London Stadium (Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park)

Design and capacity

The venue was built with a flexible design to accommodate athletics during the Games and a wider range of uses afterwards. During the Olympics the stadium seated roughly 80,000 spectators; after redesign and the installation of additional lower-tier seating, its capacity for football and large concerts is around 60,000. The structure includes a bowl of seating, a lightweight roof canopy, and infrastructure intended to support rapid changes of configuration between events.

Post-2012 redevelopment and tenancy

Following the Games the stadium underwent alterations to make it suitable for club football and other year-round activities. On 22 March 2013, West Ham United secured a long-term lease to make the stadium its home ground; the tenancy began in the 2016–17 season. Redevelopment work was carried out to improve sightlines, install club facilities and adapt the playing surface. The process of reconfiguration and the terms of the lease attracted debate and legal scrutiny, reflecting the challenge of turning an Olympic venue into a commercially viable, multi-use stadium.

Notable events and uses

Since 2012 the stadium has hosted a wide variety of events. These include domestic and international football matches, athletics meetings on occasion, large-scale music concerts and community programmes. In the realm of international sport, a high-profile example was Major League Baseball's involvement: on 8 May 2018 Major League Baseball announced a deal to stage baseball games at the venue. The Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees played a two-game series at the stadium on 29–30 June 2019, promoted as the 2019 MLB London Series; those clubs are among the most famous teams from the American game, and the matchup highlights the stadium's capability to host non-traditional British sports (Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, American League).

Events mix and community role

The stadium's schedule typically blends competitive sport with entertainment. Regular uses include:

• Club football fixtures and cup matches;
• Occasional athletics and international competitions;
• Large-scale concerts and cultural events;
• Community and legacy programmes aimed at local engagement and sport participation.

Legacy, controversies and notable facts

As a purpose-built Olympic stadium that transitioned to long-term use, the London Stadium exemplifies both the opportunities and the complexities of post-Games legacy planning. Supporters point to its continued use for sport and entertainment and the regeneration effects in east London; critics have highlighted disputes over tenancy arrangements, finance and stadium conversion choices. The venue continues to evolve as operators balance sporting ambitions, concert demand and community access while maintaining the physical fabric created for the 2012 Games.

For further information on the park and events schedule see the official pages and stakeholder announcements: Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, venue pages and organisers' releases provide current details about matches, concerts and public programmes.