new ground again?

yiddo

From todays Daily Telegraph

Tottenham Hotspur have sights on new ground

By Jeremy Wilson
Last Updated: 1:20am GMT 28/02/2008

Tottenham are considering a move from White Hart Lane - their home for almost 110 years - as they seek to build on their Carling Cup success and break the 'Big Four' dominance of English football.

An announcement on the plan for the club's ground is imminent and, although most fans ideally hope to remain at their present home, there are limitations to building around the current site.

The capacity of White Hart Lane is just over 36,000 but Tottenham are aiming for a ground that would accommodate about 50,000 supporters. That would allow them to maximise match-day and commercial revenues, but should also ensure that the ground was regularly sold out.

Extending White Hart Lane has not yet been ruled out but, as well as the limitations of the present site, that option would probably mean vacating the stadium for a time and the cost of sharing another ground, possibly West Ham's Upton Park. Options away from the current ground are understood to include a site to the north of White Hart Lane, and also Enfield.

Haringey Council say that they have had have had "constructive dialogue" with Spurs, but transport links to White Hart Lane are likely to provide a significant issue with any expansion. The council have been lobbying Transport for London to extend the Victoria Line of the underground.

The importance for Tottenham of increasing the size of their stadium was underlined by the recent findings in the Deloitte Football Money League. Revenue figures placed Tottenham as world football's 11th biggest club and comfortably the largest of those clubs not to compete regularly in the Champions League.

The statistics particularly underlined the potential for improving Tottenham's match-day takings.

After their move to the Emirates Stadium, Ar5ena1 more than doubled their match-day revenue to £90.6 million, almost £60 million more than Tottenham's present figure. A larger venue could significantly narrow that gap and enhance Spurs' chances of sharing the additional broadcast pot that is available from playing in the Champions League.

Tottenham made clear their ambition to break into the top four of the Premier League at the beginning of the season and the appointment of Juande Ramos, who guided Sevilla into the Champions League, can be regarded as a big part of that process. Despite reports that the Spaniard will have £40 million to spend during the summer, the directors feel the current squad is strong enough to achieve the club's aims.

Ramos signed Jonathan Woodgate and Alan Hutton during the January transfer window and, unless there was the sale of a leading player like Dimitar Berbatov, the summer strategy would be to make a limited number of additions.

Dublin Spur

I wish they'd hurry on and make a decision.
It's been rumbling on for years.
I'm sick of wondering, hoping, not knowing etc..

RichMc70

I've a gut feeling we'll move a mile or so north to Edmonton and carry on playing at WHL until the new stadium is complete.

Edmonton is in the London Borough of Enfield and the Enfield Council would probably sell their souls to get Spurs to move into the Borough.

As for Harngey Council, well they have never been that supportive or helpful with Spurs over the years. A recent example was the parking restrictions they brought in for a mile radius around the stadium only for match days, which makes it very difficult for a lot of fans bearing in mind the large amount that travel by car.

In saying all that Spurs have over the last few years bought up enough land directly around the exisiting location to probably build two 50,000 capacity stadiums.

In Edmonton there are very large unused industrial areas close to the North Circular Road for good vehicle access and loads of land for creating car parks and existing rail lines.

I think you could toss a coin on this one but I fancy they'll take the move to Edmonton because Haringey wont come up with the goods.