The debate over the future of London's Olympic Stadium is intensifying as the Olympic Park Legacy Company prepares to decide whether Tottenham or West Ham will take over the venue after the 2012 Games. The central issue is whether the running track should be retained, with Tottenham arguing that football and athletics do not mix, while West Ham supports keeping the track.
Tottenham's stance is influenced by European trends, where clubs have moved away from multi-use stadiums. Juventus demolished the Stadio delle Alpi in Turin after less than 20 years, replacing it with a football-specific venue. The old stadium was criticised for poor sightlines, with fans up to 50 metres from the pitch in some areas, and it rarely hosted athletics due to the lack of a warm-up track.
In Germany, clubs like Schalke and Bayern Munich have also abandoned multi-sport stadiums. Schalke left the Parkstadion in 2001, with official Thomas Spiegel noting that the running track detracted from atmosphere and view, leading to low average attendances of 40,000 in a 70,000-capacity venue. Since moving to a football-specific ground, Schalke regularly sells out its 61,600 seats. Bayern Munich left the Olympic Stadium in 2005 after being unable to make alterations due to architectural restrictions.
Similarly, Espanyol in Barcelona vacated the Olympic Stadium at Montjuic Park in 2009, with spokesperson Serafin Bailey stating it lacked atmosphere and was unattractive for supporters. In England, only Brighton and Rotherham fans currently watch their teams play across a running track, with Rotherham counting down the days until they move to a new trackless venue.
West Ham counters that three of the last four World Cup finals were held in stadiums with running tracks, and the 2012 European Championship final will take place at Kiev's Olimpiysky National Sports Complex, which also has a track. The decision now rests with the Olympic Park Legacy Company.
