Questions about upcoming Saturday West Ham game at London Stadium

Don’t wear a shirt for a different team in the home end. He should just wear something else. Not everyone wear team colours so this is the safest option.

First, heed what Helen has said. This is not like a friendly soccer game or baseball game in the US.

Wear the most neutral thing you have and make sure they are not the Bournemouth colors. British football fans can get rowdy, loud, drunk, curse, etc
Remember, UK teams play non-UK teams in European championships. So, what you think may be okay, may not be.

I know the area, I have stayed at a hotel across from the Stadium a few times and I have been there on match days. You won't find this information on Google.

From Victoria Station, forget Hackney Wick. It's an overground station and the closest change point from the Underground is at Stratford which is where you get off for the Stadium.

Stratford is a very large underground station (most of which here is above ground.) Expect large crowds. The fastest walking from the station to the Stadium is through the shopping center. But on game days, you can't do it as they shut off one end. You have to walk around the center. Don't worry, there will be lots of people doing it so just follow the crowd.

Give yourself time. Trains will be crowded with both football fans and shoppers going to the mall. You won't be able to get on the grounds of the stadium without showing a ticket

Regarding shopping, I wouldn't suggest taking anything into the stadium with you especially if it for a team other than the home team. There are plenty of shops in London that sell team memoribilia for all the local teams and then some. If you must shop, do it afterwards. The longer you wait trying to get a train back to your hotel, the less crowded it will be.

Whilst Hackney Wick is just a bit nearer the stadium than Stratford, it's a bit of an awkward journey to get there and probably not worth the effort. Stratford is where the vast majority of the crowd for the game will arrive and depart from. The ground is about 15 minutes walk from the station - follow signs for the Westfield shopping centre and walk through it, or just follow anyone in a claret and blue shirt.

You will find that almost no one will be in the stadium 90 minutes before kick-off. They will all be around the shopping centre, the food outlets and particularly local pubs. The latter won't be a place for your grandchildren unless they are at the older end.

It will probably be easier to wear something neutral - he could just make the wrong choice, maybe choosing a side that West Ham have played in recent years, which could just possible antagonise fans. Unlikely, but possible.

Your grandson might enjoy the Arcelor Mittal Orbit, which is right outside the ground?

edit: I bow to Frank's greater knowledge about the route from Stratford station, despite the fact that I have been to the London Stadium once! Actually 3 times but the other two were the Olympics and the World Athletic Championships.

Would those be okay to wear

Probably not.

Thanks so much, Helen, Frank, John and Cambourne!! I really appreciate all the advice as it does get confusing. My grandson is a typical cocky 15-year old who thinks he can do no wrong, so it will be good to tell him your advice about what to wear.

John, I originally planned to take them there, but unfortunately I have a bad fear of heights and according to their website, an adult has to travel with them to the top, which I cannot do. So that off the table now.

And Frank, good to know about the shopping. We might just hang out in the shop after the match and kill a bit of time. He would definitely be buying a home team item, as he likes West Ham (they have a relationship with his and my granddaughter's Duluth soccer club, and have sent players to Minnesota to coach them in the past). And also thanks to you and John about the Stratford info.

I feel much better now—I was starting to get very confuse. :-) Thank you all!

Mardee - I could almost have arranged to meet you in Stratford to help! My wife and both sons will be at my elder son’s house in Forest Gate next Saturday but I will be at home, ironically to go to watch my football team play on Friday night. I will be on a train south as your game is on, en route to a week in Mallorca on 6th.

John, that would have been fun! Enjoy your upcoming trip and I hope your team wins!

Mardee....the Westfield Stratford mall is massive with lots of places to eat and shop. You may want to consider hanging out there after the match. On Saturday it's open until 9.

https://www.westfield.com/en/united-kingdom/stratfordcity?utm_source=google&utm_medium=GMB

That would be good - then you wouldn't be trying to leave when the Overground (or Underground, whichever it is there) is packed with fans leaving the match after. Put some distance (time) between the departure of the bulk of the fans and yours.

You have been given great advice about what not to wear. My brother-in-law is a huge West Ham fan and I am sure he will be at the game. It is very important that you wear neutral colors. It is not like going to a baseball game or football game in the States as someone else pointed out. I agree you may want to buy the shirts somewhere in London after the event.

The only problem I see is going into the Westfield Shopping Center before or after. From what I have been told, certain sections are closed off to the football crowds. Also, I did go to a St. Louis/Cubs game one summer during the London MLB series, and I can tell you the crowd was insane coming out of the stadium. It was well organized, but we literally were funnelled certain directions in a mass of people (think Shoulder to Shoulder). Expect the tunnels and trains to be packed solid, so you may want to hold back a little and let the masses exit first. Things may get rowdy depending on who wins. If you get on the wrong platform or train don't panic. You will make it back to London eventually. I hope the weather holds up, I just got back from London two days ago. We had two weeks of decent but cool weather. Layer up and gloves and a hat might be in order as long as its a neutral color!

Thanks, Frank, Kim and mpaulynsettle. Spending a bit of time at the mall does sound like a good idea. And mpaulynsettle, I can imagine it will be extremely crowded after the game. I've been to many a pro sporting event in my life and always let the hoi polloi clear out before leaving.:-) It's never fun fighting crowds like that and I have no problem waiting till most are gone. Even if there are some closed areas at the mall, I think the kids will be fine walking around a bit there.

ETA: By the way, the weather has been absolutely beautiful here! Barely any rain (and that was just early one morning), lots of sun and low to mid 60's for the most part. The rest of this week continues in the same vein.

in addition to the shopping and looking around Westfield Stratford City, there are also all sorts of restaurants and faster there - Wagamama, Nandos, Wahaca, all the usual suspects.

https://www.westfield.com/en/united-kingdom/stratfordcity

Regarding the area that is closed off....right across from the stadium are two entrances to the outside section of the shopping centre. Those entrances are usually closed when there is a match on at the Stadium. The Centre doesn't want massive crowds cutting through to get to the tube station.

All other entrances are open.

Thanks, Nigel and Frank. Good information to have on hand. We’re all looking forward to the game, and I hope everything goes smoothly.