Tottenham Hotspur FC (THFC) will install an innovative multi-use pitch at its 61,000-capacity stadium in North London – allowing it to host a minimum of two National Football League (NFL) games each season.
The club will use a retractable grass field at its new £400m venue, with an artificial surface underneath that will be used for NFL games.
The design will allow greater flexibility in the scheduling of games, with the NFL having its own playing surface for games held at the venue. The artificial playing surface will also be capable of hosting other sporting, entertainment and community events.
THFC said it had signed a 10-year deal with the NFL for at least two regular season games per year.
“With growing enthusiasm for the NFL in the UK, we’re committed to hosting NFL games in world-class venues and are excited to partner with Tottenham Hotspur to play games at their future stadium,” said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
“We share a vision and commitment to creating the best experience for our teams, fans and the local community.”
The English Premier League club announced the plans to host NFL games as part of a presentation during which it also revealed updated designs for the Northumberland Development Project – a large-scale sports, leisure and entertainment destination anchored by the new stadium.
Set to open in 2018, the development will include a new 180-bedroom hotel, an extreme sports centre, a “Sky Walk” adrenaline attraction and a “Tottenham Experience” – a permanent visitor attraction and museum charting the club’s history.
There will also be 579 new homes, a new community health centre and improved street infrastructure to better deal with crowd management issues.
Sports architects Populous have been appointed to design the stadium, the hotel and the visitor attractions while Allies & Morrison will be responsible for the design of the new homes. Donald Insall Associates have been named as heritage architects.
Spanning over 130 acres, the Northumberland development is expected to create around 3,500 jobs and provide the local economy with an annual boost of £293m.
Daniel Levy, THFC chair, said: “Schemes of this scale and magnitude must undergo continuous and rigorous review in order to ensure it is future-proofed and the design is optimised.
“We’re determined that this scheme delivers something that becomes an iconic landmark, instantly recognisable around the world and capable of acting as the catalyst needed to kick-start the regeneration of this area.
"Just as we take our responsibility seriously in using football to engage with our communities, through the work of our Foundation, so too do we take seriously our responsibility to make the stadium and associated development deliver benefits for and be a vibrant part of Tottenham and London.
“These new plans will be transformational for the area and the access and opportunities they afford our communities will be extensive.
“At this stage and barring no major hiccups we are committed to staying on course for a 2018 opening and shall be working closely with Haringey Council to facilitate a timely process.
“In much the same way as we delivered our state-of-the-art Training Centre to the highest standards, we remain focussed and committed to delivering a world-class, increased capacity stadium, which places spectators at the heart of the experience and creates an enhanced and thriving new environment on the High Road which is so important to this part of the borough and the local communities.”
