Sadiq Khan deals West Ham a major blow as huge stadium plans are officially withdrawn

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Sadiq Khan has dealt West Ham a major blow as huge stadium plans are officially withdrawn which would have benefited fans.

There are many things West Ham fans would love to improve about their matchday experience at the London Stadium.

The gaps between the stands and the pitch are a major bone of contention. So too are the long security check queues before Hammers matches and those infuriating ‘Stop, Go’ signs on the way out.

But actually getting to and from the Stratford arena is far from easy at times for West Ham fans.

That’s why Hammers supporters were enthused by the big pay-off as part of £800m plans to build a new stadium on their doorstep.

Sadiq Khan deals West Ham a major blow

If you have been following Hammers News you will have seen our report on plans for the amazing new arena around the corner from West Ham’s home ground while a decision was pending from the Government.

The proposals to build a 300ft Las Vegas-style sphere close to the London Stadium had sparked a mixture of excitement and anger in Stratford.

Some local residents and businesses expressed concerns over the plans for the 21,000 capacity venue.

And some business owners also voiced 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 West Ham fans were in line to benefit massively from the plans with MSG pledging to heavily invest in improving the traffic and travel infrastructure in and around Stratford to benefit the likes of Hammers supporters and other regular visitors to the area.

One of the biggest beefs many West Ham 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.

New stadium plans had big pay-off for Hammers fans

MSG had promised 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 were also plans to invest in the road and highway network near the London Stadium which would have greatly improved matchday travel to and from the London Stadium area for West Ham fans.

MSG pledged to change what it described as ‘an inaccessible site’ into a central destination. MSG said the highways improvements would be substantial – which was music to the ears of Hammers fans who know how difficult it can be to get away from games when driving.

But Sadiq Khan has dealt West Ham a major blow as huge stadium plans are officially withdrawn.

The London Mayor said ‘no’ to the plans in November. But we explained on Hammers News that he was actually powerless to stop it with levelling up secretary, Michael Gove, having the ultimate say.

Gove duly called in the plans which looked set to rescue the Stratford future of the MSG Sphere – and the benefits it would bring for West Ham supporters.

Fed up MSG officially withdraw

But last week the US company behind the unique entertainment venue officially withdrew the plans.

Madison Square Garden Entertainment (MSG) says it could not continue to participate in a process that was “merely a political football between rival parties”.

In a letter to the Planning Inspectorate, reported by PA Media, MSG said it was “extremely disappointing” that Londoners would “not benefit from the Sphere’s groundbreaking technology and the thousands of well-paying jobs it would have created”.

Some of the improvements which would have benefited 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 was not planning to use any public money for the MSG Sphere project – including these bridge construction and road improvements.

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