161-458: The National Sports Centre at Crystal Palace in south London, England is a large sports centre and outdoor athletics stadium. It was opened in 1964 in Crystal Palace Park , close to the site of the former Crystal Palace Exhibition building which had been destroyed by fire in 1936, and is on the same site as the former FA Cup Final venue which was used here between 1895 and 1914. It
322-564: A farmer's market on Haynes Lane. The triangle also contains a range of vintage furniture and clothing stores, as well as galleries, arts and crafts shops and other businesses. There was an ongoing campaign to turn a former bingo hall (at 25 Church Road) back into a cinema, after it had been purchased by the Kingsway International Christian Centre . The cinema had opened as "The Rialto" in 1928, later being renamed "The Picture Palace", only to close in 1968 and become
483-744: A "cunning indicator of the decline of the West and the rise of the East". Despite the criticism, the Olympic Stadium was nominated for the 2012 Stirling Prize in architecture losing out to the Sainsbury Laboratory at the University of Cambridge . Amanda Baillieu writing in Building Design challenged the designer's claims that the stadium is environmentally sustainable and good value for money. Instead, it
644-489: A 25,000-seater stadium and we want to see if we can get around the athletics track. It has to stay, we know that. But can we build up, if not down, and see if it's possible to get it covered while we play?". In February 2012, 16 parties were interested in the stadium. In July 2012, four bidders were announced: In April 2012, the Olympic Park Legacy Company was dismantled, and responsibilities transferred to
805-456: A 25,000-seater stadium, maintaining it as an athletics stadium, as part of their plans to redevelop the Olympic Stadium after the 2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics . However, their plans were cancelled due to their failure to obtain the Olympic Stadium. The now defunct football team AC London used the stadium for their home games in the club's 2015–16 season. Croydon F.C. announced
966-626: A 99-year deal like West Ham and would only have usage of the stadium when the Hammers are not playing. On 1 July 2014, Leyton Orient brought an end to their dispute with the Premier League regarding the future use of the stadium, after a confidential agreement between the two parties was reached. Supporters of various rival clubs pressed for an inquiry into the LLDC's granting of West Ham's tenancy, arguing that West Ham were being given an unfair advantage by
1127-436: A bingo hall. In 2018 after considerable restoration and renovation, Everyman Cinemas re-opened 25 Church Road as their 25th nationwide cinema location. Television transmission has been taking place from Crystal Palace since at least the 1930s and two TV transmitter towers — Crystal Palace Transmitter – 640 feet (200 m) tall — and Croydon Transmitter – 500 feet (150 m) tall — stand on
1288-622: A branch of Capel Manor College , offering courses in Animal Care, Arboriculture and Countryside, Horticulture and Landscaping and Garden Design along with other short courses. In 2013, due to a shortage of primary school places in both Crystal Palace and London, proposals to open a new primary school by September 2015 were put forward, with plans submitted to the Department for Education in January 2014. The proposals were approved as part of wave 6 of
1449-636: A central system to display video content wrapped around the stadium. The system was primarily intended for use during the ceremonies of the Olympics and Paralympics. This technology was also adopted for the Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium , which hosted the 2018 Winter Olympics . The red Mondo 400-metre (440 yd) athletics track used for the London 2012 games was laid in August 2011, possessed nine lanes, and
1610-522: A day before they were due in court for the judicial review to start into the original bidding process, Tottenham Hotspur ended their legal challenge about the original decision to award the stadium to West Ham United. This marked Spurs' end to their interest in the stadium. On 18 October, Leyton Orient submitted an application to the English Football League for permission for a move to the stadium. Chairman Barry Hearn said, "We are asking for
1771-499: A main stadium with a roof "designed to wrap itself around the venue like muscles supporting the body"; however, at that time there had been no formal design brief agreed. While the bidding process was ongoing, West Ham had talks with the ODA about contributing to the development of a multi-purpose stadium, should London win the bid. The government preferred to produce a brief for an athletics-only stadium that would be largely disassembled after
SECTION 10
#17330857781271932-623: A mix of New Japan’s regular roster along with talent from Joshi (all female) partner promotion Stardom and British partner promotion Revolution Pro Wrestling (RevPro), who also assisted with production. RevPro hosted two events of their own, Uprising in December 2023 and High Stakes: Ospreay vs Oku in February 2024. Both shows featured talent from New Japan, with Uprising also featuring talent from Mexican promotion CMLL and High Stakes featuring All Elite Wrestling (AEW) star Orange Cassidy as
2093-538: A national icon – especially when compared with Beijing National Stadium . For example, Ellis Woodman, Building Design ' s architecture critic, said of the design: "The principle of it being dismountable is most welcome... it demonstrates an obvious interest in establishing an economy of means and as such is the antithesis of the 2008 Olympic stadium in Beijing. But while that's an achievement, it's not an architectural achievement. In design terms what we're looking at
2254-475: A particularly interesting interior: there is a central concourse with a complex and delicate exposed concrete frame supporting the roof, which has a folded teak lining. The "wet" side of the central aisle houses a series of pools, including a 50m competition pool, and a diving pool with a dramatic reinforced concrete diving platform. The "dry" side has a smaller sports arena used for basketball, gymnastics and other sports. The listing from Historic England describes
2415-405: A plastic sheet layer and burying it under 75 cm (2 ft 6 in) of soil. The Mondotrack surface was removed in early 2016 and a new surface, using 17,000 square metres (20,000 sq yd) of the improved Mondotrack/WS, was laid that May. Some of the original running track, mostly from the home straight , was kept so that it could be sold and auctioned to the public to raise money for
2576-482: A possible conflict of interest was investigated. On 22 August 2011, the independent investigation ruled that the process was not compromised and thus the bid process will not be reopened. On 23 August, the day before Tottenham Hotspur were due in court, they staged "intense negotiations" with the office of the Mayor of London, and looked set to drop all claims for a review and be offered funding for their own stadium. However,
2737-687: A revived league of six European cities garnered three straight 4-6 records, before bowing out with a 3–7. The main stadium pitch is currently used by the London Olympians and is the home of the Great Britain Lions , the national American football team. The stadium played host to the 2011 Britbowl , the championship game of the British American Football League , which was won by the London Blitz . Crystal Palace race circuit
2898-454: A second bid from West Ham United and Newham Council . The legacy plan for the stadium had involved converting it into a 25,000- to 30,000-seat athletics stadium with a sports training, science and medicine centre after the 2012 Paralympics. Media reports, however, suggested that several potential tenants were interested in moving to the stadium after the games. Media speculation and expressions of interest that did not result in bids included:
3059-410: A separate operator co-ordinating community and sporting use, as well as concerts and events. Leyton Orient's bid was rejected due to its commercial viability and the bid from Intelligent Transport Services, in conjunction with Formula One , was rejected for having too much speculation and uncertainty in their business plan. However, with so much public money going into the stadium and its redevelopment,
3220-579: A short channel of the Lea that ran from the west side of the stadium south-eastwards across the site, was filled in. Dennis Hone, chief executive of the LLDC, revealed in November 2012 that the stadium would not meet its reopening deadline of 2014. Instead, it would reopen in August 2015 and retain a capacity of around 50,000 for athletic events. Following the granting, in March 2013, of a 99-year tenancy to West Ham United ,
