Tottenham's new stadium is breathtaking, imposing and certainly worth the wait

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A first glimpse of Tottenham’s new stadium takes the breath away, and will leave many forgetting the setbacks, delays and trips to Wembley over the past two seasons. The wait was more than worth it.

Fans, players and even chairman stood in awe as they made their way into their new home for the first time, Mauricio Pochettino sharing brief moment of celebration with Daniel Levy as they stood on the pitch in the empty stadium before the supporters made their way in.

They have every right to be proud. Everyone connected with Tottenham has seen CGI images, pictures and videos of the new stadium, but that does nothing to lessen the impact of the frankly astonishing view, the South Stand in particular. Holding 17,500 it is the largest single stand in the country, is ready for safe standing and, even when empty, is more imposing than many stadiums at capacity.

The football on the day took a back seat, though there were special moments for J’Neil Bennett and Harvey White as they eased Spurs into the lead with the first and second goals ever scored here, while midfielder Oliver Skipp showed just why he’ll be turning out for the senior team at the stadium on a regular basis.

Photo: Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images
Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images

There will, undoubtedly, be teething problems. But everything in this stadium is built to purpose, to impress. Their stadium is now one of the best in Europe, and Pochettino’s ambitions appear to match it.

"My feeling is unbelievable,” the Spurs boss, who watched from the new directors’ box alongside Levy, said at half time.

Photo: Action Images via Reuters
Action Images via Reuters

“It's so difficult to explain with only a few words. We all feel the same, so excited. I think I got the same feeling when we left the last day White Hart Lane. We were crying, now the first day here at the new stadium we feel the same emotion.

“It's going to be a huge impact for the club. We're in a good place. 62,000 in the quarter-final of the Champions League it's going to be fantastic. We can make possible our dream to be in the semi-final, why not?”

Wembley grew stale with Tottenham as tenants. Attendances dwindled and performances could often be flat as frustrations kept increasing numbers away from their temporary home.

This new stadium, the events that will be a Premier League opener against Crystal Palace before that Champions League clash with Manchester City, they are all worth the frustrations suffered over the past two seasons.

Nothing has been handled particularly well regarding the delays since the start of the season, but Tottenham’s new home sits resplendent as one huge ‘thank you’ to the club and the fans. The remainder of the season should be fun back in north London.

Stay tuned to Standard Sport for all the latest news around Tottenham's new stadium

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22 March 2019

What will Tottenham's new home be called?

Tottenham’s new stadium will be known as the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with no naming-rights deal in place for next season.

Spurs have been in talks with a number of parties over a deal to name their new 62,062-seater venue but at a recent meeting with the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust, club chairman Daniel Levy confirmed there is no deal in place as of yet.

Sportswear giant Nike are not in the running with no talks taking place between them and the Premier League side, minutes from the meeting noted. 

Getty

Tottenham have confirmed at previous meetings that until a partner is found, the stadium will be referred to as the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – rather than White Hart Lane.

The move sees Tottenham follow the example of Juventus, whose home was known as ‘Juventus Stadium’ for six years before they agreed a sponsorship deal with financial services giant Allianz in 2017. 

Spurs have confirmed their first game at the new ground will be against Crystal Palace on Wednesday April 3, following two test events in March. 

22 March 2019

Fixtures at the new ground

Tottenham will finally play in their new stadium with Crystal Palace the first visitors to their new 62,062-seater home next month.

Providing it passes two test events taking place this month, Spurs will host Roy Hodgson’s side on Wednesday April 3, with kick-off scheduled for 7:45pm.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side have five home games in the league remaining this season with the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash with Manchester City also due to be held in north London.

A concerning run of form of late has sucked Tottenham back into a battle for a top four finish with just four points separating them, Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea.

But Spurs will hope the belated opening of their new home can help them end the season in style.

21 March 2019

Spurs hope Gascoigne will play in Legends match at new stadium 

Tottenham hope Paul Gascoigne will be able to play in the Legends game at their new stadium a week on Saturday.

