please empty your brain below
Quite a few of the locals were entering via the Greenway on Wick Lane, also noticed the odd vehicle packed with Claret and Blue shirts looking for a parking space in the Fish Island area.

Fishislandskin | 05.08.16 - 7:29 a.m. | #

Some fans had found their way via Stratford International too. There's a kids' play area (featuring a 15ft carp) being installed there - right next to Tap East's smoking area. That'll be fun on match days...

martin | 05.08.16 - 7:54 a.m. | #

So is Pudding Mill Lane the closest bit of public transport with the shortest walk?

Or maybe there's a bus stop that's closer! Or even a bus stop that's actually in the Olympic Park.

I think we should be told.

dg writes: Pudding Mill Lane is the closest station with the shortest walk. There are closer bus stops, all of which seemed to be open last night, but nobody will be recommending bus travel for a crowd of 54000.

Julian Bond | Homepage | 05.08.16 - 8:09 a.m. | #

Heads up! Your WHU flickr link is pointing at your Croydon album.

dg writes: Fixed, thanks.

6000 | Homepage | 05.08.16 - 8:43 a.m. | #

I wuz there and I do come from a London Borough and not Essex as do my other 4 companions.

Agent Z | 05.08.16 - 9:17 a.m. | #

I am pretty sure it was possible to walk around the stadium island, without challenge and without a ticket, on rugby world cup match days. I don't remember any security checks or ticket checks before the turnstiles at the stadium perimeter.

Was there any segregation of the 'away' supporters - separate entrance, etc? I wonder how well it will work on derby days.

Andrew | 05.08.16 - 9:20 a.m. | #

Nice report. It looks as if the question of whether an Olympic stadium can be successfully repurposed might be getting a tentative "yes" as an answer. Many people will have been sceptical. (Of course we don't know what goes on in the money rooms).

DG's description of football fans strikes me as reasonably tolerant of a sub-species to which he does not belong, but seems to respect. But then I am not one either. I'd be interested to hear from fans what they feel about his description of them.

Malcolm | 05.08.16 - 9:38 a.m. | #

I went last night (newham residents were given some free tickets) and the stadium worked really well

What didn't work well was the over the top barriers around westfield, instead fans should have been pushed up 'the street' and allowed to walk through the bars, and food options - forcing thousands of people to do a u turn go down some stairs by forever 21 and walk up montfichet road was a big mistake

Jack | 05.08.16 - 9:47 a.m. | #

Matchday access from Westfield to the stadium is actually quite similar to 2012, where crowds were directed through the shopping centre only on the walk back.

I blame Westfield's design for making the area around the station far more congested than it should be, because what was prioritised was "funnelling people into the shops", not providing simple access between ground level on each side of the railway.

diamond geezer | Homepage | 05.08.16 - 9:57 a.m. | #

Excellent description of the West Ham crowd types. They all live round here I think.

Running Correspondent | 05.08.16 - 10:29 a.m. | #

At some point the Olympic rings that were hanging on Tower Bridge are due to be erected in the park, probably by the stadium. Ditto the Agitos from the front of the National Gallery.

JB | 05.08.16 - 11:53 a.m. | #

As an Irons season ticket holder, although born in Newham and attended the primary school next to the Boleyn ground, I do indeed live now in Essex!

I think for all of us, working out our route to and from the Stadium before and after games is something we will all be doing this season. It will evolve and yes, will include working out a preferred watering hole.

This will also change as Crossrail finish their work and the office blocks in the international quarter are finished/started.

It's certainly different from Upton Park, but you can come from and go back to Westfield (if you want to) as long as you don't try the obvious routes. For instance, there are no problems going via Stratford international.

In a year's time it will all feel routine for everyone, even if it feels strange now.

Fat_boy_pete | 05.08.16 - 1:16 p.m. | #

I think it is wonderful that the great British public has paid for West Ham Utd to have a brand new home

Coley | 05.08.16 - 5:48 p.m. | #

At last. Well done Coley for pointing out that we have all contributed to this.
And those Sullivan and Gold chaps are so squeaky clean aren't they?! My hard-earned wedge couldn't have gone to a nicer pair of pornograph....er publishers.
I hope they are proud of their magnificent erection.

Chris | 05.08.16 - 6:04 p.m. | #

Saddened that the stadium that was home to so many great moments has its future in the hands of a bunch of knuckle draggers

Martinp | 05.08.16 - 8:19 p.m. | #

Stratford International will be a popular station, there are loads of fans who travel from Kent.
HS1 is always busier when West Ham, Tottenham & Arsenal especially play at home.

Karl, Dover | 05.08.16 - 9:29 p.m. | #

To answer the question, have they permanently taken down all the barriers around Stadium Island - no, they're all back.

diamond geezer | Homepage | 06.08.16 - 1:26 a.m. | #

So. Is "Stadium Island" ever going to be free-public-access (apart form the arena, of course) or not?

| 06.08.16 - 7:45 a.m. | #

Of course the security guards and barriers outside the Bow Bells pub weren't there in case of an invasion by WHUFC fans, but rather to encourage them. They're deliberately pitching for part of the pre- and post-match drinking market. I think the security guards, barriers (strangely marked "Ringway Jacobs") and plastic glasses were a police or licensing authority stipulation.

Kim | 06.08.16 - 2:02 p.m. | #

TfL are now (Sunday afternoon) tweeting option of Pudding Mill Lane.

https://twitter.com/TfLRail/status/762268309081456640?s=09

Lorenzo | 07.08.16 - 1:58 p.m. | #

Having checked this afternoon, I can confirm that Pudding Mill Lane DLR is open, and is less than ten minutes walk from 'Bridge 4' at the Stadium.

Also, I wouldn't particularly recommend trying to go shopping at Westfield during the hour after a West Ham match finishes. The place is a sea of claret and blue, many trying to work out how to get to the station, others enjoying the food and retail opportunities.

diamond geezer | Homepage | 07.08.16 - 5:22 p.m. | #











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