West Ham are finally making the London Stadium feel like home as they unveiled a new claret-coloured pitch surround.
The new look will appear for the first time at the Hammers' home Premier League game against Leicester on April 20.
Previously the pitch had been surrounded by a neutral green covering, over the athletics track at the former London 2012 Olympic stadium.
According to the BBC, the surround will cost £250,000, but vice-chairman Karren Brady said it is a significant moment in the London Stadium truly feeling like the home of the Hammers.
She told the club website: 'This is wonderful and long-awaited news for the football club and our supporters. In the aftermath of the expert determination myself and the board worked extremely hard to progress this because we knew how important it was to our fans.
'London Stadium is globally recognised as the home of West Ham , and therefore it is only right that our traditional club colours are in prominent and key areas of the playing arena. We have a stadium that truly has the look and feel of West Ham.'
West Ham captain Mark Noble said: 'On behalf of all the players, I am delighted that the new claret pitch surround will be in place very soon.
'London Stadium has certainly begun to feel more and more like home this season now that we are fully established, and this news will only enhance that feeling for both the players and our supporters, that this is the home of West Ham United.'
West Ham moved into the London Stadium for the start of the 2016-17 season, leaving behind Upton Park, their home for 112 years.
The move has not been without issues, with security concerns and fan unhappiness at the London Stadium's atmosphere among the teething problems.
ballstars
0
Once an athletics stadium always an athletics stadium and it's still not ours😦
oscillate
1
It does look a lot better in fairness, I don’t think it warrants any fanfare whatsoever. Look what Spurs have announced this past couple of weeks and look what we have
Brown83
0
Probably had to get a payday loan to get it done.
Timothyer
0
No excuses now then as the players were blaming they couldn't see the edge of pitch
outdoor
0
Does this mean the proposal of bringing the seats closer is out ?
LoveJUV
0
At least I can see what I’ve spent my 7% season ticket rise on👍
loosen
0
Ooh aren’t we lucky...next level stuff.
balcony
0
That looks excellent long time coming well done West Ham ⚒
Savannah
0
The fact that we even need a ‘pitch surround’ speaks volumes. Couldn’t care less about the colour
operations
0
Now we have the largest screen in Europe, as well as the largest carpet #COYI
kmplayer
0
Rather you guys could have invested more and pushed the stands closer to the pitch ( after we fully purchase the stadium of course )
weepring
0
Really great news would be having safety standing on the stadium
prosperoa
0
Wonderful news Karen says what ever has happend to our club
minicar
0
It’s amazing im so happy we have made these revolutionary changes at the London stadium I’m sure this is going to make our final games so much more enjoyable 😂👊
Hanhaar
0
Pitch surround on the cheap again. Personally I’d have gone for wooden flooring, carpet will smell when it gets wet 😂
unware
1
Why is there still a green bit? Are we saving up for the rest?
Josephmoreno
0
And now it feels like you’re only half a mile from the pitch instead of a whole one!
Enocheric
0
Wicked! A carpet that looks like a running track!
Kingkley
0
I’m sure every club in the country is envious of this haha 🤣
Buffaloe
0
To be ripped in a few weeks for the athletics. Logic that
face44
0
What happened to the retractable stand you promised Karen I've been to the London stadium it is never been a football friendly place It's to far back
boycott
0
Looking at the pictures it makes it look like the pitch is further away from the stands. Good intentions I'm sure, but I don't think it has worked.
Assessment
0
Does the colour of the pitch surround really matter? You can't change the architecture and the fans will always be to far away
gathering
0
It says a lot that Brady is still talking about making the stadium feel like home 3 years after moving.
ingenious
0
What happened to the retractable stand you promised Karen I've been to the London stadium it is never been a football friendly place It's to far back
Bennyta
0
The council ground
Jamesnagy
0
Make it any colour you like. It's still not a football stadium.