David Gold says new stadium will help West Ham reach new levels
Friday 11 December 2015 09:00, UK
West Ham co-chairman David Gold believes their new stadium will be a springboard into the Premier League elite - and revealed they have already sold 30,000 season tickets for next season.
The Hammers are due to move into the Olympic Stadium for the start of the 2016/17 season and the final phases of the construction work are already underway.
"We dream of the impossible where we pursue the impossible," said Gold. "I would still say to you that our ambition is to finish in the top half of the division. Can we finish higher, in the top six? Yes we can."
The club revealed they have sold more season tickets for their first season in the Olympic Stadium than any other previous campaign and Gold expects to have capacity crowds at nearly all of their matches at their new 54,000 capacity home.
"Everyone was very dubious as to whether we could fill the stadium," he said. "We were confident with all the work we did and all the enquiries we made. The reality is that we are going to be coming very close to filling this stadium with season ticket holders.
"Let alone the thousands who would want to come because they would want to see this iconic stadium."
West Ham will have to make extra payments if they finish in the top 10 of the Premier League. The contract also states they have to pay an additional fee if they win the FA Cup or qualify for the Europa League or Champions League.
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The club will not have to pay for turnstile operators, much of the security and steward personnel and catering staff on match days. Gold defends the importance of West Ham's contribution.
"There's no doubt that a lot of people feel this has been funded by the taxpayer but without West Ham this wouldn't have happened," he said.
After hosting international events such as the Rugby World Cup over the summer, the stadium's construction work is expected to be ready by late spring. Defender Aaron Cresswell visited the ground and says he looking forward to playing at the club's new home.
"This is the first time I have been here at the stadium of course it is fantastic facilities," he said. "I'm not too sure the manager is going to be too happy with the pitch but it's going to be ready in time for the new season. Doing a mini tour around the inside bits and it looks fantastic."
