Tottenham are reportedly looking at different ways of increasing the revenue from the proposed new stadium, which will hold almost 60,000 spectators.
Rather than just being used for football matches, the club are planning to build the stadium in such a way that it can host NFL matches as well. This would make it a very attractive proposition and only second to the new Wembley when it comes to bidding. As part of the plans, Tottenham have confirmed that they are looking at ways to use artificial pitches and retractable roofs. The new stadium is expected to be opened in time for the 2018-19 season.
NFL measures outside North America are gaining more popularity and London has already hosted 11 such matches since 2007. Three more games are expected to be announced next week. Sky Sports news revealed that NFL has been in talks with a London based franchise and this team could start as early as in 2020. The stadium is being built by Populous, who are behind some of the top projects in the world like the Wembley stadium and the Olympic stadium – both in London. They, crucially, have experience in building NFL stadiums as well. New England Patriots’ Gillette Foxborough Stadium and Pittsburgh Steelers’ Heinz Field have been designed byPopulous.
“The club has always seen the new stadium as being at the heart of the regeneration of the area and it is important, therefore, to look at how we future-proof the design, as well as increasing the functionality of the stadium, whilst being conscious of community uses. At this stage it is about looking at options but nothing more,” said a spokesman from the club. The new stadium would cost as much as £ 500 million and the club are even looking at stadium sponsorship as a way of subsidising the cost.
