Editing West Ham United F.C. (section)

==Stadium==
{{See also|Memorial Grounds|Boleyn Ground|Olympic Stadium (London)|l3=London Stadium}}
[[File:London Olympic Stadium West Ham.jpg|right|thumb|West Ham moved into the [[London Stadium|Olympic Stadium]] in 2016]]
[[File:London Stadium panorama picture.jpg|right|thumb|400px|Panorama of the interior of the London Stadium]]
[[File:West Ham v NK Domzale London Stadium.jpg|right|thumb|200px|West Ham and [[NK Domžale|Domžale]] enter the pitch for first ever football game at [[London Stadium]]]]

Until 2016, West Ham were based at the [[Boleyn Ground]], commonly known as Upton Park, in [[London Borough of Newham|Newham]], East London. The capacity of the Boleyn Ground was 35,016,<ref name="autogenerated1">{{Cite web |title=Stadium Information |url=http://www.whufc.com/page/StadiumInformation/0,,12562,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071110235510/http://www.whufc.com/page/StadiumInformation/0%2C%2C12562%2C00.html |archive-date=10 November 2007 |access-date=29 April 2010 |publisher=West Ham United F.C.}}</ref> and had been West Ham's ground since 1904. Prior to this, in their previous incarnation of [[Thames Ironworks F.C.|Thames Ironworks]], they played at [[Hermit Road]] in [[Canning Town]] and briefly at [[Browning Road]] in [[East Ham]], before moving to the [[Memorial Grounds]] in [[Plaistow, Newham|Plaistow]] in 1897. They retained the stadium during their transition to becoming West Ham United and were there for a further four seasons before moving to the Boleyn Ground in 1904.

Former chairman [[Eggert Magnússon]] made clear his ambition for West Ham to move to the [[Olympic Stadium (London)|Olympic Stadium]] after the [[2012 Summer Olympics]], a desire reiterated by current chairmen Gold and Sullivan when they assumed control of the club stating that they felt it was a logical move for the government as it was in the borough of Newham.

In February 2010, however, the British Olympic Minister stated that West Ham would not get the stadium, and it would instead be used for track and field.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wilson |first=Steve |date=19 January 2010 |title=David Sullivan admits West Ham buy-out 'makes no commercial sense' |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/west-ham/7027066/David-Sullivan-admits-West-Ham-buy-out-makes-no-commercial-sense.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/west-ham/7027066/David-Sullivan-admits-West-Ham-buy-out-makes-no-commercial-sense.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=6 April 2010}}{{cbignore}}</ref> On 17 May 2010, West Ham and [[Newham London Borough Council]] submitted a formal plan to the Olympic Park Legacy Company for the use of the Olympic Stadium following the [[2012 Summer Olympics]]. The proposal was for a stadium with a capacity of 60,000 which would retain a competition athletics track. The proposal was welcomed by the chairman of UK athletics, Ed Warner, who said, "I think it will feel great as a football stadium and I speak as a football fan as well the chairman of UK Athletics. I think you'd find West Ham would cover the track in the winter season so it wouldn't look like you had a track between you and the pitch."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Olympic Stadium proposal submitted |url=http://www.whufc.com/articles/20100517/olympic-stadium-proposal-submitted_2236884_2053629 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100519131459/http://www.whufc.com/articles/20100517/olympic-stadium-proposal-submitted_2236884_2053629 |archive-date=19 May 2010 |access-date=18 May 2010 |publisher=West Ham United F.C.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=9 May 2010 |title=UK Athletics boss Ed Warner boosts West Ham's 2012 plan |work=BBC Sport |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympic_games/8670638.stm |access-date=18 May 2010}}</ref>

