Olympic Stadium downsize plan in doubt

07-08-2009

Plans to convert the Olympic Stadium to a 25,000-seat athletics venue after the 2012 games are reportedly close to being shelved in favour of creating a large-scale, multi-functional site which will retain the arena’s predicted 50,000 – 80,000 capacity.

The suggestion comes following the new appointment of the Olympic Legacy Team at the London Development Agency (LDA), but is however unconfirmed at present.

Proposed uses of the £547m stadium include a co-habiting museum, Sports Hall of Fame and an Olympic-themed Madame Tussaud’s visitor attraction. Although the presence of pitch-side running track rules out the possibility of a Premier League football club taking residence at the stadium after the Olympics, the stadium is expected to feature strongly in England’s bid for the 2018 World Cup.