Soccer clubs bid for Olympic stadium

SOCCER clubs Tottenham and West Ham yesterday became the official would-be tenants of the Olympic Stadium after the London 2012 Games.

By The Newsroom

Published 12th Nov 2010, 21:24 BST

Updated 12th Nov 2010, 21:24 BST

The Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) confirmed it would enter final negotiations with the bids led by Tottenham Hotspur Football Club with AEG and a consortium of West Ham United FC and the east London borough of Newham.

The rival bids will go head-to-head, the OPLC picking a preferred bidder by December.

The OPLC, which is in charge of securing the future of the Olympic Park in Stratford, wants to confirm a tenant for the stadium by March 2011.

The formal bidding process started on August 18.

The OPLC had urged bidders to look at options which would enhance and build on the existing and Government-approved plans, for a 25,000 seat mixed-use stadium.

West Ham plan to covert the 80,000-seater stadium into a 60,000-capacity arena for football, athletics, concerts and community use.