London Stadium seeks 24 concerts a year as council member urges sale to West Ham

London Stadium LLP, a wholly‑owned subsidiary of the Greater London Authority, has formally requested that Newham Council amend planning restrictions so the venue may host up to twenty‑four concerts each year, up from the current cap of ten. The move is intended to generate additional revenue, Barnet Post reported on 26 September 2026.

Financial pressure on the stadium

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The stadium disclosed that it records an annual loss of roughly £19 million, a figure Barnet Post cited from the company’s own statements earlier this year. West Ham United, which occupies the ground as its home venue, contributes up to £2.5 million in rent under a 99‑year lease signed with the GLA in 2013, also noted Barnet Post. The lease does not require the club to fund stewarding, policing or pitch‑maintenance costs, meaning the bulk of operating expenses remain the responsibility of the stadium operator.

Calls for a sale of the venue

London Assembly member Bassam Mahfouz told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the existing arrangement is “disastrous for London taxpayers” and that the contract “cannot be renegotiated”. He wrote to Mayor Sadiq Khan urging a sale to West Ham United as the only realistic way to stop the yearly deficit, Barnet Post reported. A spokesperson for the mayor replied that any credible proposal would be considered, provided it offers value for money, protects the public interest and preserves the venue’s wider benefits.

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The deal cannot be renegotiated. There’s very little incentive for the club to agree these things.

Bassam Mahfouz, London Assembly member

Concert limit application

In a letter to Newham Council, the stadium outlined how increasing the concert quota could offset part of the £19 million shortfall. Lyn Gardner, the stadium’s chief executive, explained at a London Assembly hearing in July that converting the venue back to a football configuration after a concert can take up to two weeks, which limits scheduling flexibility, Barnet Post noted.

Gardner also said West Ham retains priority use of the stadium during the football season and holds a veto over naming‑rights decisions, factors that have previously hindered commercial sponsorship deals. West Ham United declined to comment on the application, though the Local Democracy Reporting Service understood the club is reviewing proposals for additional events.