• Premier League

Spurs confident of new stadium by 2017

ESPN staff
April 2, 2014
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Tottenham have announced that it is "feasible" the club could have a new stadium fully operational in the summer of 2017.

Spurs have been looking to move from their current 36,000 capacity White Hart Lane ground for several years, having initially pursued tenancy at the Olympic Stadium in Stratford before losing out to West Ham.

Last year, Spurs revealed that they would instead look to build a new stadium beside their current home in north London and the club are now waiting for final confirmation from the Secretary of State before they can begin work on the site.

It appears to be no more than a formality and Tottenham revealed that the new stadium, which is expected to hold 56,250, could be open in time for the 2017-18 season.

"It is a major development that will present ongoing challenges and subject to these challenges being manageable we anticipate going out to tender for construction late this year which will make a stadium opening date of summer 2017 feasible," a statement on the club's official website said.

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy said that the new stadium was essential if Spurs are to compete at the top of the Premier League in the future, adding: "We have fantastic, strong support. Our current 36,000 seater stadium sells out and the waiting list for season ticket holders is currently in excess of 47,000.

"We cannot stress strongly enough how critical the new stadium is over the long-term to these raised expectations. We have the smallest capacity stadium of any club in the top 20 clubs in Europe, let alone the current top four Premier League clubs, and given we now operate within UEFA Financial Fair Play rules, an increased capacity stadium and associated revenues is fundamental to supporting the future ambitions and consistent achievement at the top of the game.

"We are optimistic for the long-term future and believe our efforts will make this great club even greater over time. Our supporters are our life-blood and we shall ensure that they are our most important stakeholder as we move forward."

Tottenham have previously confirmed that the new development will "maximise stadium atmosphere" with a bowl design and single-tier stand that "will help generate an intimidating wall of sound".

Spurs also posted their financial figures for the year ending June 30, 2013, revealing revenue of £147.4 million, a two percent rise from the previous year.

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