3381-586: A subsidiary of Vinci Concessions, were appointed to manage it starting in April 2015 for a 25-year period. The company are also be responsible for the London Marathon Charitable Trust Community Track and events on the south park lawn. This is the first stadium outside France to be managed by Vinci. Vinci set up a subsidiary company called London Stadium 185 (LS185), with the 185 signifying how many medals were won by British athletes at
SECTION 20
#17330857781273542-579: A surprise entrant in the opening match, with AEW CEO Tony Khan also in attendance. High Stakes’ main event was the final match for Will Ospreay as a regular fixture on the British independent wrestling scene before joining AEW full time. High Stakes drew the Sports Centre's largest crowd for pro wrestling with over 3000 attendees. Crystal Palace Sports Arena was a proposed football stadium to be built in Crystal Palace Park , to replace Selhurst Park as
3703-468: A temporary switch of home ground to Crystal Palace in 2020. 21 teams competed in the twenty FA Cup Finals staged at Crystal Palace, with ten different winners. Four more teams won the FA Cup during this time, after replays at other grounds. Newcastle United appeared in the most finals at the ground, five, but never lifted the cup there, whilst Aston Villa won all four of their games there. On 2 December 1905,
3864-419: A total of 532 individual 2 kW floodlight lamps. The lights were first officially switched on in December 2010 by Prime Minister David Cameron and London Mayor Boris Johnson . During the games, the towers were fitted with additional ceremony lighting, and four of towers held large temporary video screens. The stadium was equipped with a nine lane Mondo 400 metres (440 yards) athletics track. The turf in
4025-620: A triangle; Westow Park, a smaller park that lies off the triangle southwest of Crystal Palace Park; and the Stambourne Woodland Walk. Crystal Palace was named in the Sunday Times newspaper's top ten list of "the best places to live in London" of 2016. In April 2022 Crystal Palace was named the best place to live in London by the Sunday Times , being characterised by a bohemian fusion of urban vibes and village-feel. The ridge and
4186-407: Is 18 metres (59 ft) tall and weighs 45 tonnes (44 long tons; 50 short tons), and sits 30 metres (98 ft) above the stadium's floor, suspended from the roof rather than sitting on top. As the floodlight work began, work on a steel halo structure that encircles the stadium, containing 96 turnstiles, catering and toilet facilities, concluded. The black-and-white seating design from the Olympics
4347-513: Is a multi-purpose outdoor stadium at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in the Stratford district of London . It is located in the Lower Lea Valley , 6 miles (10 km) east of central London. The stadium was constructed specifically for the 2012 Summer Olympics and 2012 Summer Paralympics , serving as the athletics venue and as the site of their opening and closing ceremonies. Following
4508-573: Is aligned with the top of the permanent seating bowl. A lightweight demountable steel and pre-cast concrete upper tier was built up from this "bowl" to accommodate a further 55,000 spectators. The stadium is made up of different tiers; during the Games, the stadium was able to hold 80,000 spectators. The base tier, which allows for 25,000 seats, is a sunken elliptical bowl that is made up of low-carbon-dioxide concrete; this contains 40 per cent less embodied carbon than conventional concrete. The foundation of
4669-624: Is asserted that the reality will be the opposite. In particular, she claimed that: The cost was £537 million, as compared with the 1908 Olympic Stadium cost of £60,000 (£5.6 million in 2010). The stadium site is on former industrial land between the River Lea (which rejoins the Navigation below Old Ford Lock ), the City Mill River , and the Old Pudding Mill River, parts of
4830-558: Is home to Newham and Essex Beagles Athletic Club and is open for around 250 days of the year. The construction of the track was funded by a grant from the London Marathon Trust. The Olympic Stadium hosted its first public event on 31 March 2012, serving as the finish line for the National Lottery Olympic Park Run . Five thousand participants (including celebrities, British athletes and members of
4991-449: Is nearby. As a result, the area is served by a diverse range of local government bodies and Members of Parliament (MPs). Several local authority councillors in the area were elected on 5 May 2022. All seats bar 1 are held by Labour party candidates. The elected officials by ward for Crystal Palace local authorities in October 2023 were: The area is represented by four constituencies in
Crystal Palace National Sports Centre - Misplaced Pages Continue
5152-547: Is now the Queen's Hotel on Church Road between October 1898 and June 1899. Zola fled to England after being convicted of criminal libel in France on 23 February 1898, a direct consequence of the publication of his open letter J'Accuse…! . Olympic Stadium (London) The London Stadium (formerly and also known as the Olympic Stadium and the Stadium at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park )
5313-428: Is pretty underwhelming." He went on to criticise the procurement and design processes – stating of the latter that it should have been subject to an architectural competition. This view was echoed by Tom Dyckhoff, The Times ' s architecture critic, who described the design as "tragically underwhelming" and commented that the "architecture of the 2008 and 2012 Olympics will, in years to come, be seen by historians as
5474-455: Is served by the A212 , A214 , A234 and A2199 roads . The roads that make up the triangle (Westow Hill, Westow Street and Church Road) form part of a one-way system and are in a 24-hour controlled parking and loading zone . There is a coach park inside Crystal Palace Park. The area would have been affected by the cancelled London Ringways motorway plans, as one of the radial routes connecting
5635-539: The 2008 Summer Olympics , approximately 10,700 tonnes (10,500 long tons; 11,800 short tons). In addition to the minimal use of steel, which makes it 75 per cent lighter, the stadium also uses high-yield large diameter pipes that were surplus on completion of North Sea gas pipeline projects in its compression truss, recycled granite , and many of the building products were transported using trains and barges rather than by lorry. A wrap, funded by Dow Chemical Company to be able to advertise on it until 26 June 2012, covered
5796-532: The BBC broadcast the first ever televised motor racing. With the outbreak of World War II, the park was taken over by the Ministry of Defence , and it would not be until 1953 that race meetings could take place again. The circuit had been reduced in length to 1.39 miles, bypassing the loop past the lake, and pressure from the local residents reduced motor sport in the park to five days a year. A variety of races took place at
5957-674: The Bow Back Rivers . Another branch of this system, St Thomas' Creek, 200 metres (660 feet) to the south, completes an "island" surrounded by water. 200 metres (660 feet) to the east is the Waterworks River ; with the London Aquatics Centre on its eastern bank. This "island" site for the stadium lies at the southern end of the Olympic Park . To make room for its construction, the already partially obstructed Pudding Mill River,
6118-562: The COVID-19 pandemic . The Sports Centre’s indoor sports arena has played host to professional wrestling events beginning in May 2018, with American independent promotion Ring of Honor hosting the second show of their ‘Honor United’ UK Tour. In 2022, Japanese promotion New Japan Pro Wrestling hosted Royal Quest II , which took place over two nights on the 1st and 2nd October and returned in October 2024 to host Royal Quest IV . These shows featured
6279-530: The Crystal Palace (High Level) railway station . The station was built to serve passengers visiting the Crystal Palace, but after the fire in 1936, traffic on the branch line declined. In World War II , the line serving the station was temporarily closed due to bomb damage. Repairs were made and the line was reopened, but the requirement for reconstruction and the decline in traffic led to a decision to close
6440-542: The E20 LLP , a joint organisation by the London Legacy Development Corporation and Newham Council were specifically set-up to oversee the redevelopment of the stadium into a UEFA Category 4 venue seating 66,000 spectators. The reconfiguration saw work on a new roof, corporate areas, toilets, concessions and retractable seating. West Ham contributed £15 million and Newham Council £40 million for
6601-527: The East London Line . In addition, Southern services run to Beckenham Junction , Sutton and Epsom Downs . Crystal Palace railway station is one of the few stations to border two zones , Zones 3 and 4. The South Gate of the Park is accessible by rail via Penge West , which is served by Southern trains from London Bridge and London Overground services. Crystal Palace used to have a second railway station,
