Add as preferred source on Google
West Ham vice-chair Karren Brady has told fans that proposed changes to the London Stadium will not be happening – unless they pay for them.
It is fair to say the vast majority of West Ham fans have not taken to the London Stadium as the club brings up a decade at the bowl-shaped arena this summer.
West Ham’s decision to leave Upton Park for the former Olympic Stadium remains controversial nearly 10 years on after the club failed to deliver on a host of promises made to supporters.
A “state-of-the-art” retractable seating solution was promised by Hammers vice-chair Karren Brady when luring fans away from their beloved Boleyn Ground home of 113 years.
West Ham fans get answer on London Stadium changes
The reality was anything but with the chasms between the upper and lower tiers and the stands to the pitch a world away from the tight, intimidating intimacy of Upton Park.
Many West Ham fans feel the club has lost its soul as a result of the move with the atmosphere drastically impacted.
Would you take relegation if it meant that David Sullivan would leave?! 🤔
Not a nice position to be in – but what would YOU choose if you had to?
Photo by Tom Dulat/Getty Images
West Ham have squared off the stands behind both goals but the issues affecting the matchday experience are wide-ranging.
One proposed change that raised the possibility of improving the London Stadium atmosphere and fan experience was the project to install safe standing/railed seating.
Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images
Former Hammers co-owner David Gold was a big driving force behind safe standing until his death.
Since then it has all gone quiet on West Ham’s safe standing plans – until now.
But West Ham say those London Stadium changes are too expensive unless fans foot the bill.
West Ham have already angered fans with a cynical response to the number of season ticket holders who have walked away from the club since the move to Stratford.
The Hammers have also completely changed their stance on their ambitions laid out to fans when persuading them that the move was the right thing for the club.
Now Brady has confirmed safe standing plans are all but dead in the water because it is “too expensive”.
DISCUSS: The London Stadium could host the 2029 World Athletics Championships 🏅
West Ham would have to play away games for THREE WEEKS! ⚽
Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
To rub salt in the wound, the vice-chair made it clear it would only be feasible if fans paid for it through increased ticket prices.
West Ham’s Fan Advisory Board asked whether railed seating will be installed in the lower and upper tiers of the stadium and whether defined family and home ends could be established.
The answer given by the club, represented by Brady at the meeting, stated that the safe standing project would be extremely expensive and that there are currently no plans to install it unless supporters pay for it via higher ticket prices.
Photo by Vince Mignott/MB Media/Getty Images
There was an offer of signposting specific zones and only after even more consultation.
“Safe standing expansion is not going to happen in the future,” the FAB stated in the meeting minutes on the West Ham United Independent Supporters’ Committee website.
“Why this matters for supporters? Safe standing will: improve the atmosphere, improve safety, massively enhance supporter experience and demonstrate that the Club is willing to invest in the matchday experience.
“There are no immediate plans to expand safe standing into lower and upper tiers. Further, in advance of the FAB meeting on 26/02/26 Supporters provided a three-page document outlining many proposals to improve the match day experience.
“Karren Brady explicitly asked for input from the FAB in that meeting on improving the match day experience. The Club however had not provided her with sight of the document prior to the meeting. Supporters are still waiting for a response from the club on this document.”
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox