Freebies deal is Hammered out
ED GLEAVE WEST Ham bosses are giving away tickets to fill the stands at their new home.
The Premier League club moved to the London Stadium in the Olympic Park in the summer.
But they can’t fill the 60,000-seat venue.
Local residents are now being offered free tickets through a random ballot online.
In a drive dubbed “the mayor’s free ticket giveaway”, Newham Council are calling on fans to register their details to grab freebies. But we can reveal the stunt is causing a headache for Hammers’ chiefs.
An insider said: “There are often empty seats at the ends of games. A lot of fans are leaving early.
“Giving away tickets means there are quite a few people there who don’t really care if West Ham do well. So they’re leaving early even when the club is winning.”
Match tickets to see West Ham, who lost 5-0 to Manchester City in the FA Cup on Friday, at home cost up to £80 for the 2016/17 season.
The club has been plagued by issues since it moved to the ground, including violence.
There have also been complaints the stands are too far from the pitch. But West Ham boss Slaven Bilic, 48, has previously defended the Hammers move to the London Stadium.
He said: “The atmosphere inside the stadium was brilliant.
“You know I’m not paid to hail the new stadium if I don’t like it.”