Tottenham have been embroiled in a fierce war of words over the stadium in the last few months, with both clubs keen to take over the 80,000 capacity venue, which Spurs were planning to downsize to a 60,000-seater football-only ground.
Leaked
Reports were leaked earlier this week that the east London club were the winning bidders following controversy over Spurs' intention to remove the running track inside the stadium if successful in their bid.
Their plans were to create a largely redeveloped football-only stadium without the track and redevelop the Crystal Palace athletics stadium for that sport.
Doing so would have meant breaking promises made to the International Olympics Committee back in 2005 as part of London's legacy when bidding for the Games, and could have caused huge embarrassment to ministers and Johnson.
West Ham made it clear in their bid that they would keep the running track and also stressed their dedication to putting back into the community, with co-owner David Sullivan proposing several uses for the venue and underlining the club's interest in the local area.
Cost
He said earlier this week: "The motive of myself and my partner David Gold is to give something back to the community we came from and are still a part of.
"The Olympic Stadium will motivate and regenerate East London and Essex."
It seems the cost of the West Ham development also counted in the Hammers' favour, with the club planning to spend only £95million, with £40million coming in the form of a loan from bid partner Newham Council, while Spurs' proposals would have seen the club borrow around £250million.
The speed with which the club would move into the venue has also been taken into account, with Spurs' rebuilding plans meaning it could have taken the club months to relocate.
The decision will strike a severe blow to Tottenham, who were looking to establish themselves as a permanent fixture in football's elite with a move to the high-profile venue.
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11675_6745812,00.html
West Ham chosen as preferred Olympic Stadium tenant
West Ham United has been selected as the preferred club to move into the Olympic Stadium in east London after the 2012 Games.
Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) executives chose the club's bid over a rival proposal from Tottenham Hotspur.
The decision must now be ratified by the OPLC board, two government departments and the mayor of London, possibly next week.
The decision in favour of West Ham's bid was unanimous.
Spurs' plan was widely criticised because it would involve knocking down the stadium and building a new one.
The club intended to pay for an expansion of the athletics facility in Crystal Palace, rather than keeping a legacy for the sport in Stratford.
West Ham's plan, by contrast, will to keep athletics in east London and leave the running track untouched.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-12424549'Today is a momentous day'
West Ham United and Newham Council are the OPLC's preferred bidder for the 2012 Olympic StadiumThe Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) has today announced that it has chosen West Ham United and Newham Council as its preferred bidder to take over the 2012 Olympic Stadium after the Games.
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.
"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.
"We were delighted when public opinion supported this view, and this overwhelming public support has been recognised by the OPLC.
"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.
"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."
Karren Brady, Vice Chairman of West Ham United, 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.
"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.
"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.
"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.
"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.
"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. 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.''
http://www.whufc.com/articles/20110211/today-is-a-momentous-day_2236884_2290688[ 本文被OldSosad在2011-02-11 20:44重新編輯 ]
