West Ham United has secured further reductions in food and drink concession prices at London Stadium, but has maintained a “satisfactory outcome” is yet to be reached amid the uproar caused by costs to fans at the start of the new football season.
West Ham fans who attended the Premier League club’s home opener against Manchester City earlier this month were met by increases in food and beverage prices that saw pints of beer cost as much as £7.60 (€8.98/$8.95).
West Ham is the main tenant at London Stadium with London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) the entity which owns and operates the former Olympic Stadium. The club last week held talks with LLDC and stadium catering partner Delaware North in a bid to lower prices ahead of Thursday’s UEFA Europa Conference League tie against Viborg FF.
This resulted in some reductions for that game, but West Ham was still unhappy with beer prices, while hot drinks were priced at £3.65, soft drink bottles at £5.10 and chocolate bars and packets of crisps at £2.50.
Ahead of Thursday’s game, West Ham had said that without a “satisfactory resolution”, it would commence legal proceedings against London Stadium. The club added that its food and beverage concession agreement “clearly states” that prices must not be greater than the mean average of equivalent prices charged at comparable clubs.
West Ham yesterday, ahead of the Premier League game against Brighton & Hove Albion, announced that some additional food and drink concession prices would be reduced, in a “number of key areas” that required addressing “as a matter of urgency” for supporters.
This meant that the cheapest price of a pint (£6.30) is now lower than some comparable clubs, and the price of an early bird pie and a pint (£7) is now comparable. A tea or coffee was reduced to £2.95, with a pack of crisps costing £2.20.
West Ham added yesterday: “Discussions with London Stadium and Delaware North remain ongoing. The club agreed the concession agreement to ensure clear protections for West Ham United supporters – it will reserve its position and will not rest until a satisfactory outcome is reached.”
Image: West Ham United
