Members of the THST Board met with representatives of THFC and Populous on Monday 13 July to talk through the revised plans for the new stadium. We took the opportunity to raise questions submitted by fans and are now publishing those, along with the answers. THFC is in the process of compiling an FAQ page for the new stadium and we will continue to feed into that moving forwards.
Q: Is this the final design of the stadium or is there scope for changes following the consultation period, before a planning application is submitted?
A: This is a consultation period when feedback is invited and any appropriate changes can be made prior to making the application.
Q: When will an application be submitted to the London Borough of Haringey?
A: Aim is by early September 2015.
Q: Is the new stadium capable of having the capacity increased (easily) if required in the future or is 61k the maximum – how is it future proofed?
A: The capacity is 61000. This could increase by c 1800 were legislation to change and safe standing areas be approved - this would however be subject to planning approvals.
Q: Was a retractable roof ever considered to create a full multi-use venue?
A: This wasn’t considered in any detail primarily because the question must always be asked as to why it would be necessary. The number of events for which a retractable roof is needed would not be great enough to offset the cost/make it viable.
Q: Is the new revised project likely to cost more than the original estimates which if I recall were £450m for everything (Sainbury’s stadium, flats etc)? There certainly appears to be a lot more to this compared to the previous designs.
A: A further idea on costs will be known once the tenders for the project are received.
Q: Is full funding now in place?
A: Funding will be through a combination of bank financing, sponsorship (naming rights) and enabling development (e.g. land deals). Rothschild are progressing this.
Q: When will naming rights be announced?
A: A degree of patience is required here. These deals are normally completed only once the build process is underway.
Q: With the retractable pitch, is the seating also retractable?
A: Such is the drop to the astro-turf pitch which will live underneath the regular playing surface and be deployed for NFL games, retractable seating is not required. The sight lines will be perfect without the need to remove any seating.
Q: What are the plans to ensure our new stadium preserves and develops a distinct 'Tottenham Hotspur' personality and to protect our heritage?
A: THFC is reactivating the Heritage committee, which includes fans, to ensure we retain our history in an ultra modern stadium. The Museum will provide a natural place for many THFC artefacts and a showcase for the Club’s great history, also.
Q: Cockerels: there are none on view from the inside of the stadium? Imperative we have a cockerel. Already moved the Cockerel clock into reception at Lilywhite house and the original cockerel is now in West Stand reception. Are icons of our history only for VIPs now?
A: The clock was actually used to signify the Clubs offices originally so that is in line with its current use in reception at Lilywhite House. The current cockerels will be on show in the museum and accessible to all and the cockerel emblem will be sited at suitable locations in the new stadium.
Q: Will there be statues of Tottenham legends such as Bill Nicholson?
A: Yes, but these will be fully integrated into the site as opposed to being stand-alone statues.
Q: Of the heritage buildings on the High Road, is only Warmington House to be preserved?
A: Owing to crowd flow and the significant narrowing of the pavement to 2 metres in front of three of the heritage buildings and also the Club’s desire to deliver a better heritage solution, the new scheme proposes the removal of the locally listed heritage buildings with the exception of the deeper set, Grade II nationally listed Warmington House, which will become the entrance to the Museum. Removing these buildings expands the pavement to in excess of 9m and thus improves crowd safety significantly. The decision will rest with Haringey Council and the GLA initially and ultimately with the Secretary of State. Historic England is an important consultee.
Q: When will stadium tours be available?
A: Too early to say at this stage.
Q: It's key that the desire for safe standing is stressed in the single tier stand, so that we can easily respond to any potential change in legislation. As seen in Dortmund's stadium, this would truly add an ever greater USP to the current stadium plans.
A: The single South tier has been designed with safe standing in mind, with the ability to introduce rail seating in the tier should legislation change.
Q: What are the plans for parking at the new stadium?
A: There will be no parking available for General Admission fans at the new stadium. Disabled parking will be available. In addition, the CPZ is being extended into Edmonton. The push here is for fans to use public transport as part of the Green Travel Plan. White Hart Lane train station is being redeveloped, along with improvements made to Northumberland Park and better timetabling and length of trains.
