Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Tottenham Hotspur are better off either sharing with Arsenal, or moving to Stratford
As the continuing goings-on over the proposed new Spurs stadium take shape, I wonder whether the club really wants to stay at White Hart Lane. This saga has gone on for far too long, particularly the continued transport problems on match days (some days, fans take longer to get to the ground due to the infamous engineering works, which sometimes knocks out either the rail service covering Tottenham Hale, or the Victoria Line tube. Given the club's difficult relationship with the council, sure it is time for them to consider two realistic alternatives if the stadium fails to get the required planning permission.
The first option is very controversial: groundshare with Arsenal. Now, I had a discussion with my brother, who's an Arsenal fan, about this, and defiantly says it's a non-starter. But the Emirates is a wonderful stadium, and the area surrounding it has good transport links, and effective walking routes for both home and away supporters.
The second option is more difficult. Moving to the new Olympic stadium in Stratford after the 2012 games would be the ultimate win-win for the club. The club I support, West Ham, is in pole position to move into the stadium, but we're not big enough to filling 55,000+ supporters every other week. Spurs, though, have that level of support, and if they are clever, they can jump the queue and get in there before the Two Davids know what hit them!
The stadium is not far from Stratford station itself, which is covered by excellent transport links (four tube lines and two rail lines), and a lot of the area has been regenerated with improvements to housing, and better shopping, leisure and cultural amenities, aided in part (dare I say it) by a progressive Labour-controlled council.
As we in Tottenham wait aimlessly for the goings on at Spurs, I feel that any chance of the north of the area being improved can genuinely happen... but without Spurs.
What's your view?
The first option is very controversial: groundshare with Arsenal. Now, I had a discussion with my brother, who's an Arsenal fan, about this, and defiantly says it's a non-starter. But the Emirates is a wonderful stadium, and the area surrounding it has good transport links, and effective walking routes for both home and away supporters.
The second option is more difficult. Moving to the new Olympic stadium in Stratford after the 2012 games would be the ultimate win-win for the club. The club I support, West Ham, is in pole position to move into the stadium, but we're not big enough to filling 55,000+ supporters every other week. Spurs, though, have that level of support, and if they are clever, they can jump the queue and get in there before the Two Davids know what hit them!
The stadium is not far from Stratford station itself, which is covered by excellent transport links (four tube lines and two rail lines), and a lot of the area has been regenerated with improvements to housing, and better shopping, leisure and cultural amenities, aided in part (dare I say it) by a progressive Labour-controlled council.
As we in Tottenham wait aimlessly for the goings on at Spurs, I feel that any chance of the north of the area being improved can genuinely happen... but without Spurs.
What's your view?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by dubmill on
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Interesting. I am not a supporter of either club, although my son supports Arsenal, but I just cannot see Spurs fans approving a ground share with Arsenal, because of the intense rivalry between the two clubs. Any other club, maybe, but not Arsenal.
I know Arsenal originated in Woolwich, but Stratford is East London and Spurs are as North London as it gets.
What is the current status of Spurs' plans (mentioned on Wikipedia) to build an enlarged White Hart Lane (adjacent to the existing ground) with a 58,000 capacity?
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Permalink Reply by Neville Collins on
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Here are the plans for the new Spurs Stadium (resubmitted) to Haringey Council a while ago.
http://www.haringey.gov.uk/tottenham_hotspur_planning_application_s...
Total capacity is estimated to be 56,250.
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Permalink Reply by John McMullan on
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Why don't they just go ahead and do whatever they want? All the other landlords in Haringey do.
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I must admit I have limited sympathy for people complaining about football clubs as its not as though they haven't been there for over 100 years!!
Very sympathetic of you. A significant proportion of housing in London is within nuisance distance of a football stadium.
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@Will Hoyle:
Fair play on the first point. However, local residents can be brought round if plans could be put in place to improve policing and that parking controls are strictly enforced- something which Islington Council does well compared to Haringey. On the second point, there's no guarantee that the track will be retained at the moment. When Manchester City FC moved to their current stadium (which was originally used for the 2002 Commonwealth Games) from Maine Road, their track was removed.
@John McMullan:
Despite the perception by many people, very little development actually gets built in Haringey, and many of the few schemes (apart from the Spurs stadium) are constructed with taxpayers money (e.g., Hale Village and Wards Corner). In terms of development, planning and regeneration, Haringey Council is not very progressive. In fact, the council's poor reputation prevents any major real rolling investment in the borough.
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Permalink Reply by Birdy_Too on
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....and egg chasing grounds as well as posh rounders ovals.
Football clubs are hearts and souls of many communities all over the world and act as a fulcrum for many communities. The clubs do a lot of work within those communities and the stadiums and grounds often house vital services within them, Surestart, GPs, health centres etc etc.
Many grounds now have affordable and key worker flats on their land, just look at Leyton Orient, Aresnal and soon to be Bristol Rovers with the new student and nursing housing developments.
I can't stand the overpaid wazacks that you see on TV every week but please look a little harder into the roles of football (and other sports) clubs have in this country. They were here way before you and will be way after you.
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You'll be surprised how much they do Michelle, they are paying for the free tennis lessons at Fairland Park this summer.
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Permalink Reply by Chris brock on
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Sorry, you can't have the new Olympic Stadium as that is to be bagged by the Glorious West Ham United.
No hard feelings
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Permalink Reply by Dermot on
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youre welcome to it. Thought it would be hard to find a stadium with less atmosphere than the emirates, but i think that just trumps it!
As for the original posting, i dont know which of the two alternative options is the daftest
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Neither Arsenal or Tottenham fans want to ground share. End of story!! I recently discovered that Tottenham have been "land-banking" around White Hart Lane (ie. buying up any available property in the surrounding area which then gets left empty and left to rack and ruin). I think the Council should accept that Spurs rebuilding their stadium can only do good for the shabby appearance of the area.
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