West Ham to buy London Stadium? Sadiq Khan's stance revealed | OneFootball

West Ham have been playing in the London Stadium for 10 years

The office of the London Mayor Sadiq Khan has claimed that the city is open to talks regarding the potential sale of the London Stadium to West Ham.

The Hammers are celebrating the 10th anniversary of their move to the ground this season.

But the stadium is currently owned by the city of London after it was built in order to stage the 2012 summer Olympics.

West Ham initially agreed a 99-year lease to use the venue, which began in 2016, and the agreement features no break clause on the City Hall side.

However, the possibility still exists for the Hammers to potentially purchase their current home as a power struggle goes on behind the scenes.

The Irons will be hosting Championship football at the London Stadium this season following their relegation from the Premier League in the previous campaign.

Sadiq Khan reveals stance on London Stadium sale to West Ham

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The Mayor of London has offered West Ham the green light to open talks regarding a potential purchase of the London Stadium.

Khan has left the door open for a possible deal, although it remains unclear how much it would cost for the Hammers to buy their current home ground.

When asked about a possible deal, a spokesperson on behalf of the mayor said, via City AM: “(He) would welcome any discussions regarding the London Stadium that would deliver greater value for money for Londoners.

“LLDC (London Legacy Development Corporation) regularly engages with organisations interested in investing in and supporting the long-term success of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and its venues.

“However, no conversations have taken place to date regarding this matter.

"Should any proposals be brought forward in the future, they would need to align with LLDC’s mission to deliver inclusive growth, creating opportunities for local communities, strengthening east London’s contribution to the capital’s economy and ensuring the continued success of the Park as a destination for sport, culture, entertainment and community participation.”

The Hammers achieved European success in the years that followed, winning the UEFA Conference League in 2023.

However, the Irons suffered relegation last season, and will now be playing Championship football at the stadium for the first time, where it will be the biggest home ground of any side in the division.

West Ham’s disrupted summer

There is currently an ongoing power struggle behind the scenes at the London Stadium, with Daniel Kretinsky and Amanda Staveley both looking to gain greater control of the Championship side.

The Czech businessman is already a shareholder of the Hammers, while Staveley is looking to enter into the ownership with a deal to buy the stake owned by the Gold family.

It was reported earlier this summer by Claret & Hugh that Kretinsky is looking to invest in the London Stadium to remove the running track, which may only be possible if the club owned the venue.

West Ham will begin the new campaign on 16 August with a trip to face Burnley.

West Ham owning the London Stadium could make it feel more like home

West Ham haven’t quite been able to make the London Stadium feel quite like home in the 10 years since moving in.

The running track has proven quite an obstacle for fans, both literally and figuratively, as it has kept them far away from the pitch.

If the Hammers can strike a deal to buy the stadium, then that would pave a path to getting rid of the track and moving the stands closer to the action.

This would go a long way to fixing the issues with the venue, and could make it feel more like home at last.