Gascoigne is one of Spurs’ most iconic former players after helping them to their last FA Cup win, in 1991, during a three-year spell in north London.

Photo: Simon Bruty/Allsport 

The 51-year-old former England international has endured a well-documented struggle with alcoholism and there are ongoing concerns about his health. In January, he pleaded not guilty to a charge of sexual assault at Tesside Crown Court.

Last night, Gascoigne tweeted that he was unsure if he would be invited to feature against Inter Milan in the second test event at the club’s £1billion new stadium on March 30.

But a Spurs spokesman told Standard Sport: “Gary Mabbutt, who is a close, personal friend of Paul’s and our Legends team manager on the day, has been discussing Paul’s participation in this match with him for some time and we all hope it will be possible for him to play.”

Gascoigne said on Twitter: “if there’s a game at spurs im up 4 it.”

A number of former Spurs players have already been confirmed for the occasion. German World Cup winner Jurgen Klinsmann will be the star attraction, with a glittering support cast including Robbie Keane, Rafa van der Vaart, Darren Anderton and Dimitar Berbatov. 

Allan Nielsen, Stephen Carr, David Howells, Erik Thorstvedt, Neil Sullivan, Teemu Tainio, Mark Falco, Pascal Chimbonda, Micky Hazard, Chris Perry, Paul Stalteri and Nayim are the other confirmed names, while Mabbutt and Clive Allen will manage the side.

The likes of Edgar Davids, Teddy Sheringham, Chris Waddle, Ledley King, Jermaine Jenas and David Ginola are expected to be confirmed soon.

21 March 2019

How much has it cost?

The building costs were estimated at £300m in 2007, rising to £400m in 2009 and then £450m.

The most recent figures estimate the build has cost Spurs upwards of £850m, possibly reaching £1billion.

A key reason behind the rising costs has been blamed on Brexit and subsequent higher costs of importing and the worsening of exchange rates.

Photo: Getty Images 

21 March 2019

Rugby at the new stadium?

Yes, according to the Telegraph. Their report claims that future derby matches between London sides Harlequins and Saracens will be played at Tottenham's new stadium.

The fixture has been previously staged at Wembley and the London Stadium.

Photo: Getty Images 

20 March 2019

Pochettino to make guest event appearance

Tottenham have confirmed that first-team manager Mauricio Pochettino will be a guest at the first test event to take place at their new stadium this weekend.

Spurs are set to host Crystal Palace in their opening Premier League fixture at the new 62,062-seater White Hart Lane on April 3, but that is dependent on them achieving a formal safety certificate during two test events to be held with increasing levels of attendances.

Photo: Getty 

A legends team coached by Gary Mabbutt and Clive Allen and featuring the likes of Jurgen Klinsmann, Darren Anderton, Robbie Keane, Rafael van der Vaart and Dimitar Berbatov are due to take on their Inter Milan equivalent on March 30 in front of a crowd of around 45,000.

However, before then, Tottenham's U18s will become the first team to play in the new stadium as they host Southampton in an U18 Premier League fixture on Sunday - a match that will be viewed by approximately 30,000 spectators.

Casting a watchful eye over proceedings will be Pochettino, with Spurs announcing on Wednesday that the Argentine - whose senior side are not in action due to the international break - would be in the stands for the event.

He will also be interviewed during the half-time interval.

All being well, Tottenham will play the final five home games of the domestic season - against Crystal Palace, Huddersfield, Brighton, West Ham and Everton - at their plush new ground in addition to the Champions League quarter-final first-leg meeting with Manchester City on April 9.

20 March 2019

Sky to show opening ceremony...but not the first game?

The opening ceremony at Tottenham's new stadium will be broadcast live on Sky Sports but supporters have been left dismayed that the game against Crystal Palace has not been picked for broadcast, writes Dan Kilpatrick.

Spurs plan to finally open their £1billion new home against the Eagles on Wednesday, April 3, but Sky have opted to show Manchester City's home clash with Cardiff on the same night, instead.

However, the broadcaster, which has cameras at every Premier League match, will cut from the Etihad Stadium to broadcast the opening ceremony live from Tottenham.

