Tottenham stadium: Populous integrate safe-standing and a window to the players’ tunnel
Tottenham Hotspur’s new stadium will have the ability to accommodate safe-standing, and will include an exclusive ‘tunnel bar’ in which fans will be able to see the players come out onto the pitch.
Darren Baldwin, the club’s head of playing surface and estates, lifted the lid on plans for the ambitious 61,000-capacity stadium during an address at the Saltex Convention in Birmingham on 2 November.
Baldwin revealed that the Populous-designed stadium had been drafted to allow for safe-standing at the request of chair Daniel Levy to try and replicate the atmosphere of White Hart Lane.
The safe-standing area would be part of the large 17,000 single tier ‘kop’ end at the stadium’s south stand, and was partly inspired by the ‘Yellow Wall’ created by the fans of German club Borussia Dortmund.
Baldwin said that when Spur’s played the former German champions at its Westfalenstadion ground last year, the “players felt under immense pressure”.
However, he admitted that it “could take a few years yet” for the government to relax the laws on standing at football matches.
He also touched on the stadium's “unique” tunnel bar, which allows hospitality fans in a bar area to view the players from a few feet as they get ready to run out onto the pitch.
Baldwin also gave some insight into the pitch technology being used to accommodate both Premier League football and National Football League (NFL) matches.
Premier League matches will use a natural turf pitch, which will be rolled under the stadium for NFL games. American football will be played on an artificial pitch which is located around “six feet under” the natural turf.
The football pitch is split into three, with each part rolled under at the same time. Baldwin reckons it will take around 40 minutes for the transformation to occur.
The technology has been trialled at the club’s training ground, with a scaled down 21mx3m moveable surface, although it has cost Tottenham Hotspur £200,000 (US$246,500, €222,000).
In an attempt to make the facility a “365 day a year” venue, Spurs will offer a sky walk fan experience, where people will be able to scale the roof before abseiling down. There will also be an extreme sports hub.
Although the project was expected to cost £600m (US$740m, €666.5m), Baldwin revealed that the figure was rising with “Brexit not helping”.
Tottenham Hotspur Premier League football NFL stadium safe-standingNFL keeps close eye on Tottenham stadium construction site
Populous' Tottenham Hostspur stadium may include creches and youth areas to draw in young fans


“We finally have a space worthy of our collection”: V&A launches huge new Photography Centre

Immersive storytelling museum takes pride of place at revamped Tiffany & Co. in NYC following redesign led by Peter Marino and OMA

Elegant Dior spa inspired by nature opens at Hôtel Du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes

Bjarke Ingels among finalists chosen in design competition for National Museum of the United States Navy

De Matos Ryan and AOC Architecture prepare to open Young V&A London

ACPV Architects Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel creates new Bulgari Tokyo

Manchester City submits £300m Populous-designed plans to redevelop Etihad Stadium and add 400-bedroom hotel

Woods Bagot completes $120m refurb of Continental Sorrento with subterranean bathhouse and spa

New Dior spa carriage opens aboard Belmond’s luxury Royal Scotsman train

Bjarke Ingels creates meandering eco distillery attraction for Blue Run Kentucky

bbspa_Group to realise urban destination spa inside Sardinian football stadium

Thinkwell to deliver the world's first Play-Doh attractions in Saudi Arabia

Jayasom partners with Amaala to unveil multigenerational health resort in Saudi Arabia

OMA's Ellen van Loon is the visionary behind new cultural centre for Manchester

James Corner Field Operations creates Highline for London

Esbjerg’s landmark maritime center, designed by WERK Arkitekter and Snøhetta, opens to the public

SEVEN to open world’s first indoor Discovery Adventures centres in Saudi Arabia

Fun and fear drive new Universal attraction concepts for Texas and Las Vegas

Voelker Gray Design creates 10-acre hot springs wellness haven for Atlanta

AIDarchitecten create healing spa for Antwerp's Botanic Sanctuary

Hollaway Studio's Seahive would bring blue health to South-East England

SEVEN to invest US$13bn in developing entertainment destinations across Saudi Arabia

World Spa’s expansive 50,000sq ft urban bathhouse and wellness club opens in Brooklyn

Floating Salmon Eye visitor attraction by Kvorning Design highlights sustainable aquaculture

White Arkitekter's Wood Hotel in Skellefteå Swedish Lapland is climate positive and made from local timber

Nohlab's 'Everything' installation among Noor Riyadh festival highlights

Bob Iger's return to Disney sparks major restructuring focused on creativity and storytelling

Therme Group plans US$200m urban wellbeing resort in South Korea

Digital art installation in Nanjing helps the public keep an eye on exoplanets
