The Canaries celebrated the opening of their new stand before kick-off with former Norwich and West Ham players on parade. The official opening being performed by former Canaries manager Ken Brown.
There was a danger that the match that followed would not live up to expectations but there was plenty of entertainment and two goals of quality to round off the day.
The Canaries kicked off but it was the Hammers who went on the offensive in the early stages, creating several good chances.
David Connolly looked certain to open the scoring but his shot was blocked by Malky Mackay.
Jim Brennan had a shot saved by Stephen Bywater before Marlon Harewood created panic in the City defence with a dangerous low cross which was hacked away before a West Ham player could apply the finishing touch.
With 15 minutes gone Brennan looked to have deceived Bywater with a low drive but the United keeper recovered and held on to the ball at the second attempt.
Iwan Roberts got his head to a right wing cross from Paul McVeigh but failed to trouble Bywater, before Damien Francis was inches away with a low snap shot on the half-hour.
In the second minute of the second half Darren Huckerby crossed from the left but McVeigh's far-post header was an easy catch for Bywater inches under his crossbar.
In the 56th minute Matthew Etherington was booked for a foul on McVeigh.
Harewood broke the deadlock in the 61st minute with a right-foot strike from some 30 yards, which flew inside Robert Green's left-hand post.
Huckerby's equalised in the 76th minute when Tomas Repka let him in with a misdirected header. The City striker controlled the ball, sidestepped the advancing Bywater and scored with a firm right-foot shot from 17 yards.
Minutes later Huckerby appealed for a penalty when his shirt appeared to be tugged by Christian Dailly but the referee waved play on.
Etherington was shown a second yellow card three minutes from time when he failed to heed three warnings to place his corner-kick inside the quarter circle.
The absence of the player made little difference to the outcome as both teams had to settle for a single point.