West Ham considering fan zone plans for if they reach the Europa Conference League final
EXCLUSIVE: West Ham plan to turn the Olympic Park into a huge fan zone if they reach the Europa Conference League final… with thousands set to be disappointed with just 5,000 tickets available in Prague
- West Ham hold a 2-1 lead over AZ Alkmaar going into the second-leg next week
- The Fortuna Arena holding the final has capacity for a fraction over 20,000
- Allocations for both of the finalists would receive around just 5,000 fans
West Ham are exploring plans to install a fan zone adjacent to the London Stadium in the event that they reach the Europa Conference League final next month.
David Moyes’s side hold a 2-1 first-leg lead in their semi-final with AZ Alkmaar but, if they make it through, thousands of supporters will be unable to make the June 7 final in Prague because of the tiny capacity at Fortuna Arena.
The ground has capacity for a fraction over 20,000, with the allocations for each of the finalists around just 5,000.
In mitigation for such a limited presence at the game, West Ham are taking the sensible step of considering options in advance for how they might mark their first European final since 1976.
Sources have indicated that will possibly include giant screens on the London 2012 warm-up track at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, in the shadow of the stadium. It would be a key part of the club’s broader plans to make the site feel more of a ‘home’ to West Ham fans after the difficult move from the Boleyn Ground in 2016.
The winner of West Ham’s tie with AZ Alkmaar will face Basel or Fiorentina.
West Ham are considering installing a fan zone adjacent to the London Stadium should they reach the Europa Conference League final
The Hammers have one hand on a spot in the final after their 2-1 first-leg win over AZ Alkmaar
The Fortuna Arena (pictured in 2021) has a capacity for a fraction of just over 20,000 supporters with both clubs to make the final receiving an allocation of around 5,000