Crystal Palace National Sports Centre - Misplaced Pages Continue
6762-526: The England and Wales Cricket Board and Kent County Cricket Club ; Middlesex County Cricket Club , Essex County Cricket Club : Wasps RFC ; Saracens R.F.C. ; London Skolars R.L.F.C. ; Major League Baseball ; the National Football League , which had been looking at the potential of a franchise in London; and Leyton Orient F.C. These joint bidders had each separately expressed interest in
6923-646: The Free Schools Programme and the school is scheduled to open in September 2015. As of October 2014, the school is considering three possible building configurations – with the Greater London Authority running a public consultation on each option – all of which would involve demolishing one of the seated stands around the athletics track at the National Sports Centre . The area
7084-581: The Grand Prix Legends historical motor racing simulation, for which it was recreated in detail. It was later converted to several other racing simulation programs. Adjacent to the Olympic swimming pool exists a small race circuit for radio-controlled cars. The site is the home of the London Radio Car Club (LRCC). The first British Motor Show (then known as the 'London Motor Show', which was one of
7245-421: The London Aquatics Centre and Olympic Stadium . This led to Crystal Palace F.C. submitting plans to rebuild the stadium as a 40,000 capacity football stadium. A motor racing circuit was opened around the Park in 1927 and the remains of the track now make up some of the access roads around the park. The track was extended to two miles (3.2 km) in 1936, before being taken over by the Ministry of Defence at
7406-519: The London Assembly . Their elected assembly members in 2024 were: The area is represented by four constituencies in the Westminster Parliament . In July 2024, their elected MPs were: The Italian Job has a scene filmed at the athletics track in the Crystal Palace sports centre, in which Michael Caine says, "You were only supposed to blow the bloody doors off!" The Pleasure Garden
7567-462: The London Borough of Bromley . It forms a part of the greater area known as Upper Norwood , and is contiguous with the areas of Anerley , Dulwich Wood , Gipsy Hill , Penge , South Norwood and Sydenham . The area is represented by four parliamentary constituencies , four London Assembly constituencies and fourteen local councillors . Until development began in the 19th century, and before
7728-631: The National Lottery . Holding 80,000 for the Olympics and the Paralympics, it re-opened in July 2016 with 66,000 seats, but with capacity for football limited to 60,000 under the terms of the lease. The decision to make West Ham United the main tenants was controversial, with the initial tenancy process having to be rerun. The stadium hosted the 2017 IAAF World Championships and 2017 World Para Athletics Championships (the first time both events were held in
7889-692: The Queen Elizabeth II Bridge and Greenwich , and southward to Croydon and the North Downs . It is also one of the starting points for the Green Chain Walk , linking to places such as Chislehurst , Erith , the Thames Barrier and Thamesmead . Section 3 of the Capital Ring walk round London goes through the park. A smaller park occupying 2.73 hectares (6.7 acres) is to the southwest of
8050-613: The South Cross Route to Ringway 2 (the South Cross Route to Parkway D Radial ) would have run through a part of Crystal Palace Park, following the railway line. London Cycle Network routes 23 and 27 travel through Crystal Palace. Route 27 runs from Anerley Hill through part of Crystal Palace Park towards Bromley and route 23 runs through the Crystal Palace triangle to connect to Borough and Croydon . Transport for London have proposed to build Quietway route 7 that runs from Crystal Palace to Elephant and Castle . The route
8211-892: The opening and closing ceremonies of the 2012 Paralympic Games. Over the course of the Paralympic Games athletics events , world records were set on the track by; Oxana Boturchuk Martina Caironi , Chen Junfei , El Amin Chentouf , China, Libby Clegg , Arnu Fourie , Marie-Amelie le Fur , Terezinha Guilhermina , Mahmoud Khaldi , Samwel Mushai Kimani , Walid Ktila . Liang Yongbin , Rosemary Little , Liu Ping , Liu Wenjun , Gunther Matzinger , Michael McKillop , Mateusz Michalski , Yohansson Nascimento , Oscar Pistorius , David Prince , Evgenii Shvetcov , South Africa, Leo Pekka Tahti , Abraham Tarbei , Iurii Tsaruk , Richard Whitehead , Abderrahim Zhiou , Zhu Daqing , and Zhou Guohua . Multiple World Records on
SECTION 50
#17330857781278372-405: The 19th century, when it began to be built over. It was also a home of Gypsies , with some local street names and pubs recording the link, and the area still retains vestiges of woodland. A pneumatic railway was briefly trialled in the area in 1864. Once the railways arrived, Crystal Palace was eventually served by two railway stations, the high level and low level stations, built to handle
8533-545: The 2012 Olympic Games. During the Athletics events of the Olympic Games , David Rudisha broke his own world record for the 800 metres to become the first man to run the distance in under 1 minute 41 seconds. In the 4 × 100 metres relay the team from Jamaica also broke their own world record from the 2011 World Championships by two-tenths of a second. The United States women's 4 × 100 metres team beat
8694-541: The 2012 Olympics and Paralympics, this seemed the most likely option. At the opening of the formal bid process, West Ham United were considered favourites once they withdrew their initial opposition to keeping the running track in place, as well as planning a £100 million conversion to create a 66,000 capacity venue, which would also host international football, international athletics, as well as Essex County Cricket Club , international Twenty20 cricket matches, NFL games, and Live Nation events. On 11 February 2011,
8855-528: The 2012–2013 season, the London Lions played the home games at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre until they moved to the brand new Copper Box in 2013. From 2018, the Arena once more became a BBL venue when it was announced as the home of the new London City Royals franchise, the second London based franchise in the league. The stadium hosted the 1989 National Championship Game for American Football, called
9016-646: The 50m pool and diving pool have been closed for repairs, which will be funded by the Greater London Authority. The current 15,500 seater athletics stadium was built on the site of the football ground by M J Gleeson and opened in 1964. From 1999 to 2012 it hosted the London Grand Prix . The stadium can be expanded to 24,000 with temporary seating if required. Sand from the Beach Volleyball Courts at Horse Guards Parade during London 2012
9177-514: The 99-year lease, and which elements might be expected to involve an additional regular facility fee (with particular reference to West Ham wishing to replace the covering to the athletics track with one in club colours). Due to the dispute, E20 refused to open discussions on allowing the usable capacity of the stadium to increase to its full potential of seats unless these disputes were resolved to their satisfaction. However, in November 2018, both parties agreed to an out-of-court settlement, under which
9338-497: The BBC learned that David Gold and David Sullivan must share any profits they make if they sell the club. West Ham were given three months to improve the terms of their deal or lose the stadium; with Johnson going with plan B without football. The two parties seemed to find common ground in February 2013, with West Ham, reportedly, agreeing to pay £2.5 million in rent per year. They additionally promised to pay back any extra cost for
9499-416: The Budweiser Bowl, where the Manchester Spartans won the Great Britain National Championship by defeating the Birmingham Bulls by a score of 21 – 14. This National Championship Game was broadcast nationally on Channel 4. This was the height of the Great Britain – NFL relationship and partnership as the NFL supported the game, and the NFL commissioner and front office attended the game. The Cleveland Browns and
9660-499: The Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood area regularly in connection with the Upper Norwood Literary and Scientific Society. The Foresters Hall on Westow Street was then known as the Welcome Hall (or just Welcome), and it was in that hall in May 1892 that Arthur Conan Doyle was elected President of the society. He was re-elected to the post in 1893 and resigned in 1894. Each occasion was held in the same hall. The writer Deborah Crombie sets her 2013 mystery, The Sound of Broken Glass , in
9821-408: The Crystal Palace area of London. The club were formed in 1905 and initially played their home games at the sports stadium situated inside the grounds of The Crystal Palace. However, in 1915 they were forced to leave due to the First World War and played at nearby Herne Hill Velodrome and the Nest , before moving to their current home at Selhurst Park in 1924. The FA Cup Final was hosted at
SECTION 60
#17330857781279982-576: The Crystal Palace itself and instrumental in having the building reassembled on Sydenham Hill following the success of the Great Exhibition of 1851, lived in a house called "Rockhills" at the top of Westwood Hill. Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins , artist and sculptor who created the Crystal Palace Dinosaurs in the park, lived in Belvedere Road between 1856 and 1872. Jim Bob , Carter USM frontman, currently lives in Crystal Palace. The African-American Shakespearean actor Ira Aldridge lived in Hamlet Road. The French novelist Émile Zola lived in what
10143-427: The Games, it was rebuilt for multi-purpose use and now serves primarily as the home of Premier League club West Ham United , who played at the Boleyn Ground before moving to the stadium in 2016. Land preparation for the stadium began in mid-2007, with the construction officially starting on 22 May 2008. The stadium held its first public event in March 2012, serving as the finish line for a celebrity run organised by
10304-452: The Greek Cypriot and Orthodox community in the surrounding area. Built in 1878, and formerly an Anglican church (St. Andrew's), the walls are now dressed in ornate Byzantine-style art . Crystal Palace is about 7 miles (11 km) southeast of Charing Cross on Norwood Ridge and includes one of the highest points of London at 112 metres above the mean sea level (OS map reference TQ337707). The Crystal Palace National Sports Centre, in
10465-409: The London Disability Grand Prix in May 2012. On 5 May around 40,000 people attended an event entitled "2012 Hours to Go: An Evening of Athletics and Entertainment". The evening was hosted by Gabby Logan and Vernon Kay . The special guests joining Logan and Kay were Jon Culshaw , Melanie C , Hugh Bonneville , Chipmunk , and Jack Whitehall . Niamh Clarke-Willis, a nine-year-old, was chosen to open
10626-440: The London Olympic and Paralympic Games. In January 2019, the London Legacy Development Corporation bought LS185 from Vinci and kept all the existing staff in place after concerns were raised in regards to costs at the venue, as it turned in a £3.5 million loss the previous year. Although West Ham United are the primary tenants, the stadium's operators arrange many other events to take place there. On 24 January 2013, it
10787-405: The Manchester Spartans repeated as the Champions of Great Britain, winning their second National Championship in a row by defeating the Northampton Storm by a score of 21–19. The NFL also attended the 1990 Great Britain Championship Game at Crystal Palace, as did the players and cheerleaders for the New Orleans Saints and the Los Angeles Raiders as they were the two teams playing in the American Bowl
10948-423: The National League, contested the third "London Series" in 2024, with a fourth scheduled in 2026. Entertainment wise, The Weeknd 's After Hours til Dawn Tour broke two records at the stadium including the highest single night attendance of any show at London Stadium with over 80,000 people, and a total of 159,574 people over the span of two days. During London's bid for the games, promotional materials featured
11109-483: The National Sports Centre was also home to former British Basketball League team's Crystal Palace and London Towers . Crystal Palace eventually merged into the London Towers organisation in 1998, whilst after great success domestically and in European competition the Towers ran into severe financial difficulties and folded its professional team in 2006. During its most successful period, Towers alternated between Crystal Palace and Wembley Arena as its home venues. For
11270-502: The Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) unanimously selected West Ham United and Newham Council as the preferred bidders to take over the stadium after the 2012 Games. But Leyton Orient , a lower league team who are geographically the nearest professional football club to the London Stadium, complained that as it was so close to their own ground, West Ham's occupancy of it would breach F.A. rules and could even force them into bankruptcy. On 3 March 2011, West Ham United's proposed move to
11431-407: The Palace sports stadium between 1895 and 1914. The historical grounds also hosted the first England Rugby Union match against New Zealand in 1905, which New Zealand won by 15–0. The London County Cricket Club also played their matches here , having been formed by The Crystal Palace Company with the help of W. G. Grace . In 1964, a 15,500 seater athletics stadium and sports centre was built on
11592-636: The Parade. These services include routes N2 , 3/N3 , N63 , 122 , N137 , 157 , 202 , 227 , 249 , 322 , 358 , 363 , 410 , 417 , 432 and 450 . The nearest major international airports are Heathrow and Gatwick . London City Airport and Biggin Hill Airport are also nearby. Marie Stopes , early promoter of sex education and contraception, was raised in a house on Cintra Park shortly after her birth in Edinburgh in 1880. Joseph Paxton , designer of
11753-667: The Philadelphia Eagles players and cheerleaders also attended, as they were the two teams who were playing the next day in the American Bowl at Wembley Stadium. The NFL's Tex Schramm presented Spartan player/head coach Terry Smith with the National Championship Trophy at Wembley Stadium the next day. The stadium also hosted the 1990 National Championship Game for American Football, called the Coca-Cola Bowl, where
11914-512: The Stadium. E20 through their appointment of a stadium operator provide for all matchday stewarding, catering, cleaning, fabric and maintenance services – albeit that they profited through the bulk of franchise fees from catering concessions and bars. E20 and West Ham became embroiled in a protracted legal dispute in the High Court as to which elements of service were included in the annual payments under
12075-588: The Victoria–London Bridge route. Rail travel was in decline across the UK in the 1960s and 1970s when the Beeching Axe was imposed. In the 1970s, two outer platforms used by terminating trains were abandoned and the third rail was removed. More recently rail travel at the station has seen a resurgence and new services have started running. Passenger numbers increased each year between 2004 and 2013. Since May 2010,
12236-601: The annual lease payment would be uplifted as the usable capacity increased towards 66,000. In October 2014, The Evening Standard reported that French company Vinci SA were favourites to be given a contract to run the stadium for ten years. The company which already operates several other stadiums, including the Stade de France in Paris, had reportedly beaten off competition from other companies including Anschutz Entertainment Group who run The O 2 . In February 2015, Vinci Stadium,
12397-413: The area from 1854, until it was destroyed by a fire in 1936. About 7 miles (11 km) southeast of Charing Cross , it includes one of the highest points in London , at 367 feet (112 m), offering views over the capital. The area has no defined boundaries and straddles five London boroughs and three postal districts , although there is a Crystal Palace electoral ward and Crystal Palace Park in
12558-621: The area was proposed to coincide with the completion of the stadium. However, on 4 December 2017, Crystal Palace F.C. unveiled plans to redevelop Selhurst Park and expand its capacity to 34,000, which suggested they have now abandoned plans to redevelop the National Sports Centre. Crystal Palace, London Crystal Palace is an area in South London , named after the Crystal Palace Exhibition building which stood in
12719-515: The area, and until 1889 included parts of both counties. From 1889 to 1965 the area was on the south-eastern boundary of the County of London . For centuries the area was covered by the Great North Wood , an extensive area of natural oak forest that formed a wilderness close to the southern edge of the then expanding city of London. The forest was a popular area for Londoners' recreation right up to
12880-509: The arrangement. However, in September 2015 the government rejected holding such an inquiry. In October 2015, the LLDC released a 207-page document with redacted sections. West Ham's annual rent was not revealed as this was seen to be commercially sensitive information. On 14 April 2016, it was revealed that West Ham will pay £2.5 million per year during a 99-year lease of the stadium but will not have to fund police, stewarding, heating, pitch maintenance, or corner flags. Barry Hearn described
13041-429: The arrival of the Crystal Palace, the area was known as Sydenham Hill . The Norwood Ridge and an historic oak tree were used to mark parish boundaries. After the Crystal Palace burned down in 1936, the site of the building and its grounds became Crystal Palace Park, the location of the National Sports Centre which contains an athletics track, stadium and other sports facilities. Crystal Palace Park has also been used as
13202-414: The athletics track laid in October 2011. The stadium's track-and-field arena is excavated out of the soft clay found on the site, around which is permanent seating for 25,000, built using concrete "rakers". The natural slope of the land is incorporated into the design, with warm-up and changing areas dug into a semi-basement position at the lower end. Spectators enter the stadium via a podium level , which
13363-528: The awarding of the Olympic Park Stadium to West Ham United was to be carried out following the discovery on 30 June 2011 that an employee, Dionne Knight had been engaged by West Ham United to carry out consultancy work relating to the stadium without permission of the OPLC. Knight had already declared to the OPLC that she was in a personal relationship with a director of West Ham United, and was suspended whilst
13524-408: The base level is 5,000 piles reaching up to 20 metres (66 ft) deep. There are a mixture of driven cast in situ piles, continuous flight auger piles, and vibro concrete columns . The second tier holds 55,000 seats and measures 315 by 256 m (344 by 280 yd) and is 60 m (197 ft) high. The stadium contains just under a quarter of the steel as the Olympic Stadium in Beijing for
13685-436: The best players of the time played some matches for the club while continuing to play for their usual teams, among them CB Fry , Johnny Douglas and K S Ranjitsinhji . However, the games were little more than exhibition games – and money-making exercises for Dr Grace – and so it quickly lost its first-class status, and with that the ability to attract the top players. The club folded in 1908. The 2,000 capacity indoor Arena at
13846-410: The building as "exceptional in the breadth of its vision, not only in the range of facilities carefully planned within it but also in being intended to serve serious performers from all nations (there is separate residential accommodation in the park) as well as local enthusiasts." A hexagonal tower and low-rise communal area next to the main building provided accommodation for 130 athletes. Since 2020
14007-571: The centre of the park, is 88 metres (289 ft) above the mean sea level. The soil in the area has been classified as typically "Slowly permeable, seasonally wet, slightly acid but base-rich loamy and clayey soils", with impeded drainage, moderate fertility and a loamy profile. The nearest Met Office climate station is based in Greenwich Park . Crystal Palace is on the boundary of four London boroughs – Bromley , Croydon , Lambeth and Southwark . A fifth borough – Lewisham –
14168-491: The circuit including sports cars , Formula Three , the London Trophy for Formula Two , and even non-championship Formula One races. The last International meeting was in May 1972, the final lap record going to Mike Hailwood at an average speed of 103.39 mph (166 km/h). The final meeting was held on 23 September 1972, but club events continued until 1974. Although the circuit no longer exists, it can be driven in
14329-414: The deal as one his dog could have bettered. In September 2018, Lyn Garner, chief executive of the London Legacy Development Corporation, revealed that the £2.5m paid per year by West Ham did not even cover the cost of staging matches leading to increased debts in running the stadium for the 97-year remainder of their tenancy agreement. The LLDC had established a commercial subsidiary, E20, as landlords for
14490-430: The decision to grant a review "a great day for the little man". However, the bid was later cancelled before the review was completed, due to a series of concerns regarding EU laws. Once the original deal collapsed a new process to select a tenant was begun. The athletics legacy clause was clarified to ensure that a track remained in the stadium. West Ham immediately announced plans to become tenants. On 17 October 2011,
14651-403: The earlier contract for the roof, to complete the stadium's transformation works. Imtech G&H were awarded a £25 million contract to carry out electrical and plumbing work. Paul Kelso, working for Sky News , discovered in September 2014 that the cost of the conversion of the stadium may rise by £15 million, due to additional work to strengthen the structure, to allow it to support
14812-420: The eventual design-and-build contract of the new Olympic Stadium after no other organisations met the bidding criteria. The stadium design was launched on 7 November 2007. Construction of the stadium commenced three months early in May 2008, after the bowl of the structure had been excavated and the area cleared. The building of the stadium was completed in March 2011 reportedly on time and under budget, with
14973-410: The exterior during the Olympics. The wrap was made from polyester and polyethene and printed using UV curable inks. The wrap was made of pieces of material covering 20 metres (66 ft) high and 900 metres (1,000 yd) in length. The final design for the wrap consisted of 2.5-metre-wide (8 ft 2 in) fabric panels, twisted at 90-degree angles to allow entry to the stadium at the bottom of
15134-415: The field by Dong Xia , Birgit Kober , Na Mi , Yang Liwan , and Wang Zhiming . The decision on how to use the stadium after the Olympics went through two rounds of bidding: the first was rejected on 11 October 2011, after concerns had emerged about European Union competition law and particularly the risk of illegal state aid. The Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) set five criteria: that
15295-573: The first of its kind in the world), was held at Crystal Palace in 1903. Organised by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) it subsequently moved to Olympia for the next 32 years. In 1997, the Sevenoaks & District Motor Club started a series of sprint events using part of the old infield link, the main straight and north tower corner. The events lasted three years before being stopped due to park development work. Following discussions with
15456-718: The first regular-season U.S. Major League Baseball (MLB) game in Europe in which historic American League rivals the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees played a two-game series. MLB returned to London Stadium in June 2023 with a two-game series between National League rivals , the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals . The Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Mets , also of
15617-627: The former site of the football stadium in Crystal Palace Park. The athletics stadium was known as the National Sports Centre and between 1999 and 2012 hosted the London Athletics Grand Prix among other international athletics meetings. The Crystal Palace triathletes club is also based here. Since the London 2012 Olympics , the status of the stadium and aquatics centre as the main facilities for their sports in London has been superseded by
15778-434: The fourth-anniversary event, took place in the stadium on 22–23 July 2016. The IPC Grand Prix events were incorporated alongside Diamond League events on the second day of the meet. At the event, Kendra Harrison broke the women's 100 m hurdles world record, a time which has existed for 28 years. The 2017 Muller Anniversary Games was shortened to a one-day event on Sunday 9 July 2017. Its move to an earlier time of
15939-666: The games, with the lower tier remaining in place as a permanent athletics facility to replace the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre . With the original Olympic design finalised and being built, the government had a change of heart, and a bidding process was launched for post-Olympic tenants. On 13 October 2006, the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) confirmed that it had selected Sir Robert McAlpine and Populous with whom to start exclusive negotiations to fulfil
16100-561: The gardens of Victorian villas built on the hill overlooking Croydon, but fell into disrepair. In 1962, the Croydon Council approved terms for buying the land from the Church Commissioners and other local freeholders, allowing the construction of a link. Paths and benches were installed but much of the vegetation was left undisturbed, creating a woodland pathway. At 69 Westow Street is an ornate Greek Orthodox Church which serves
16261-608: The ground also held the first England rugby union international match against New Zealand in England, New Zealand winning 15–0. On Wednesday 18 August 1965, the ground was the venue of the rugby league match in which the Commonwealth XIII rugby league team were defeated 7–15 by New Zealand . It also played host to Fulham Rugby League in the mid-1980s for a couple of seasons, after they were forced to leave their previous ground of Craven Cottage . London County Cricket Club
16422-585: The grounds of the Penge Place estate at Sydenham Hill . The buildings housed the Crystal Palace School of Art, Science, and Literature and Crystal Palace School of Engineering . It attracted visitors for over seven decades. Sydenham Hill is one of the highest locations in London ; 109 metres (357 ft) above sea level ( spot height on Ordnance Survey Map); and the size of the Palace and prominence of
16583-697: The helm of the Great Britain National Team in 1989, and with 12 Spartans players playing for Great Britain, the Spartans players and coach led Great Britain to the European Nations Championship in 1989 by defeating France, Germany, and Finland by a combined score of 99 – 6 for Great Britain's first European Championship for the Great Britain National Team. The Sports Arena was also used by the London Monarchs, who also played some games at
16744-407: The hill at Upper Norwood, making the district a landmark location visible from many parts of London. The towers may appear similar in height and design, but the Crystal Palace mast, constructed in 1956, is on a slightly higher elevation. The current Croydon tower was built in 1962. Crystal Palace Park is a large Victorian pleasure ground occupying much of the land within Crystal Palace and is one of
16905-560: The historic oak tree known as the Vicar's Oak (at the crossroads of the A212 Church Road and A214 Westow Hill) were used to mark parish boundaries. This has led to the Crystal Palace area straddling the boundaries of five London Boroughs; Bromley , Croydon , Lambeth , Southwark and Lewisham . The area also straddles three postcode districts : SE19 , SE20 , and SE26 . The ancient boundary between Surrey and Kent passes through
17066-442: The home stadium of Crystal Palace Football Club . It was announced in January 2011, as a redevelopment of the current Crystal Palace National Sports Centre, and was planned to be ready for the 2015–16 football season. Crystal Palace F.C. submitted plans to rebuild the stadium as a 40,000 seater football stadium without a running track, but with a new indoor aquatic and sports centre as part of the complex. A London Tramlink extension to
17227-569: The large volume of passengers visiting the exhibition building. After the Palace was destroyed by fire, and with railway travel declining , passenger numbers fell and the high level station was closed in 1954 and demolished seven years later. Rail services gradually declined, and for a period in the 1960s and 1970s, there were plans to construct an urban motorway through the area as part of the London Ringways plan. With rising passenger numbers, additional London Overground services began stopping at
17388-425: The last Friday in June until the end of July. On 6 March, Barry Hearn of Leyton Orient stated that he would mount another legal challenge as he believed the rules set out by the LLDC had not been followed. Hearn also said he felt Leyton Orient's proposed ground share had been ignored and not properly explored. In April 2013, he was informed that his call for a judicial review had been rejected. An oral application
17549-542: The local council and the London Development Agency, sprint racing restarted at the park, with the two-day event held 30/31 May 2010. This event was repeated on the same or adjacent weekend each year, until 2017, when it was held on the August Bank Holiday weekend. The event was suspended in 2018 but took place in May 2019. It was scheduled to take place again in May 2020 and May 2021 but was cancelled due to
17710-681: The major London public parks. The park was maintained by the LCC and later the GLC , but with the abolition of the GLC in 1986, control of the entire park was given to the London Borough of Bromley. From 15 September 2023 responsibility for the park's management has been handed to the Crystal Palace Park Trust. Crystal Palace railway station is located by the park, as is the National Sports Centre . The park
17871-495: The military in 1915, and now play at nearby Selhurst Park . The largest 'domestic' attendance ever at the stadium was in the 1913 Cup final between Aston Villa and Sunderland , when 121,919 spectators squeezed into the stands. The previous world record had been the 1901 Cup Final, when 114,815 amassed to watch Tottenham Hotspur and Sheffield United draw 2–2, (Spurs won the replay at Burnden Park ). The 1970–71 WFA Cup (Women's FA Cup) third-place match and final were held at
18032-496: The new roof. It was revealed neither West Ham United nor the taxpayer would have to meet the additional cost as Balfour Beatty would contribute with the remainder funded from the existing LLDC transformation budget of the Olympic Park. In October 2014, the LLDC contributed a further £35.9 million towards the project with the funding coming from reserves and income generated by other means. Work commenced on 13 August 2013 with
18193-448: The new stadium in 1971, the first final of the modern competition; it was won by Southampton Women . In January 2011, the owners of Crystal Palace F.C. announced plans to relocate the club back to their original home at the site of the National Sports Centre, redeveloping it into a 40,000-seater, purpose-built football stadium. Tottenham Hotspur F.C. also released plans to redevelop the NSC into
18354-409: The new tenant should produce a viable long-term solution that provided value for money, secure a partner with the expertise to operate a legacy solution, reopen the stadium as quickly as possible, allow flexible usage, and make the stadium a distinctive physical symbol that supported regeneration. After receiving and pre-screening over 100 expressions of interest, the formal bidding process of selecting
18515-408: The newly constituted London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC). Daniel Moylan, chairman of the LLDC, was removed by Mayor Boris Johnson on 12 September 2012, after having made changes to the leadership of the organisation that annoyed some Board members. Johnson took on the chairmanship of the corporation himself. In December 2012, West Ham were named as the preferred bidder for the stadium with
18676-404: The news media suggested that West Ham United are considering a way to utilize the entire capacity for their matches. Following the demolition of the 2012 warm-up track and to comply with IAAF rules requiring one at Construction Category 1 facilities, a new six-lane community track (eight-lane on the straights) has been created immediately adjacent to the south of the stadium. Since 2017, the track
18837-441: The next day Tottenham did attend court despite being close to striking a deal. Tottenham and Leyton Orient won a review of the decision, being told that they had an arguable case. The review was scheduled to take place on 18 October 2011. Even if Tottenham abandoned the review, due to being granted a new stadium as part of their Northumberland Development Project , Orient were expected to continue, with its owner Barry Hearn calling
18998-714: The next day at Wembley Stadium. The Manchester Spartans second National Championship came only one week after the Spartans had won the European Club Championship in Italy when the Spartans defeated Dublin, Amsterdam, Berlin, and Milan to become the first British team to ever win the European Club Championship. The player/head coach of the Manchester Spartans was Terry Smith, who also was the Great Britain National Team Head Coach. With Smith at
19159-455: The operation of the stadium and its neighbouring community track. The grass playing field was lengthened by several metres at either end for the 2015 rugby matches to fit a suitably-sized rugby/football pitch. It was reseeded with a Desso GrassMaster artificial-natural hybrid pitch approved for Premier league matches of 105 by 68 metres (115 by 74 yd), ready for West Ham United, complete with under-soil heating . In football configuration,
19320-514: The overall branding design used by LOCOG for London 2012. The lines all centred on the finish line on the track. The seats were made in Luton and were fitted between May and December 2010. During the Games, the Stadium's grandstands contained a lighting system developed by Tait Technologies that allowed them to function as a giant video screen. Individual "paddles" containing nine LED pixels each were installed between each seat, which were controlled via
19481-425: The pitch is surrounded by artificial turf and carpeting that covers the exposed sections of the running track. Initially, the stadium design received a mixed response from the media, with reviews ranging from "magnificent" to the derisory "bowl of blancmange ". The design was promoted as an example of "sustainable development", but some architecture critics have questioned both its aesthetic value and suitability as
19642-432: The pitch, many by more than four metres (13 feet). In March 2020, West Ham opened a sensory room in the stadium for fans. On 6 April 2022, West Ham announced that the capacity for football matches will be bumped from 60,000 to 62,500 and the lower tier of the west stand is to be reconfigured to make the stadium more football-oriented. The redevelopment meant an increase of the overall capacity to 68,013. In December 2023,
19803-403: The planning application and the funding for that development were proving difficult for the club, making the Olympic Stadium a viable option. After the acquisition of West Ham United in 2010 by David Gold and David Sullivan , the new owners expressed their desire to make the stadium the club's new home. With Mayor Boris Johnson expressing his desire for a football club to take it over after
19964-401: The post-Olympics user of the stadium opened on 18 August 2010. It ran until 30 September, after which the OPLC drew up a shortlist, to select a tenant by the end of the financial year (31 March 2011). On 12 November 2010, it was announced that two bids had been shortlisted for the stadium post-Olympics. They were a joint bid from Tottenham Hotspur and Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), and
20125-563: The previous best set by East Germany in 1985, recording a time of 40.82 seconds to set a new world record . Olympic records were set by Usain Bolt , who ran the second-fastest 100 metres , Renaud Lavillenie in the Pole vault by 1 cm (0.39 inches), Sally Pearson recorded a record time in the 100 metres hurdles and Tatyana Lysenko set a new mark in the Hammer . The stadium also hosted both
20286-572: The public who won a lottery draw) took part in a 5-mile (8 km) run around Olympic Park. Participants entered the Olympic Stadium to the theme from Chariots of Fire to run the final 300 metres (330 yd) on its track. The stadium hosted two warm-up events for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games as part of the London Prepares series . The venue hosted the British Universities Athletics Championships and
20447-426: The removal of 25,000 seats and the grass from the field of play. The athletics track was covered with a 75 cm (2 ft 6 in) layer of recycled concrete to protect it during the heavy lifting. In November 2013 work commenced to remove the fourteen floodlight panels as part of the £200 million conversion of the stadium. In March 2015 work began on installing the 14 new floodlights. Each floodlight panel
20608-410: The roof and seats within ten years. Gold stated at the beginning of March that a deal could be complete by the middle of the month. On 22 March 2013, West Ham United secured a 99-year lease deal, with the stadium planned to be used as their home ground from the 2016–17 season. In July 2013, UK Athletics received a 50-year deal for the use of the stadium. UK Athletics will have access every year from
20769-587: The same location in the same year). It hosts a round of the IAAF Diamond League each year, known as the London Grand Prix , sometimes called the London Anniversary Games. It also hosted several 2015 Rugby World Cup matches. The stadium can also hold concerts with up to 80,000 spectators and, due to its oval shape and relocatable seating, was deemed to have the potential to host other sports such as baseball and cricket . In June 2019, it hosted
20930-548: The setting for a number of concerts and films, such as The Italian Job and The Pleasure Garden and contains the Crystal Palace Park Concert Platform , in place since 1997. Two television transmitter masts make the district a landmark location, visible from many parts of Greater London. Local landmarks include the Crystal Palace Triangle, a shopping district made up of three streets forming
21091-476: The site made it easy to identify from much of London. This led to the residential area around the building becoming known as Crystal Palace instead of Sydenham Hill. The Palace was destroyed by fire on 30 November 1936 and the site of the building and its grounds is now known as Crystal Palace Park. The area is formed by Westow Street, Westow Hill and Church Road, and has a number of restaurants and several independent shops, as well as an indoor secondhand market and
21252-451: The stadium as England Monarchs before the team became defunct. The Monarchs were unfortunately never able to follow up on their title-winning success in the inaugural World League of American Football season of 1991, never again making it to another World Bowl, the playoffs, or even a second winning record. Their title defence never materialised, ending 1992 with a 2-7-1 tally; after a two-year league hiatus, four seasons from 1995 to 1998 in
21413-533: The stadium ceremonially. During the London Disability Grand Prix, Paul Blake ( T36 , 1500 metres ), Hannah Cockroft ( T34 , 100 metres ), Michael McKillop ( T37 , 1500 metres ), and Richard Whitehead ( T42 , 200 metres ) all set new world records . The stadium also hosted the athletics events of the UK School Games . The stadium hosted both the opening and closing ceremonies at
21574-585: The stadium concourse. A West Ham store and coffee shop was opened on 23 June. In February 2019, it was announced that the East Stand would be renamed in honour of Billy Bonds . In an attempt to make the London Stadium more like their home ground, in April 2019 a £250,000 claret-coloured pitch surround was announced and installed. In February 2020, West Ham announced planned alterations to the stadium introducing two new lower-tier stands moving supporters closer to
21735-502: The stadium has played host to a number of live open air concerts, by artists such as Coldplay , Bruce Springsteen , Sex Pistols and Depeche Mode . The stadium is open to the air, and has a larger West Stand and a smaller Jubilee Stand (from 1977). The indoor sports building was designed by the LCC Architects Department under project architect Norman Engleback between 1953–54 and is a Grade II* listed building . It has
21896-486: The stadium was approved by the British Government and London Mayor Boris Johnson . Tottenham Hotspur F.C. and Leyton Orient F.C. applied for a judicial review to overturn the Olympic Park Legacy Company's (OPLC) decision; however, this appeal was rejected in June 2011. Tottenham Hotspur appealed the decision not to have a review on 29 June 2011. The OPLC announced on 5 July 2011 that an independent review into
22057-516: The stadium was grown in Scunthorpe and was a mix of perennial ryegrass, smooth stalk meadow grass, and fescue grass seeds. It took 360 rolls of grass to cover the infield and was laid in March 2011. The track was designed by Italian company Mondo and when installed was their latest version of the Mondotrack FTX. The stadium's 80,000 seats had a black-and-white 'fragment' theme that matched
22218-437: The stadium, with Lord Harris telling Orient and West Ham to "stop squabbling like children." Dennis Hone stated that he was in talks with Barry Hearn over occasional usage, but that it would not mean a permanent groundshare . In early December, the LLDC said that there was nothing to stop Orient from negotiating a rental agreement with whichever firm ends up running the stadium. Orient, however, would not be able to negotiate
22379-598: The start of World War II . Race meetings resumed in 1953, and the circuit hosted a range of international racing events, continuing until the last races in 1974. For three years, from 1997, parts of the circuit were used for a once-a-year sprint time trial similar to a hillclimb before stopping due to development work. The event resumed in 2010 and continued until 2019. Crystal Palace contains three primary schools, Paxton Primary School, Rockmount Primary School and All Saints C of E Primary School, and one secondary school, Harris City Academy . Crystal Palace Park also contains
22540-511: The station and a major station redevelopment occurred. The Crystal Palace, designed by Joseph Paxton , was a remarkable construction of prefabricated parts. It was a cast-iron and glass building originally erected in Hyde Park to house the Great Exhibition of 1851. Following the success of the exhibition, the Palace was moved and reconstructed in 1854 in a modified and enlarged form in
22701-443: The station and branch line in 1954, followed by the demolition of the station in 1961. Despite the demolition, a Grade II listed subway remains under Crystal Palace Parade. The Crystal Palace pneumatic railway was also built in Crystal Palace c.1864. The low level station remain open, although passenger numbers at that station also fell after the fire of 1936 and many services were diverted to serve London–Croydon routes instead of
