London Stadium it is….

Quoted from marinerjase

Rumours that the National League are now looking at a more ‘convenient’ location to host the play off final than West Ham’s ground.

But Elliott Jackson EXCLUSIVELY told everyone it was at West Ham's ground?

Bit pony that less than two months out we still don’t have an official venue or a date.

It's just poor comms.

I don't think many fans (if any) would kick off if the league came out in the first place and said, for this season at least, it was going to wait until the very last possible (and reasonable) moment before deciding on the venue of the play-off final so that it was in the most convenient location for the likeliest clubs involved.

"Because we know that's what the fans want."

But I bet they're scared that four northern teams would make it, secure Old Trafford, and then the only two southern teams in the play-offs make the final!

They needed to agree it at the start of the season so everyone knew what it would be and couldn't complain. The fact that it's still unknown and up in the air doesn't reflect well on them at all.

No issue with the location for me. It's easy to get to from pretty much anywhere in East London. Crap stadium though. Emirates or the new Spurs stadium would be better choices when all factors are considered. Or somewhere up North.

You quite literally couldn't make it up.

As it stands at the minute, the most southerly team in the top 7 is Solihull.  You're talking nearly 3 hours on public transport for them, before you even account in the fact that the game is going to be on a Sunday in the middle of a bumper Bank Holiday, with a congested to hell London and reduced train services.  

Dagenham need to make up 4 points on us in their next 5 games or make up 3 on County, who have a game in hand.  I'm not saying it's unlikely but my money would be no-one dropping out of the top 7 before the end of the season.  The only team with form that suggests otherwise is Chesterfield but they've possibly got enough of a buffer.

If only you could stick a pin more or less in the middle of Wrexham, Halifax, Solihull, Chesterfield, Grimsby and Nottingham and find somewhere that has a large football ground...You know somewhere like Hillsborough (40,000 capacity) or even Elland Road (38,000).  Hell, if you wanted to move away from that central pin and increase capacity options you've got Old Trafford (74,000).  Both the Etihad and Anfield are around the 55,000.  There's loads of more suitable options than anything in London.   The fact Wembley is out of use was as gift to the Conference bigwigs, at a time when they would be able to look at the table and look at what would be best for the majority.

The London Stadium is a horrible and soulless experience.  I went there to watch West Ham v Birmingham in the FA Cup the same day we played Palace, thought it would be the chance to tick of a new ground whilst down there and I expected a good atmosphere.   I couldn't have been more disappointed if I tried.  

Hopefully the rumours of a review are true, although I wouldn't be surprised if it's Ashton Gate again that gets the nod.  Y'know, something that will be best for the fans...

Quoted from diehardmariner

You quite literally couldn't make it up.

As it stands at the minute, the most southerly team in the top 7 is Solihull.  You're talking nearly 3 hours on public transport for them, before you even account in the fact that the game is going to be on a Sunday in the middle of a bumper Bank Holiday, with a congested to hell London and reduced train services.  

Dagenham need to make up 4 points on us in their next 5 games or make up 3 on County, who have a game in hand.  I'm not saying it's unlikely but my money would be no-one dropping out of the top 7 before the end of the season.  The only team with form that suggests otherwise is Chesterfield but they've possibly got enough of a buffer.

If only you could stick a pin more or less in the middle of Wrexham, Halifax, Solihull, Chesterfield, Grimsby and Nottingham and find somewhere that has a large football ground...You know somewhere like Hillsborough (40,000 capacity) or even Elland Road (38,000).  Hell, if you wanted to move away from that central pin and increase capacity options you've got Old Trafford (74,000).  Both the Etihad and Anfield are around the 55,000.  There's loads of more suitable options than anything in London.   The fact Wembley is out of use was as gift to the Conference bigwigs, at a time when they would be able to look at the table and look at what would be best for the majority.

The London Stadium is a horrible and soulless experience.  I went there to watch West Ham v Birmingham in the FA Cup the same day we played Palace, thought it would be the chance to tick of a new ground whilst down there and I expected a good atmosphere.   I couldn't have been more disappointed if I tried.  

Hopefully the rumours of a review are true, although I wouldn't be surprised if it's Ashton Gate again that gets the nod.  Y'know, something that will be best for the fans...

To be fair, the National League has staged the play-off final at a northern ground as recently as 2011. At the Etihad in Manchester. When the two play-finalists were Luton and Wimbledon.

I don’t know what to expect, but I don’t expect it to follow sound logic.

A two legged final with the second leg at the team finishing highest would make sense. A flashy stadium final makes sense in the league but the TV viewership will be 5 to low 6 figures. No-one’s really bothered outside of the this league.

Quoted from Poojah

To be fair, the National League has staged the play-off final at a northern ground as recently as 2011. At the Etihad in Manchester. When the two play-finalists were Luton and Wimbledon.

I don’t know what to expect, but I don’t expect it to follow sound logic.

As much as I would like Wrexham gone if we don't go up, their arrogance towards this final needing to suit them makes me really hope they don't get to the final.

Given everything that is going on in London that weekend, it does make sense to move this final away from the capital. Most decent stadiums north of Birmingham would be a commute of about 2-3 hours max for the teams currently in the play-off places.

I'm thinking:
Old Trafford
Etihad
Anfield
Goodison Park
St James Park
Stadium of Light
Riverside
Elland Road
Hillsborough
Villa Park
King Power

I'm expecting something to suit Wrexham best though so probably Millenium Stadium, somewhere in Liverpool/Manchester or Ashton Gate.

Either of the Manchester stadiums would suit

Quoted from Theimperialcoroner

Either of the Manchester stadiums would suit

Old Trafford please. I went to the Etihad about 14/15 years ago to randomly watch Man City v Tottenham in the League Cup with my mates. Truly appreciated how great Berbatov was that night.