Spurs originally planned to open the 62,062-seat stadium against Liverpool in September and, speaking in July, the club's executive director Donna Cullen said the opening ceremony would refer to the 2011 London riots, which started in Tottenham.

"I was in San Diego on holiday and I think Daniel [Levy, the chairman] was in Florida," Cullen said at the time. "The riots happened in Tottenham. We had a telephone conversation and we said: 'That's it – we stay in Tottenham.' Something good always comes from something bad.

"You'll watch when we do it [the opening ceremony]. It's also a nod to the area, to the riots, to literally: 'This is now a fresh start for everyone'".

The ceremony will take place 20 to 30 minutes before the 7.45pm kick-off against Palace and Spurs have urged supporters to arrive in the new stadium as soon as possible.

The club are conscious that they have less time for the ceremony on a weeknight than they would for a weekend game but it is not thought their plans have significantly changed since September.

Before the game against Palace, Spurs must successfully host two test events in order to gain a safety certificate from Haringey Council.

The first will be an Under-18s match against Southampton on Sunday, before a legends game against Inter Milan six days later.

Spurs have confirmed that Jurgen Klinsmann as the latest big-name to feature against the Italian side.

20 March 2019

How it stacks up

Spurs will so be welcoming their army of fans into the new 62,062-seater arena for the final five home games of the domestic season.

It is understood that when seeking planning permission, Tottenham were keen to usurp fierce rivals Arsenal by having the biggest stadium capacity in the capital and will do so by 2,062 seats once it opens.

But how does the new stadium stack up against the rest of their Premier League rivals?

20 March 2019

Fans fear being priced out of watching Spurs long term

The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Trust (THST) has expressed concern at the price of tickets at the club's new stadium and warned that it will be difficult for fans to attend matches once the novelty of returning home has worn off.

Having already announced a freeze on all season-ticket prices for next season, Spurs this morning revealed individual match pricing for their £1billion new stadium, which is due to open against Crystal Palace on April 3.

The 62,062-seater ground will host the final five league matches of the season, and the first leg of Spurs' Champions League quarter-final against Man City on April 9, after delays from September forced Spurs to return to Wembley.

For Category A matches – including West Ham's visit on April 27 – tickets at the new stadium start from £52, with the most expensive £98, while Cat B spans from £43 to £95 and Category B £30 to £80. The matches against Palace, Brighton and Everton will be Cat B, while Huddersfield's visit is Cat C.

THST has argued that season-ticket prices at the new stadium are too high but it thanked the club for the freeze, while revealing concern at the individual prices for Cat B and C matches, which are some 30-50 percent higher on average than at White Hart Lane.

"One reason we argued that ST prices were too high was because the Club left itself limited room for manoeuvre when announcing match day pricing," read a THST statement. "That has proved to be the case. If the total price of buying a ticket for every game individually had come in far below the price of a Season Ticket, there would understandably have been uproar from ST holders.

"While Category A tickets are, unsurprisingly, among the most expensive in the country, high profile games against quality opposition are generally less price sensitive than other less attractive fixtures. Our main concern is that increases of between 30% and 50% on average throughout the stadium in Category B and C pricing from previous White Hart Lane pricing will make access to those games very difficult once the novelty of the new stadium has worn off.

"The Club will argue that prices are not comparable, but fans’ pay packets are comparable and this is a sharp increase in a little over 2 seasons."

Season-tickets at the old White Hart Lane included two cup games, removed from the package last season, and THST said it would be pushing for "progressive pricing" in all cup competitions to offset the high pricing of league matches.

"Match day pricing is not only costly for...members and General Admission fans attending individual games," the statement added. "Now that a Season Ticket only comprises the basic 19 home Premier League games, having removed the remaining 2 cup credits before the move to Wembley, match categorisation affects ST holders in every home game outside that basic package."

THST said it would publish a more detailed analysis of pricing at the end of the month.

19 March 2019

Welcome to Standard Sport's rolling coverage as we build up to the opening of Tottenham's £1 billion new stadium.

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