London Mayor Sadiq Khan says ‘no’ to £800m stadium which would benefit West Ham but he’s powerless to stop it as his superior has the final say.
West Ham fans following Hammers News will be aware of the Madison Square Garden company’s plans for a huge new venue close to the London Stadium.
There would be a big pay-off for West Ham if plans get the green light for the £800m MSG Sphere stadium on their doorstep.
Last month we reported on plans for an amazing new arena near West Ham’s home ground with a decision pending from the Government.
Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images
The proposals to build a 300ft Las Vegas-style sphere close to West Ham’s home ground that is the London Stadium have sparked a mixture of excitement and anger in Stratford.
Some local residents and businesses have expressed concerns over plans.
West Ham fans will no doubt have seen the huge sphere built in Vegas. The Madison Square Garden Entertainment Company behind it want to replicate the Vegas arena near West Ham’s ground if they get the final go-ahead.
The 21,500-capacity stadium is expected to be covered in animated adverts for the next 25 years.
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
The proposals have been awaiting a decision the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and the levelling up secretary, Michael Gove.
Some business owners are voicing concerns about adding another venue to the area on top of the large crowds West Ham, Westfield shopping centre and The Abba Arena already bring.
But for Hammers fans it would bring much needed investment in improving the traffic and travel infrastructure in and around Stratford to benefit the likes of them and other regular visitors to the area.
Now there has been a big development but things are not quite as cut and dried as being reported elsewhere.
Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
The mayor has said ‘no’ to the £800m stadium which would benefit West Ham but he’s powerless to stop it as his superior has the final say.
A host of outlets reported yesterday that Khan has rejected the MSG Sphere in Stratford due to concerns over light pollution and the development’s green credentials.
But Khan’s decision means little in the grand scheme of things. Because it will now pass to Communities Secretary Michael Gove for a final ruling.
And a Sphere Entertainment spokesman has fired a warning that they will take the project to other more receptive cities if Gove rejects the plan.
“While we are disappointed in London’s decision, there are many forward-thinking cities that are eager to bring this technology to their communities. We will concentrate on those,” the spokesman said.
