
On 11 April, THST met with reps from WHUFC, THFC, Metropolitan Police, London stadium, WHU supporter committee reps and the Football Supporters Federation to discuss THFC’s first visit to the London Stadium. Here’s a summary of the discussions and, as much of this is new information about a new venue, we’ve gone into a bit more detail than usual.
No significant problems with entering the stadium have been reported this season. The Met refer to this as a ‘soft ingress’ – which means fans arrive gradually over time rather than all at once. There will be 35 West Ham SLO’s on hand to direct fans across the Olympic Park from major transport hubs and from Westfield.
The walk time from Stratford (Central, Jubilee lines and rail) station to the stadium is at least 30 minutes. Pudding Mill Lane (DLR) and Hackney Wick (Overground) stations are also useable, and fans should allow a similar time to walk to the stadium from those stations.
NB: This afternoon, West Ham United has advised away fans to use Pudding Mill Lane or Hackney Wick stations to access the stadium. This is apparently due to the closure of the South Lawn area of the park for a private event. Fans who make their way from Stratford Station will be requested to walk around Loop Road to the away turnstiles due to this closure.
Away fans will enter the ground via 8 turnstiles at Gate D, accessed by Bridge 4. This is in the South West corner of the stadium.
Spurs has both an upper and lower allocation across blocks 117, 118, 218 and 219. The lower tier housing c 1800 fans and the upper around 1200. There is a significant gap between the lower and upper tier inside the stadium bowl. Both upper and lower tier allocations will be fed through the same entrance and share the same concourse and refreshment facilities inside the stadium.
Fans are advised that there will be a full search procedure on the night. Bags can be taken into the ground but laptops, flasks etc. should be left at home. There are no facilities for ‘left luggage’ or storage for any prohibited items at the ground.
Pubs and off licences within a two-mile radius of the stadium have been asked to stop serving alcohol one hour before kick-off. Local pubs have been asked not to serve football fans between 7pm and 8pm. Westfield Shopping Centre will close to fans two hours before kick-off (from 6pm) and there is no through route to the stadium. A controlled drinking zone will be in place where alcohol is not permitted on the streets.
Bars inside the London Stadium will be open and serving alcohol before kick-off. No alcohol will be served at half time in the away section.
Inside the ground, the away section is fully segregated, including on the concourse. There will be a 15-seat segregation line on one side and a 13-seat seg line on the other, as well as physical gaps between sections of the stand. The seg lines will be staffed by stewards and police. THFC will be taking 25 of our own travelling stewards, as is normal practice. There will be c 900 stewards throughout the stadium in total.
A state-of-the-art CCTV system is in place. In addition, c 50 stewards with bodycams will be deployed, and these cams can be used to record audio and video when it is deemed necessary by stadium staff, in line with standard practice.
Exiting the stadium, away fans will be directed onto the concourse, with barriers channelling them to either Pudding Mill Lane or Hackney Wick station. The area immediately outside the exit will be a sterile area.
Pudding Mill Lane is quite a small station, so queuing is likely. Trains run every 7 minutes, and each train has just 4 carriages. Hackney Wick trains run once every 15 minutes, and are normal Overground trains with more carriages. There are no additional match day trains servicing either of these stations.
Away fans wishing to use Stratford station will be permitted to do so but will be directed via the Loop road.
There will be between 80 and 90 British Transport Police on duty in and around major transport hubs on the night.
There will be no bars open after the game, and police will be enforcing the no alcohol policy.
Detailed information for disabled away supporters will be sent to THFC and duly circulated.
West Ham United has provided a Visiting Supporters Guide. This includes access routes and directions to the stadium from all transport hubs. THFC has also emailed this to all fans registered as purchasing a ticket for this fixture in the last hour.
THST Board
4 May 2017