This morning I went to the West Ham Olympic Stadium Reservations Centre at Westfield Stratford. I had an appointment at 11am and wasn’t kept waiting. Along with two others I was shown a short, emotion-raising video, narrated by Ray Winstone all about how wonderful everything is going to be. We were given a pep talk by a very nice young lady, who turned out to be an Ipswich supporter, but certainly knew her stuff and did a good sales job on the new stadium.
I was then met by the same sales representative who had been emailing and calling me over the next few weeks and we sat down in front of his computer screen to choose my two seats. Bearing in mind I had a reservation number of 1812 (I think) I was rather anxious about the number of red dots there were to indicate the seats that had already been sold. It’s partly my fault as my initial appointment was for a week ago, but I had to change it as I was on holiday.
I sit in Row X, in the early 200s in the West Stand at Upton Park. I like the position as it’s not too far back from the dugouts and around ten yards away from the half way line towards the Sir Trevor Brooking Stand. My aim was to find seats not too far from that position. It proved a thankless task, as I suspected it would.
Just like at Wembley, there are five blocks of seats in the new West Stand lower, either side of the dugouts which are reserved for corporates. That means that the first block that was available was half way into the left hand half of the pitch. I sit around 24 rows back, but the only seats I could have would have been in Row 9. On the screen it looks reasonably steep, but in reality I doubt it is. There were some seats available on the end of some rows a bit further back but I was told I couldn’t have those as they were reserved for people who already sat on the end of a row. I was a bit perplexed by that, but it didn’t seem worth making a fuss about. There were seats available in the upper tier, but having sat in the Directors’ Box a couple of times last season (get me!) I have to say I didn’t like being so high. I started to get a bit scratchy, having been assured all along that I’d be able to get a similar view to what I have now.
In reality, especially if you’re in Band 2 or lower (I am in Band 1) you’re not going to get a similar view. I decided to get out of that mindset, otherwise I was going to walk out without a ticket at all. What we have to bear in mind is that there isn’t actually a “bad” seat in this stadium. It’s just going to be different. Even if you’re up in the Gods on a corner, it is still a much better view than you’d get in the Bobby Moore. And a better view than you get in a similar seat at Wembley – and I was in that position for the last Play-off final.
I then asked to see the view from the East Stand, even though I would miss watching the antics in the dugout. And in the end I went for two seats in the front row of the second tier, which is a little further back (row 38) than I would ideally like, but I like the thought of a wall in front of me. Essentially, the seats are more or less opposite the Directors’ Box, and the view looks great. I took a picture of the screen while my sales agent went to consult a colleague on something. No doubt I broke a rule, but hey, all in the interests of informing my readers! These are in the 1966 section and add £200 onto the cost of the season ticket. The things I do for a padded seat and a free programme… One other advantage of sitting in the East Stand is that it’s closer to Stratford International station. I normally drive to games, but I think you’d have to be insane to do that at the OS with the train links. I live in Kent so I think I will drive to Ebbsfleet, park there, then get the High Speed Rail Link to Straford, which only takes ten minutes. Quite astonishing.
Having done all that and paid my 25% deposit – I declined the opportunity to pay in full! – you then have your picture taken which may then be used on matchdays on the digital wraparound that goes round 2/3 of the stadium. Vanity, vanity, all is vanity.
Let me reiterate the point that you have to go into this with the mindset that whatever seat you choose is going to be different to your experience at Upton Park. But it won’t necessarily be worse. Go in with an open mind and make sure you explore all the options. As I say, I don’t believe there is actually a bad view in the stadium. You’ll be a lot close to the action than you probably think, and this won’t necessarily be conveyed by the screen shots you will see. I didn’t get the seats I’d have ideally liked, and the chances are you won’t either. But when you actually take your seat for the first time I suspect you will be pleasantly surprised.
I’m told there will be around 36-40,000 season ticket holders and this allocation process will go on right into 2016. It’s actually a relatively pleasant and painless experience and the people running it are professional and pleasant. It’s also easier to find than I thought it would be. Just come out of the station, there’s a staircase ahead of you going up one level onto what’s unimaginitively called The Street, and it’s about 100 yards on the right, opposite TK Maxx.
Having been to the stadium for the Olympics I know what an amazing experience we’re all going to have. Even those who are doubters or wholly against the move are going to be impressed. I almost guarantee it. But we’ve got to get out of this mindset where we compare what we have now with what we’re about to get. Yes, I will miss Upton Park just as much as anyone, but I am very excited but the prospect of being part of a club which is about to play at what I know will be the best ground in the country and everyone will look forward to going to.
Good luck with your own seat allocation.