Levy explodes some myths about new Tottenham stadium
By Harry Sykes
Daniel Levy has exploded some myths about Tottenham’s new stadium 18 months before completion.
The long-standing Spurs chairman insists that the 61,000-capacity venue will not immediately give the club a major cash injection and explained that building a bigger stadium than Arsenal was not the sole driving force behind ambitious expansion plans.
Tottenham are set to move into the new ground adjacent to White Hart Lane in time for the 2018-19 season.
It is expected that the London giants will host their entire campaign at Wembley next season, with talks about renting the national stadium said to be at an advanced stage.
Tottenham’s new home will ensure that Mauricio Pochettino’s side will eventually play at the biggest club ground in the capital, beating Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium by just 568 seats in one appears a clear case of one-upmanship among the bitter rivals.
Levy insists the marginal difference was not purely about bragging rights over the team from the other side of the Seven Sisters Road.
“That wasn’t the sole driver [building a bigger stadium than Arsenal],” Levy told NBC. “The reason was simply that we have a season ticket waiting list of 58,000 people and had to find a solution. Clearly we went for the maximum we could.”
Tottenham’s revenue is set to be significantly boosted when they move into their new home, which will feature the largest single tier stand in the UK and has been likened to Borussia Dortmund’s famous ‘Yellow Wall’.
However, Levy has warned that Spurs could face similar levels of financial prudence to the ones Arsenal endured after relocating, with the stadium not set to immediately swell the club’s coffers in the short term.
“Everybody thinks just because you have a bigger stadium you get more revenue and you’ll have lots more money,” Levy continued to NBC.
“But when you’re spending this amount of money on a stadium we’ll have a lot of debt we will have to repay.
“Over the medium to long term it gives you greater financial security and also as a player if you’re playing for a big club you want to play in a big stadium.”
Tottenham’s new stadium will cost in the region of £400million, but the entire project will be closer to £750million.
Spurs are also making strides on the pitch and are on target to follow up their third place from last season with another top-four Premier League finish.
Pochettino’s side are second in the top flight ahead of their league clash against Everton at White Hart Lane on Sunday.
In other Tottenham transfer news, a forward has signed after Spurs agreed terms on an out-of-window deal.
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