Q: Will there be better facilities and affordable food and drink to encourage supporters to spend their time and money in the ground earlier?
A: Absolutely. The South stand will have a five storey atrium and a huge food court for starters. All home fans will be able to enter this section pre match before moving to their seats, regardless of where they are sitting in the ground. There will also be considerable choice throughout the stadium in all stands and a diverse offering along with numerous restrooms.
Q: How much legroom will there be in the seats?
A: This will vary from area to area with 3 dimensions in the general admission areas: 780mm in the south stand, 858mm in the middle of the North tier and 800mm for the rest of the North upper tier.
Q: What are the timings for Haringey Council’s High Road West development: station and walkway?
A: The current plan and timings are for the early phases of these to dovetail in with the stadium build programme. The new White Hart Lane station should be open in advance of the Club moving back into the new stadium for the 2018/19 season.
Q: Will there be any dedicated web cams to show the work being done and not just time lapse?
A: Yes, these are in place already and first footage will be launched in the next few weeks.
Q: Will there be noticeable differences between East and West Stands?
A: Inside the stadium bowl, not so much, although each stand will have its own identity. Externally, more so - e.g. the East will be facing Worcester Avenue, not the High Road, so will reflect the more sedate nature of that aspect.
Q: Will we get to see the full drawings on the micro site and not just on the Council site?
A: A link will go up from the microsite to the Council site once plans are submitted. To post each page would be impractical as there are in excess of 60 different drawings.
Q: What colour will the seats be inside the stadium?
A: This is yet to be agreed but navy and white are strong contenders. This is something that can be decided after the consultation phase.
Q: What facilities are available for wheelchair users?
A: THFC is presented to the Disabled Supporters Association on 14 July and talked through the exact facilities in depth. There are disabled seats across the stadium, sited in all areas with excellent sight lines. THFC will also be the only Club to offer flexible seating arrangements for certain matches meaning wheelchair users will be able to sit with their families.
Q: Will we be allowed flags and banners on the single south tier?
A: Absolutely. The atmosphere is expected to be terrific with the stand designed specifically to encourage singing, vocal and visual support.
Q: Will the single tier become available for a permanent '1882' Movement through easier seat migration and liaison with the relevant groups?
A: It is felt the south stand will be a natural singing zone so a dedicated space probably won’t be necessary. Indeed, the whole stadium is designed to generate atmosphere.
Q: Will there be guidance notes when booking seats that the single tier stand will be ‘lively’ ?
A: Yes, this will be done.
Q: Where will the away section be if it's not in its current corner?
A: The 3000 away fans for Premier League matches will be situated in the North East corner of the ground. There are moveable segregation lines to allow for varying away allocations.
Q: Will organised fan groups be able to hold events inside this new huge atrium space in the new South stand?
A: The whole South development is designed to be a fan zone and fans will be very much encouraged to utilise the atrium pre and post match. Any pre-organised event would need to be discussed with the Club to ensure it did not impinge on other fans attending.
Q: Will current season ticket holders get to pick their new seat in the new stadium?
A: THFC will survey all current ST holders and those on the waiting list to ascertain preferences in the new stadium and will attempt to move people together where possible. This will be given due attention as the process moves forward.
Q: Will the increased corporate facilities give the knock on effect of reasonable ticket prices inside the stadium through increased corporate revenue?
A: THST is an advocate of the stretch pricing model whereby Executive seats are priced high and general admission prices are reduced as a result. There will be 8000 corporate seats in the new stadium and THFC is aware of the pricing policy many fans are looking for here. THFC is launching research into corporate pricing in the next weeks that will be crucial in terms of ascertaining the ball park for those packages.
Q: Will season ticket prices be frozen or reduced due to the bigger capacity/premier league TV deal/NFL deal
A: Again, ticketing discussions between THST and THFC will take place over the coming months.
Q: How many season tickets will be available in the new stadium?
A: The ratio of Season tickets and match day tickets will remain roughly the same as it is now. We currently have 21.5k season ticket holders in a 36400 stadium. The same ratio will be maintained in the new ground.
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