On 30 September 2010, the club formally submitted its bid for the Olympic Stadium with a presentation at [[10 Downing Street]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 September 2010 |title=Official Olympic Stadium bid. |url=http://www.whufc.com/articles/20100930/hammers-at-no10_2236884_2170275 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101002041608/http://www.whufc.com/articles/20100930/hammers-at-no10_2236884_2170275 |archive-date=2 October 2010 |access-date=2 October 2010 |publisher=West Ham United F.C.}}</ref> and on 8 October 2010 the world's largest live entertainment company, [[Live Nation]], endorsed the club's Olympic Stadium plans.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 October 2010 |title=Live Nation back hammers bid. |url=http://www.whufc.com/articles/20101008/live-nation-back-hammers-bid_2236884_2178677 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101010034538/http://www.whufc.com/articles/20101008/live-nation-back-hammers-bid_2236884_2178677 |archive-date=10 October 2010 |access-date=9 October 2010 |publisher=West Ham United F.C.}}</ref> Three days after Live Nation's backing, [[UK Athletics]] confirmed its formal support for West Ham United and Newham Council in their joint bid to take over the Olympic Stadium in legacy mode.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 October 2010 |title=UK Athletics back the Hammers |url=http://www.whufc.com/articles/20101011/uk-athletics-back-the-hammers_2236884_2180792 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101014152958/http://www.whufc.com/articles/20101011/uk-athletics-back-the-hammers_2236884_2180792 |archive-date=14 October 2010 |access-date=11 October 2010 |publisher=West Ham United F.C.}}</ref> In November 2010, West Ham began a search for potential developers for "informal discussions" about what would happen to the ground if it were to win its bid to take over the Olympic Stadium after the 2012 Games. According to the club, the site could be vacated and open to redevelopment by summer 2014.<ref name="Redevelop">{{Cite news |date=19 November 2010 |title=West Ham kicks off Upton Park developer search |publisher=propertyweek.com |url=http://www.propertyweek.com/west-ham-kicks-off-upton-park-developer-search/5009351.article |access-date=20 November 2010}}</ref> On 11 February 2011, the Olympic Park Legacy Committee selected West Ham as the preferred club to move into the Olympic Stadium after the 2012 Games.<ref>{{Cite web |title=West Ham working with Populous on designs for Olympic Stadium after London 2012 |work=insidethegames.biz - Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games News |date=17 February 2011 |url=http://www.insidethegames.biz/summer-olympics/2012/11979-west-ham-working-with-populous-on-designs-for-olympic-stadium-after-london-2012 |access-date=4 October 2013 |publisher=Inside the games |last1=MacKay |first1=Duncan }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=West Ham must guarantee to keep running track warns Olympics Minister |date=12 February 2011 |url=http://www.insidethegames.biz/summer-olympics/2012/11939-west-ham-must-guarantee-to-keep-running-track-warns-olympics-minister |access-date=4 October 2013 |publisher=Inside the games}}</ref>

The decision in favour of West Ham's bid was unanimous,<ref>{{Cite news |date=11 February 2011 |title=West Ham chosen as preferred Olympic Stadium tenant |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-12424549 |access-date=11 February 2011}}</ref> although controversial as local Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur had also been bidding for the venue.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Spurs ready for legal battle as West Ham win Olympic stadium bid |url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-olympics/article-23922167-spurs-ready-for-legal-battle-as-west-ham-win-olympic-stadium-bid.do |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110212153349/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-olympics/article-23922167-spurs-ready-for-legal-battle-as-west-ham-win-olympic-stadium-bid.do |archive-date=12 February 2011 |access-date=6 August 2011 |website=London Evening Standard}}</ref> Hopes of moving to the stadium, however, were since placed under doubt following a legal challenge by Tottenham and [[Leyton Orient F.C.|Leyton Orient]], with Leyton Orient{{snd}}a perennial (since 1980) [[EFL League One|tier 3]] to [[National League (division)|tier 5]] club{{snd}}fearful that having West Ham playing less than a mile away from their [[Brisbane Road|Brisbane Road ground]] could steal support from the club and put them out of business.<ref>{{Cite news |date=14 April 2011 |title=Leyton Orient in 2012 Olympic stadium High Court action |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-13082972 |access-date=6 August 2011}}</ref> Both clubs' appeals for a judicial review, however, were rejected on 23 June 2011.<ref>{{Cite news |date=23 June 2011 |title=Tottenham fail with appeal over West Ham's use of the Olympic Stadium |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/jun/23/tottenham-olympic-stadium-judicial-review}}</ref> On 3 March 2011, West Ham's proposed move to the Olympic Stadium was formally approved by the British government and then-[[Mayor of London]] [[Boris Johnson]].

