Kieran Maguire salutes ‘amazing deal’ as West Ham set to bag £2m-a-year boost
West Ham are set to earn up to an extra £2million per year after they add another 2,500 seats to the London Stadium.
That is the view of finance guru Kieran Maguire, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the Hammers’ plans for the former Olympic Park.
The high-flying East London side moved into the arena on a rental basis in 2016 after they vacated Upton Park.
Complaints about the atmosphere at the stadium have faded in line with Irons’ dramatic on-pitch upturn in recent seasons.
The club confirmed on Monday (11 April) that they are now set to boost capacity to 62,500 and reconfigure seating to bring fans closer to the pitch.
Maguire hailed the “amazing deal” West Ham have in place with the London Stadium landlords.
“By the time you strip out VAT, you’re probably talking £1.5m to £2m for the extra seats,” he told Football Insider‘s Adam Williams.
“It’s not to be sniffed at. They won’t have to pay much more rent because they have got this amazing deal with the landlords.
“It’s pure upside from West Ham’s point of view. There are no downsides.
“Given what they usually pay their players, it could pay for a first-team player’s wages for nine months.”
David Moyes’ side are in action against Burnley at the London Stadium today (17 April).
They are currently 7th in the league table and into the semi-finals of the Europa League after victory in Lyon last Thursday (14 April).
In other news, pundit suggests Declan Rice will stay at West Ham this summer after “not so subtle” clue.