There will be a big pay-off for West Ham if plans for the £800m MSG Sphere stadium on their doorstep get the green light.
Last month we reported on plans for an amazing new arena on West Ham’s doorstep with a decision pending from the Government.
The proposals to build a 300ft Las Vegas-style sphere close to West Ham’s home ground that is the London Stadium have sparked a mixture of excitement and anger in Stratford.
Some local residents and businesses have expressed concerns over plans.
West Ham fans will no doubt have seen the huge sphere built in Vegas. Those who haven’t can see it in the image and video in this story.
The Madison Square Garden Entertainment Company behind it want to replicate the Vegas arena near West Ham’s ground if they get the final go-ahead.
The 21,500-capacity stadium is expected to be covered in animated adverts for the next 25 years.
The proposals are yet to be approved by the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and the levelling up secretary, Michael Gove.
Some business owners are voicing concerns about adding another venue to the area on top of the large crowds West Ham, Westfield shopping centre and The Abba Arena already bring.
But there will be a big pay-off for West Ham if plans for the £800m MSG Sphere stadium on their doorstep get the green light.
Because MSG plans to heavily invest in improving the traffic and travel infrastructure in and around Statford to benefit the likes of West Ham supporters and other regular visitors to the area.
One of the biggest beefs many Hammers fans have with the move to Stratford is around travel to and from matches.
Stratford train station is the fifth busiest in the UK and currently deals with passengers from Westfield shopping centre, West Ham’s 62,500-seater stadium and commuters travelling to and from the centre of London.
MSG plan to improve the experience for all by building a brand new entrance and ticketing hall for Stratford station, scheduling events to run at different times to peak rush hours and coordinating with the likes of West Ham over travel needs.
There are also plans to invest in the road and highway network near the London Stadium which will improve matchday travel for West Ham fans.
MSG is pledging to change what it describes as ‘an inaccessible site’ into a central destination. MSG says the highways improvements will be substantial – which will be music to Hammers supporters who know how difficult it can be to get away from games when driving.
Some of the improvements which would benefit West Ham fans include:
- Three new pedestrian bridges – two from Montfichet Road and one from the Town Centre Link – that will improve connectivity between Stratford Town Centre and the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
- An improved pedestrian-friendly junction at Angel Lane
- Enhancements to Montfichet Road, including reducing the number of traffic lanes, widening the footways and creating a dedicated cycleway
MSG Entertainment is not using any public money for the MSG Sphere project – including these bridge construction and road improvements.
You can read more about the plans on the website.
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