On 8 June 2011, it was confirmed that the [[Westfield Stratford City|Westfield Shopping Centre]] had been in detailed talks with West Ham for naming rights of the new Olympic stadium which could be called the Westfield Stadium.<ref>{{Cite news |date=8 June 2011 |title=Westfield to sponsor West Ham Olympic stadium |work=Construction Enquirer |url=http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2011/06/06/westfield-to-sponsor-west-ham-olympic-stadium}}</ref> West Ham announced plans to move from the Boleyn Ground from the 2014–15 season.<ref name="Stratford">{{Cite news |date=22 August 2011 |title=West Ham to call 2012 stadium home after Games |work=London Evening Standard |url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-olympics/article-23980097-west-ham-to-call-2012-stadium-home-after-games.do |access-date=22 August 2011}}{{dead link|date=January 2017}}</ref> In August 2011, an independent investigation initiated by the Olympic Park Legacy Company upheld the decision to award West Ham the Olympic Stadium after the 2012 Games.<ref>{{Cite news |date=23 August 2011 |title=Independent inquiry into Olympic Stadium decision clears West Ham |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/aug/23/inquiry-olympic-stadium-west-ham}}</ref> On 29 June 2011, however, Tottenham announced that they were returning to the High Court again to fight the decision to award West Ham the stadium, in an oral hearing, to try to overturn the original High Court appeal being rejected.<ref>{{Cite news |date=29 June 2011 |title=Spurs return to High Court over Olympic Stadium verdict |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/13964363}}</ref> On 25 August 2011, Tottenham and Leyton Orient were in fact granted a judicial review by the High Court into the Olympic Stadium bidding process.<ref>{{Cite news |date=25 August 2011 |title=Spurs win Olympic review |publisher=Sky Sports |url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11675/7122003/spurs-win-olympic-review}}</ref> On 11 October 2011, the deal to award West Ham the Olympic Stadium collapsed over concerns of legal pressure, with the government deciding that the stadium will stay in public ownership.<ref>{{Cite news |date=11 October 2011 |title=London 2012: West Ham Olympic Stadium deal collapses |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15251893}}</ref> Six days later, Tottenham and Leyton Orient announced they had ended their legal challenge after the deal collapsed.<ref>{{Cite news |date=17 October 2011 |title=Tottenham Hotspur ends 2012 Olympic Stadium legal bid |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-15344523}}</ref>

Once the original deal collapsed, a new process to select a tenant was begun. West Ham immediately announced plans to become tenants of the stadium.<ref name="Brady">{{Cite web |date=11 October 2011 |title=West Ham&nbsp;– Newham Statement |url=http://www.whufc.com/articles/20111011/west-ham-newham-statement_2236884_2478075 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111012233754/http://www.whufc.com/articles/20111011/west-ham-newham-statement_2236884_2478075 |archive-date=12 October 2011 |access-date=11 October 2011 |publisher=West Ham United F.C. }}</ref> By March 2012, West Ham was one of the four bidders for the stadium. With a decision due by the Olympic Park Legacy Company in May 2012, Mayor of London Boris Johnson delayed the final selection of future tenants until completion of the 2012 Summer Olympics, stating that it was "overwhelmingly likely" that the tenants would be West Ham.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gold |first=David |date=23 March 2012 |title=West Ham among four formal bidders for London 2012 Olympic Stadium |url=http://www.insidethegames.biz/olympics/summer-olympics/2012/16335-west-ham-among-four-formal-bidders-for-london-2012-olympic-stadium |access-date=12 September 2014 |website=insidethegames.biz}}</ref><ref name="Borisdecides">{{Cite news |last=Kelso |first=Paul |date=17 May 2012 |title=London 2012 Olympics: West Ham likely to get Olympic Stadium despite delays, says Boris Johnson |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/9271826/London-2012-Olympics-West-Ham-likely-to-get-Olympic-Stadium-despite-delays-says-Boris-Johnson.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/9271826/London-2012-Olympics-West-Ham-likely-to-get-Olympic-Stadium-despite-delays-says-Boris-Johnson.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=11 June 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

It was announced on 22 March 2013 that West Ham had signed a 99-year lease for the Olympic Stadium after the government agreed to put in an extra £1&nbsp;million towards the costs of converting the site. The club's plan was to move into the stadium prior to the start of the [[2016–17 in English football|2016–17 season]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bond |first=David |date=22 March 2013 |title=West Ham get Olympic Stadium after government ups funding |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21889864 |access-date=22 March 2013}}</ref> Supporters of rival clubs had pressed for an inquiry into the granting of West Ham's tenancy, arguing that West Ham were being given an unfair advantage by the arrangement. In September 2015, however, the government rejected holding such an inquiry.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Benge |first=James |date=3 September 2015 |title=Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham fan coalition's call for public inquiry into West Ham Olympic stadium deal rejected by government |work=London Evening Standard |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/government-rejects-arsenal-chelsea-and-tottenham-fan-coalitions-bid-for-public-inquiry-into-west-ham-a2926561.html |access-date=4 September 2015}}</ref>