So it came, it happened, and it passed.
No, not my morning ritual, but the OS/LS or whatever it will be called this week.
So how was it for you dear? I’m really not too sure to be honest. Maybe erring on the positive side. For now.
“Mutton dressed as lamb” I heard one comment. “Wow, un-be-lievable” was another. I guess I was somewhere in the middle. Depending on the photographic angle and agenda you were coming from, they were varying photos of the stadium that made it look either ridiculously ramshackle or stunning.
I’d been to the Olympic Park a few times this year with the kids. Affording me the opportunity to scope the surroundings in more detail, witness progress.
First things first it’s a good location. Not great, but good. 100% improvement on Green St. Lots to do there, lots of places to eat/drink/walk/mingle/shop. To that end it fits the bill of a 21stC experience perfectly. Whatever you think of modern football, if you want to be at the top end, if you can’t cater for the any of the following, you will struggle. Grounds that have been stuck in industrial sites or the edge of town in no man’s land will gradually die. Unless they are rammed to the rafters week after week is not sustainable. I predict in the next 15 years we’ll see upwards of 10 league clubs go belly up.
So for this reason, the OS/LS is a very good business decision. Its built into the fabric of the surroundings. Its touching distance of everything you want and minutes from other, fashionable London icons. If you’re a footballer coming to London, we’ve now pushed ourselves onto the top table.
Obviously success is a heavy weighing factor, but in fairness the groundwork is done, now the performances on the pitch need to live up to that.
So the outside is very…..OK. Still amazes me how “fascinated” and “easily impressed” some people are. This is the age of selfie though I guess, so people clambering over each other to have that “original” photo of the stadium sign and then twat it or twitter it (whatever the correct term is).
The crowd felt different too, not just because it was bigger. It definitely had the tourist feel. I’m hoping it’s because it was the inaugural game, so lots of interested bystanders got swept up. Hopefully they drift away when it comes to wet Wednesday nights at home to Hull…..
I’m all for encouraging people to come, but if their main concern is free Wi-Fi that should come with a free smack in the mouth. Just because you have the carrier bag and know how to cross your arms for a picture………You’ll impress me more if you can tell me Ian Bishops nickname from FAH……
So to the bricks and mortar…..and plastic, and crash mats, and steel girders. Well, it’s all rather big and fancy. If you like that sort of thing bring your plastic pants as no doubt you’ll be wetting them frequently. Looks quite pretty, acoustics are decent. We won’t really know until we are into the season. These games with no opposition fans, seasoned fans still gawping at triangular lights like demented moths, and others filming bubbles as though there capturing a unicorn fellating itself are no benchmarks of the real atmosphere. There were very quiet periods (said no married man ever) and some more raucous. I think this is very much a TBC. One thing that may help is the huge East Stand. Having 20k in one seamless stand may well become the modern day chicken run. I expect big things of that stand, so if you’re there, take note….
The toilets were…..big, there were lot of concession stands. The seating was comfy and I didn’t feel like I had to propose to the man in front of me (like when I last sat in the East Upper, poor chap in front of me had my sac balanced on his head until Payet’s free kick v Palace). Apparently you can take your own seat cushions in with you if you want……..might as well rig a catheter up and be done with it at the same time.
When the teams did run out, I did gulp a little bit (maybe it was the hot dog). It did look a bit “out of body” experience. My little old team, suddenly the bell of the ball. It was impressive. I’ve a feeling night games will retain a bit of the Upton Park magic. Something about the East End night air. There’s a hint of devilry, mirth, alcohol, passion. Maybe I’m looking through the lens of a rose, but I think the lights may continue to bring the best out of us.
Is the pitch too far away? Well of course. But hey. I’ve been to the Emirates, Wembley, I’ve been in the gods at St James Park. That’s life. No one died, one just adjusts a little. The chicken run ended up being (what felt like) miles from play, this is a bit further still but I think benefits far outweigh everything else now.
As for the game, I’ll let others comment. I had half an eye on it, half on others (and their blasted phones) and the ground and atmosphere.
The whistle came. Many of the tourists had long since wandered away to grab a mocha latte with hint of lemon zest and essence of Cambodian first born. Me and the kids lingered a little, taking things in and waiting for the queues to subside a little. On the whole a much more pleasant walk back to Stratford than UP. Well lit, well marshalled and constantly moving. I’ll have some of that thank you.
So I’ll be back with my ST next for Bournemouth. Apparently Mrs Brady wants my feedback on any ways she can improve my experience…….wow, brave woman. We’ll see how dedicated she is…..
