LONDON - Olympic Stadium (79,999)

[lukus]

Great to see work is starting

[paquinho]

I don't understand why they will reduce the capacity after olympics. Maybe a major team in London will like to use it as home (either rugby or football). I believe that an olympic stadium should always remain as it was built as some kind of historic monument. I really hope someone uses it.

[RobH]

Not going to happen. It will retain an athletics track and for that reason alone no football clubs will want it.

[jerseyboi]

Stadium Breaking Earth Ceremony

A ‘breaking earth ceremony ’ is expected next week at the stadium site, to mark the start work on the new Olympic stadium . The ceremony is expected to have several dignitaries and members of the International Olympic Committee coordination commission, which is making its annual visit to inspect progress.

The mayor will attend his first meeting of the Olympic board this afternoon, the agenda likely to be dominated by preparations for the arrival next week of the International Olympic coordination committee. The IOC's three-day visit will provide the mayor with an early chance to meet perhaps the most crucial stakeholders in the Games.

[flare]

Originally Posted by paquinho

I don't understand why they will reduce the capacity after olympics. Maybe a major team in London will like to use it as home (either rugby or football). I believe that an olympic stadium should always remain as it was built as some kind of historic monument. I really hope someone uses it.

Current major stadiums:

Wembley: National Football 90,000 only built a couple of years ago and capable of holding athletics events (capacity 60,000)
Twickenham: National Rugby 82,000 currently being upgraded

No football team wants to move into an athletics stadium due to the distance from the pitch, also London teams all have pretty big stadiums already or not enough fans to fill 25,000. There's no mid-range teams

Football stadiums

Arsenal -Emirates: 60,000 built 2005(ish) so very new
Tottenham Hotspur -White Hart Lane: 36,000
Chelsea - Stamford Bridge: 42,000
West Ham - Upton Park 35,000
Charlton - THe Valley 27,000
Fulham - Craven Cottage 25,000
Leyton Orient - Brisbane Rd (small <10,000) they were interested but could not fill stadium even 50%

Rugby: domestic game isn't that popular in London

25,000 is perfect for a dedicated althetics stadium and will be the UK premier venue.

[michał_]

Originally Posted by flare

Leyton Orient - Brisbane Rd (small <10,000) they were interested but could not fill stadium even 50%

25,000 is perfect for a dedicated althetics stadium and will be the UK premier venue.

So is it final that Leyton Orient won't be the tenant?

And as for the second thing- you think Don Valley will loose it's status? If they redevelop that stadium a bit more, it will be bigger... (although I cannot say anything about it's functionality and stuff).

[Its AlL gUUd]

This site will be the London Olympic institue after the games. So it doesn't matter if its downgraded to 25,000 seats.

London has many many large stadiums.

[michał_]

Originally Posted by Its AlL gUUd

London has many many large stadiums.

But none athletic

[richieboy]

Yes we do..Crystal palace Athletics stadium

[michał_]

Originally Posted by richieboy

Yes we do..Crystal palace Athletics stadium

Look up- he said "many many large stadiums".
While this one is 16 000, compared to Don Valley's 25 000 it's still pretty small.
It could be large in Luxembourg, but not England...

[MoreOrLess]

I'd guess the facilties in/around the stadium are as much an issue as the stadium itself. Size wise theres really no need for an 80,000 seat athletics stadium, yes they probabley could get a football tenant if they dropped the rent enough but the extra cost of perminant contruction and mantainance would probabley leave them making a loss.

The only time London could need a stadium larger than 25,000 in the future is if it hosted the world athletics championships or the comonwealth games(both likey to be hosted elsewhere in the UK first) in which case they could use the temp Wembley track setup.

[Mo Rush]

there is no city that needs an 80000 seat athletics stadium for athletics more than once maybe maybe twice. athletic events on the scale of the olympic games only come around once. even the commies only need 40000 seats.

[michał_]

Originally Posted by MoreOrLess

The only time London could need a stadium larger than 25,000 in the future is if it hosted the world athletics championships or the comonwealth games(both likey to be hosted elsewhere in the UK first) in which case they could use the temp Wembley track setup.

So, is there any stadium that has a status of "national athletic stadium"? Or will be?

[Its AlL gUUd]

Originally Posted by michał_

So, is there any stadium that has a status of "national athletic stadium"? Or will be?

well the UK doesn't need a large athletics stadium. if they need to host one off athletics championships, Wembley can be used in athletics mode.

[jerseyboi]

Work begins on Olympic stadium today


Construction is beginning at the London 2012 Olympic stadium, three months ahead of schedule.

Work on the 80,000-seater stadium was due to begin in August but the date was moved forward, and the first steps in digging the foundations begin today.

The Olympic Delivery Authority said it had been able to make an early start because of progress already made on site.

After the Games, the £500 million stadium will be turned into a 25,000 seat venue.

The milestone comes as members of the International Olympic Committee's Co-ordination Commission enter the last day of their three-day visit to London.

The 18-strong group has been treated to a series of presentations from London 2012 chairman Lord Coe and Olympic Delivery Authority chairman John Armitt, as well as meeting Olympics minister Tessa Jowell and the new Culture Secretary Andy Burnham.

Organisers are expected to say their preparations are on track, and will be hoping to gain praise similar to that of the previous inspection 11 months ago. Work on the 2012 Aquatics Centre is due to start this summer.

Preparation for the Olympics has been marred by reports that the cost of staging the Games has soared by £5 billion since initial estimates were made.

Last month a group of MPs branded the original 2012 estimates "entirely unrealistic" and accused ministers of succumbing to "wishful thinking".

The Commons public accounts committee also said it had little confidence the current estimate of more than £9 billion would not be exceeded.

[jerseyboi]

in this model theres higher new parts? could be for lighting?

[masterpaul]

Its still a cheap can. lol.

The only positive thing about, is the colours

[Mo Rush]

is it really such a monstrous cost to purchase a bit more of that fabric to cover spectators rather than all that steel around the facade. im all for timber.

[Harkeb]

Im late for this but My God, is this shit the new London stadium?! has London moved to the Kalahari? How awful (like the their nutty Logo!). What the hell were those crazy poms thinking this time? I loved the leafy design and expected it to go up like planned. Its a scam and I feel the IOC should immediately threaten to take away the Olympics from London if they dont stick to the one that won them the Games in the first place. They are not a fuck serious about the 2012 Games, and should have rather stepped down if this is the case. Paris would have done something iconic and outstanding, not a f&cking ricebowl...shit, what IS that thing!!!

[BeestonLad]

I agree its shit but Paris were going to use the Stade de France which is already built and pretty boring (although still better than this)