Spurs lead way on fans’ return
‘USE OUR STADIUM AS TEST VENUE’
TOttenHAM have told government they want to be at the vanguard of the return to live sport and entertainment events, and will allow their stadium to be used as a test model.
Premier League clubs such as spurs are primarily focused on Project restart and the return to competition next week.
they are also working behind the scenes to find innovative ways to adapt their grounds, provide season- tickets and bring crowds back as soon as the government decides it is safe for large public gatherings.
Although this will not be until next season at the earliest, talks were launched this week between the department for Digital, culture, Media and sport and the governing bodies of various sports.
tottenham are determined to drive the agenda and have offered to work closely with the government to explore potential solutions at their £1billion stadium, opened last year.
it is a modern and spacious multi-purpose venue with an advanced corporate sector and conferencing facilities and is well- equipped to maintain a degree of social distancing. Among the ideas mooted this week were for tickets sold in family clusters.
spurs chairman Daniel Levy, having lost a money-spinning Anthony Joshua fight and two nFL fixtures and with at least the next five Premier League matches behind closed doors, is keen to see fans back inside his stadium soon, even if crowds are capped at a fraction of the capacity of 62,303.
‘it is imperative that we now all work together — scientists, technologists, the government and the live events sector — to find a safe way to bring spectators back to sport entertainment venues,’ said Levy, earlier this month. ‘collectively we have the ability to support the development of new technologies to make this possible and to once again experience the passion of fans at live events.’
By quickly adapting the tottenham Hotspur stadium for post-covid live events Levy will hope to find the venue in demand from other sports and entertainment businesses.
Meanwhile, captain Hugo Lloris insists the enforced break will help spurs after a run of six games without a win pre-lockdown.
‘it’s like a new season that is going to start,’ said Lloris. ‘it’s true to say we were not at our best but it belongs to the past. the team will look different. We are more or less all fit, this is a big difference.’
tottenham have ground to make up. they are seven points adrift of chelsea in fourth place and four behind next Friday’s opponents Manchester United.
Lloris said: ‘We are going to start again with a very important game. it is the final sprint and we want to finish as high as we can.’