22862-536: The station has served the East London Line branch of the London Overground , connecting with the Docklands and Shoreditch . In 2011 services were extended to Highbury and Islington . The station underwent redevelopment in 2012, which brought the original Victorian booking hall back into use, created a new cafe in the station building and provided wheelchair access through the installation of three lifts; this work
23023-490: The straights only had hard-packed gravel. Improvements begun in December 1936 increased the circuit to 2 miles, and tarmac-covered the entire length. 20 cars entered the first London Grand Prix on 17 July 1937, a race eventually won by Prince Bira in his ERA R2B Romulus at an average speed of 56.5 mph (91 km/h). Later that year, during the International Imperial Trophy meeting also won by Bira,
23184-453: The structure, and held in place with tensioned cables. To allow for fast on-site assembly, compression truss and roof column connections were bolted; this enabled easy disassembling of the roof structure after the closing ceremonies. The cable-supported roof structure covered approximately two-thirds of the stadium's seating. Reaching 70 metres (230 ft) above the field of play, its roof held 14 lighting towers that collectively contained
23345-871: The track were set by Yunidis Castillo , Assia El Hannouni , Evan O'Hanlon , Jason Smyth , Fanie van der Merwe , and Marlou van Rhijn . In the field events, world records were set by Hani Alnakhli , Alexey Ashapatov , Aigars Apinis Lahouari Bahlaz , Mohamed Berrahal , Kelly Cartwright , Yanlong Fu , Leonardo Diaz , Zeljko Dimitrijevic , Tanja Dragic , Najat El Garraa , Javad Hardani , Todd Hodgetts , Jun Wang , Maroua Ibrahmi , Juan Yao , Mohsen Kaedi , Mohammad Khalvandi , Gocha Khugaev , Karolina Kucharczyk , Assunta Legnante , Maciej Lepiato , Liu Fuliang , Drazenko Mitrovic , Azeddine Nouiri , Katarzyna Piekart , Mariia Pomazan , Nikita Prokhorov , Qing Wu , Markus Rehm , Raoua Tlili , Wang Yanzhang , Zhu Pengkai , and Oksana Zubkovska . Multiple records were set in
23506-413: The triangle on Church Road. Westow Park hosts the annual Crystal Palace Overground festival, a free community festival held over four days in the summer. To the south of the triangle is a small area of woodland occupying 1.92 hectares (4.7 acres), containing the Stambourne Woodland Walk. It was opened in 1984 and covers an area between developments on Stambourne Way and Fox Hill. The land originally formed
23667-618: The venue but submitted a joint bid. AEG is the company that redeveloped the loss-making Millennium Dome exhibition venue in Southeast London into the profitable music venue The O 2 . On 26 July 2010, it was rumoured that Tottenham might be interested in taking over the stadium after the Games. The club had plans to build a new stadium adjacent to their then-current ground as part of the Northumberland Development Project (which eventually came to fruition in 2019), but
23828-402: The work to be carried out with the LLDC and the British Government making up the rest. Approval was granted for the installation of retractable seating on all sides of the stadium and an 84-metre (92 yd) transparent roof. Balfour Beatty were initially contracted to construct the new roof for £41 million; in January 2014 they were awarded a £154 million tender, which includes
23989-406: Was 13.5 mm (0.5 inches) thick. It used two vulcanised rubber layers, one of which was a cushioning underside with elongated diamond-shaped cells, which allowed them to flex in any direction. During the four London 2012 ceremonies, the track was protected via synthetic covering. For the stadium's transformation, the track was protected from construction work for the 2015 events by covering it with
24150-468: Was a short-lived cricket club founded by the Crystal Palace Company . In 1898 they invited W. G. Grace to help them form a first-class cricket club. Grace accepted the offer and became the club's secretary, manager and captain. As a result, he severed his connection with Gloucestershire County Cricket Club during the 1899 season . The club played first-class matches from 1900 to 1904. Some of
24311-418: Was also filmed in the park and Our Mother's House has a scene featuring Dirk Bogarde with several children on the park's boating lake. The park features prominently as the setting of an outdoor rave in the music video for The Chemical Brothers ' number 1 single " Setting Sun ". Arthur Conan Doyle was active in the area between 1891 and 1894. Although he lived in nearby South Norwood , he visited
24472-475: Was completed by the end of March 2013. Tram services from Surrey used to operate up Anerley Hill to the Crystal Palace Parade until the 1930s. More recently there have been proposals to connect Tramlink to Crystal Palace, with mayoral candidates citing the desirability of the initiative. The area is served by multiple bus routes, many of which terminate at Crystal Palace Bus Station situated on
24633-453: Was confirmed that the London Athletics Grand Prix , a Diamond League event, would be switched to the stadium. In February 2013, it was announced that it would also hold a Paralympic athletics event on 28 July. In April Sainsbury's were announced as sponsors and the event was renamed the "Anniversary Games". At the event, David Weir set a world record for the T54 mile. The London Grand Prix
24794-467: Was donated to Crystal Palace National Sports Centre in 2012. There are three courts outside the indoor building. The current athletics stadium is on the same land as a previous football ground, which hosted the FA Cup final from 1895 to 1914 as well as other sports. In 1905 , the owners wanted their own football club to play at the venue, so they formed Crystal Palace F.C. . The club were forced to leave by
24955-520: Was formerly used for sports such as cricket, football and motor racing, and has been a venue for concerts often performed at the site of the Crystal Palace Park Concert Platform . In recent years the park has played host to organised music events such as Wireless Festival and South Facing Festival . It is also home to the famous Crystal Palace Dinosaur sculptures. The park is situated halfway along Norwood Ridge at one of its highest points. This ridge offers views northwards to central London, east to
25116-501: Was located in Crystal Palace Park , the outline of the track can still be seen on maps providing access to the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre that is also located in the park. The circuit opened in 1927 and the first race, for motorcycles, was on 21 May 1927. The circuit was 1 mile long, and ran on pre-existing paths through the park, including a loop past the lake. The surface had tarmac-covered bends, but
25277-507: Was one of the five National Sports Centres , run on behalf of Sport England , but responsibility was transferred to the London Development Agency (now GLA Land and Property ) and is managed by Greenwich Leisure Limited , under their Better brand logo. The athletics stadium has a capacity of 15,500, which can be increased to 24,000 with temporary seating. It hosts international athletics meetings . As well as sporting events,
25438-493: Was replaced with a white, blue and claret design. The new design includes West Ham's name on the East Kop Stand and symbolic crossed hammers on all lower-tier stands, and the retention of the 2012 shard design on the upper tier, albeit in new colouring to match the stadium's anchor tenant. Work continued through 2016 to transform the stadium into a home for West Ham, with the club's colours and giant model West Ham shirts added to
25599-688: Was scheduled to move permanently to the stadium in 2016. However, due to the 2015 Rugby World Cup taking place in the stadium, using the original seating configuration, the opportunity came to move the Grand Prix to the stadium a year early, again under the name of the Anniversary Games. During the 2015 events national records were set by Dafne Schippers (100 m), Dina Asher-Smith (100 m), Shara Proctor (long jump), while Georgina Hermitage (400 m T37) and Sophie Hahn (100 m T38) set world records. The Muller Anniversary Games,
25760-588: Was subject to consultation processes in the London Boroughs of Lambeth and Southwark in 2016, with construction to begin in 2017. Crystal Palace is accessible by rail from Crystal Palace railway station , where Southern trains run between Victoria on the Crystal Palace Line and London Bridge on the Brighton Main Line , and where London Overground trains run to Highbury & Islington on
25921-399: Was submitted in June 2013. On 19 September 2013, Leyton Orient lost their bid to win a judicial review into the decision to grant West Ham the tenancy of the Olympic Stadium. At the High Court, Mr Justice Lewis said the LLDC was entitled to make the decision which was not "irrational". In November 2013, it was the House of Lords ' opinion that Leyton Orient should be allowed occasional use of
#126873