BREAKING NEWS: West Ham Face Eviction Threat as UK Government Plans £45m Bid for World Athletics Championships………………..
London, 23 July 2025 — West Ham United are facing a potential eviction from the London Stadium as the UK government prepares a £45 million bid to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships. The development could spark a major dispute between the Premier League club, the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC), and UK Athletics, with the future of the stadium once again at the centre of national controversy.
Sources close to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) confirm that ministers are finalising a formal proposal to World Athletics, with the London Stadium—originally built for the 2012 Olympics—designated as the centrepiece venue for the tournament. If successful, the bid would require a full-scale conversion of the stadium back into an athletics arena for an extended period, severely disrupting West Ham’s operations and possibly forcing the club to find an alternative venue.
The stadium, leased by West Ham on a controversial 99-year agreement signed in 2016, has long been a point of contention. The club pays just £2.5 million a year in rent, while taxpayers foot the bill for conversion costs between football and athletics configurations. Hosting the 2029 event could reignite those debates, particularly with the £45 million bid price tag largely covered by public funds.
UK Athletics is understood to be supportive of the move, arguing it would reaffirm London’s status as a global sporting hub. “We’ve proven time and again that London delivers world-class athletics events,” said a UKA spokesperson. “With declining venues and interest across Europe, this is a golden opportunity.”
However, West Ham are reportedly “furious” about the potential disruption. Club executives are demanding urgent talks with the LLDC and have threatened legal action should any move to displace them from the stadium proceed without formal consultation.
“This stadium is our home,” said a senior West Ham source. “We’ve invested heavily in adapting it for football. Any attempt to push us out—temporarily or otherwise—would be met with fierce resistance.”
The last time London hosted the World Athletics Championships was in 2017, drawing global praise but costing tens of millions in conversion and logistics. Critics argue that the financial burden of such a major event—especially amid tight public spending—should not fall on taxpayers, especially if it disrupts the operations of a top-flight football club.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has yet to comment, though City Hall will be central to resolving the competing interests. The LLDC, which manages the stadium and surrounding Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, is already under scrutiny for mounting debts and governance concerns. A formal feasibility review is expected in the coming weeks.
West Ham fans, meanwhile, have taken to social media to express outrage, using hashtags like #HandsOffOurHome and #SaveTheLondonStadium to rally support.
With the bid submission deadline in September, and a decision expected from World Athletics in early 2026, a tense few months lie ahead. Whether compromise or conflict defines this process remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the future of the London Stadium is once again under the spotlight.
