EXCLUSIVE West Ham and London Stadium landlords clash once again as dispute erupts over cost of staging WSL matches
West Ham's female side have not used the ground at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park since one match in 2019, which has become a source of friction among elements of the fanbase and a matter of some urgency at board level.
West Ham were conspicuous as the only side of the 12 in the WSL to not play a single fixture in the 2024-25 campaign at the larger grounds used by their corresponding men's teams. They were instead based at Victoria Road, the 6,000-capacity home of Dagenham & Redbridge.
Mail Sport can reveal efforts to correct the situation have led to a fraught stand-off between the stadium operators and the club, with both sides currently unable to agree a hiring fee and
A London Stadium spokesperson said: 'London Stadium has always been positive about welcoming women's football to the venue. However, as with every other one of the capital's football clubs, we cannot ask London's taxpayers to subsidise the cost of West Ham putting on these matches.
'London Stadium has made a very good offer to West Ham to stage women's matches at the stadium but has so far not been accepted.'
Mail Sport understands that Baroness Brady, West Ham's vice-chairman, was asked directly about occasional fixtures in the more prominent ground in a letter from the club's female players in summer 2023.
The club has been pushing to stage a game at the London Stadium but described their landlord's demands as 'excessive' and out of proportion to the six-figure fees attached to hosting Premier League fixtures.
A West Ham statement said: 'Securing another Women's game at London Stadium is a key priority for West Ham United, one the club have been working on tirelessly for some time and remain fully committed to delivering.
'This can only happen in line with the dual commitment to growth and sustainability for West Ham United Women, an approach supported in updated WSL governance guidance.
'West Ham United strive for parity between the men's and women's teams, wherever practically possible and as such are willing to invest the sums required to put on a game at the London Stadium. The barrier to progress is the excessive charges E20 are demanding to host West Ham United Women, significantly more than the comparative costs to stage Men's home games.
'The club remains hopeful of reaching a fair way forward for Women's Football at the London Stadium.'
Further talks are planned for after the publication of WSL fixtures on August 25.
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