NFL Officials Visit Tottenham to See New Stadium

According to Tottenham Hotspur chairman, Daniel Levy, Spurs’ brand new 61,000-seater stadium is being developed with the National Football League’s involvement throughout every aspect.

With Tottenham and the NFL agreeing on a massive 10-year deal last year which gives the north London outfit a minimum of two NFL matches per year under the partnership, this is just another way for Spurs to reap the benefits of soon having London’s biggest club stadium in the city.

Although the new stadium won’t be ready until 2018, just ahead of the 2018-19 season, construction work has already begun with White Hart Lane’s seats and certain sections being reduced to speed up the process.

This has effectively shut down the option of Tottenham hosting Champions League football at their home ground and instead playing them at Wembley Stadium for the upcoming campaign. All six group stage matches can be seen as a trial period of sorts, before Spurs move in for at least one season at the national stadium.

There’s a possibility that Tottenham could stay longer should construction of their new stadium not be finished in time. At £15 million per year to be a tenant of Wembley, it’s a fair price to pay when the only other option to play home games was MK Dons’ stadium:mk, 50 miles outside of London.

Tottenham Hotspur’s chairman Daniel Levy attends the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at White Hart Lane in London on August 31, 2014. AFP PHOTO / OLLY GREENWOODRESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or live services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications (Photo credit should read OLLY GREENWOOD/AFP/Getty Images) /

Daniel Levy recently spoke with Spurs TV (along with Mark Waller, the NFL vice-executive) about how a 10-man delegation from the National Football League have visited the site of Tottenham’s new stadium twice in the past week which has seen them work closely with the development of Spurs’ new ground.

Which includes a couple of key features for both football sports like a retractable grass pitch with an artificial field underneath, plus two sets of changing rooms.

"“It is encouraging to see the new stadium starting to take shape and it certainly whets the appetite for our games here,” Waller said.More from Hotspur HQStorybook ending after difficult period for Tottenahm’s RicharlisonTottenham comeback showcased invaluable intangible Ange has cultivatedTottenham player ratings in 2-1 comeback win over Sheffield UnitedTottenham projected starting 11 for Sheffield UnitedTottenham’s Richarlison says he’s going to seek psychological help“Our relationship with the club and the Tottenham community is a very important part of our future plans in the UK. We are excited to see the full regeneration plan come to fruition as a key part of creating a great experience for our teams and fans.”Daniel Levy added by saying: “We are delighted to host our friends from the NFL for detailed stadium discussions and for them to see first-hand the work in progress.”“We have exciting times ahead and our partnership with the NFL, which will see them bringing their own brand of football to Tottenham, is something which will add even more vibrancy to this part of north London.”"

With Tottenham and the NFL set to host two regular season games for the next 10 years once Spurs’ new stadium is open, a long-term idea is to potentially host a NFL franchise according to Mark Waller. Along with sponsorships and training facilities.

"“We’ve always said we need to have options in London over where to play our games, and the fact that in this stadium we’ll be able to have the roll-in roll-out field means we’ll always have the opportunity to play,” Waller said (via ESPN FCi.“We’re building a huge new relationship. There’s a whole raft of conversations to take place.”"

Next: The Best Tottenham Fixtures for Every Month in 2016/17

With Tottenham’s new stadium looking like it’s on schedule for its projected 2018 opening — in two years time — Spurs’ value is continuing to grow exponentially.

Adding in a brand new stadium, a 10-year partnership with the NFL, naming rights, a new kit supplier in Nike (still in the works) plus Mauricio Pochettino staying around for five more years after signing a contract extension, Tottenham’s rise to being a big European club could be more of a reality than it has ever been.

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