The buzz around town is building, and it's about time! The campaign to bring back the London Diamond League to its spiritual home at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre has gained momentum. For years, the event, now known as the London Athletics Meet, has been held at the London Stadium in Stratford, drawing record crowds of 55,000, but with a hefty price tag attached – tickets for some sections can cost up to £95, making it one of the priciest in the Diamond League series.
Phil Wicks, a former Great Britain distance runner who's been there and done that at Crystal Palace as a student, reckons tickets were significantly cheaper back in the day. He estimates a family trip to this year's event could set you back around £300, not including travel and grub. And it's not just about the cost – the debate over the best venue for the London Diamond League is also about creating an electric atmosphere that gets fans on their feet.
Just as the campaign gains pace, plans for a major regeneration of Crystal Palace National Sports Centre are taking shape. A £130m project, backed by London Mayor Sadiq Khan and contractor Morgan Sindall, has seen development proposals submitted to Bromley Council. With a decision expected within weeks, securing a commercial partner to fund the stadium component could be the key to unlocking a return for the Diamond League.
However, there are still hurdles to clear – campaigners estimate an additional £100m-£150m would be required to bring Crystal Palace up to scratch by 2030. And with Athletic Ventures, including UK Athletics (UKA), not showing any signs of wanting to move from the London Stadium – a venue that's got its fans on board – it looks like there's still much work to do.
Despite this, proponents of the Crystal Palace return are convinced that the atmosphere and fan experience would be transformed. John Powell, a former sprint coach who knows what he's talking about, highlights the unique intimacy of Crystal Palace, where spectators were right on top of the action – just like in smaller European Diamond League venues like Oslo and Stockholm.