Olympic venue can be great for West Ham, says Breitner

“The capacity of 80,000 was a big step up for the club from the 40,000 at our old ground and it was one reason why we didn’t lose a game at home for four years. We wanted to defend this Olympic Stadium, nobody else had any business being there.”

West Ham hope the attractions of the Olympic Park will ensure increased attendances at a venue holding 25,000 more seats than Upton Park — and the example of Bayern and the Olympiastadion is cause for optimism.

Breitner, 61, recalled how the surroundings of the Olympic Park in Munich attracted an influx of new supporters.

“When the Olympic Stadium opened, you had the choice to decide what you wanted to do: are we going to the cinema, the theatre, or are we going to the Olympic Stadium and get noticed there?” he said. “From the summer of 1972 on, more and more people went to the stadium. This went on and on and today we can see what kind of acceptance the game enjoys and what a role it plays, also for commercial enterprises.”

But there is one cautionary aspect of the story. The running track around the pitch led to complaints about the lack of atmosphere and, in 2005, Bayern left their home of 33 years to move into the football-specific Allianz Arena.