As it is the international break and last weekend has been done to death another thought for you. I am old enough to remember when we played at White City (not the first time thank you). It was a disaster from start to finish. The first match was called off just before kick off because of a downpour and it was down hill from there. It was a souless place devoid of atmosphere and we were so far from the action you could only just make out who was who on the pitch. One match four of us had a block to ourselves. we could sit, stand and even lay down if we wanted. You could shout to a friend a couple of blocks away and they could easily hear what you said. We should have taken a ball and had a kickabout because I doubt if anyone would have noticed. A disaster from start to finish and thank goodness we went back home where you could touch players or have a chat with them if someone was injured and the match paused. A place where we could intimidate the opposing team. The point I am making is that on the news the other evening they were once more going on about the Olympic stadium and how it must retain the running track. From the pictures I saw it will be the White City all over again just with a bit more comfort. Atmosphere is so important so West Ham might as well play on Hackney Marshes watched by ten men and a dog. I was going to say I feel sorry for the Hammers fans and then I took my tablets.
Ideally we would want a place with a footprint only slightly larger than Loftus Road, but where the stands could be much higher. 30k - 35k. Nice.
Yeah Eamon keep the current 'feel' but bigger. An Emirates style disaster zone would finish us off. Better food & beverage outlets though would be nice
TF i fear may have this in mind: [video=youtube;E_SoCz3LYv0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_SoCz3LYv0[/video]
Steptoe rides again, on ITV3 now. They're at White City stadium with a greyhound Harold thinks is going to solve their financial troubles, only it won't leave the traps...there weren't many watching the dogs in 1973 either!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/oct/05/bbc-mulls-departure-white-city Espanacol; according to today's Guardian we could well be moving back to White City Stadium, or at least the site where it once stood, which is currently BBC offices. According to the report the BBC is looking to sell the site and "has already been in discussions with Queens Park Rangers" and, get this, "Chelsea football club" about this. Would be an unlikely full circle we'd have come if we do build our new ground there, and could be ideal. However, if they sell it to Chelsea, or we have to ground share with them it would be an outright disaster!
TIMK God that makes me feel realy old. I saw Zatapeck (Somethink like that) run there when I was a kid. I even ran there as a kid in the boro sports. Rangers played there and it was used in 1966 world cup. Watched it being knocked down and the BBC offices being built. Now you say they are going to be demolished. Would be good for us to move there as long as we are not sharing with you know who. The trouble is what size stadium do we go for. Cant see the point of much more than 35,000 unless it's roofed and used for other things. Most top level games are watched by more on tele than in the ground. Perhaps the day will come when teams play in front of real plastic fans each with its own speaker built in and we all sit at home or in the bar.
I would settle for the taps on the sinks in Ellerslie Road to work!! (Block R/S ) just in case anyone from the clubs maintenance department is reading.
To get some idea of what I meant have a look at Bushmans photos on QPR Report of our time at White City. Sorry Northy, cant do links like you.
Just seen what you meant! http://qprreport.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=26809&page=1#196747
Thanks for that Northy. It was interesting to see pics of 3 lads I played with in youth football. John Collins, Mick Barber and Derek Grace. A life time ago.
