New Stadium Details And Discussions

[Parkie]

Not to be a dick... Seems both options are possible (guardian article says retractable grass, telegraph says retractable synthetic pitch) - this was key info:
At Wembley, the NFL have to leave the lowest 5,000 seats empty, so that the view of spectators is not restricted by the number of bodies at the side of the pitch.
I'm not sure that someone paying into the stadium would want such a clumsy arrangement, but it would fit the plan.
The key issue is maintaining the pitch when retracted - Millennium Stadium pitch is knackered after every 3-4 matches IIRC due to moving in and out.

However, it raises an interesting thought: do we have to register our pitch type with the FA or could we select it based on opposition? Train on synthetic pitch for a couple of weeks and then spring it on teams that struggle with fast pace/go for grass against others?

 

[danielneeds]

Not to be a dick... Seems both options are possible (guardian article says retractable grass, telegraph says retractable synthetic pitch) - this was key info:
At Wembley, the NFL have to leave the lowest 5,000 seats empty, so that the view of spectators is not restricted by the number of bodies at the side of the pitch.
I'm not sure that someone paying into the stadium would want such a clumsy arrangement, but it would fit the plan.
The key issue is maintaining the pitch when retracted - Millennium Stadium pitch is knackered after every 3-4 matches IIRC due to moving in and out.

However, it raises an interesting thought: do we have to register our pitch type with the FA or could we select it based on opposition? Train on synthetic pitch for a couple of weeks and then spring it on teams that struggle with fast pace/go for grass against others?

Switching pitches is definitely against FA rules.

 

[thfc1973]

In many ways, that would make the most sense.

But in one critical way, it doesn't.

Namely that American football stadia require that the front row of seating be five feet or more above the pitch. So at the new WHL, if the the artificial NFL pitch was indeed the retractable pitch, it would mean that the front row of seating for Spurs games would be.....I dunno.....at least eight feet above the pitch. And that would prove highly unpopular with Spurs fans, I suspect.

It would be a far neater solution and make much more sense for the grass pitch to be retractable, if possible. That way, the added height needed for the front row in NFL mode (and the pitch level seating when Spurs play) would be intrinsic to the design. A genuine one size fits all, without any need for compromise.

And, with modern pitch care technology, it should be possible. The entire basement area under which the retracted grass pitch is to sit could be lit by the the same kind of lighting rigs that we already see used in a smaller way at most big stadiums. Bear in mind that the grass pitch would only have to be retracted 8-10 days per annum for NFL games and for no more than a day at a time. Possibly for a little longer for concerts etc. But that would only be during the off season. It shouldn't be an issue.

Just reading the planning permission amendment responses and TfL have stated that we are limited to hosting only 4 non footballing events per year.. That to me suggests we may end up sharing any possible NFL games with Wembley which would mean even less of an inconvenience to us football-wise.

 

[Lilbaz]

Just reading the planning permission amendment responses and TfL have stated that we are limited to hosting only 4 non footballing events per year.. That to me suggests we may end up sharing any possible NFL games with Wembley which would mean even less of an inconvenience to us football-wise.

NFL is football

 

[thfc1973]

NFL is football

That's debatable imho!

On a serious note though, my guess would be Association Football i.e English/European football, no?

 

[Lilbaz]

That's debatable imho!

On a serious note though, my guess would be Association Football i.e English/European football, no?

Your the one who read the planning permission. Does it specify?

Anyway Harringey would love an NFL team. Would be huge advertising for Tottenham.

 

[etchedchaos]

Your the one who read the planning permission. Does it specify?

Anyway Harringey would love an NFL team. Would be huge advertising for Tottenham.

We'd certainly explode in the American market then. Even the NFL in the Uk haters would give us a shitload of exposure, hell we might be the biggest NFL story for a long time if this happened, all because of 'analysts' moaning about an NFL team being based in England.

 

[Zoob32]

hell we might be the biggest NFL story for a long time if this happened, all because of 'analysts' moaning about an NFL team being based in England.

I'm sure something along the lines of Deflategate, Ray Rice/Adrian Peterson Scandals, Johnny Football, possibly even Brett Favre will pop up to overtake it soon if it was announced.

 

[etchedchaos]

I'm sure something along the lines of Deflategate, Ray Rice/Adrian Peterson Scandals, Johnny Football, possibly even Brett Favre will pop up to overtake it soon if it was announced.

It;s not necessarily the size of the furore but the length of time it'll go on for, every game at New WHL would cause the media to lose their shit, that's where the exposure will lie. Skip Bayless alone will keep it going on long after the rest of America has gotten over it .

 

[Zoob32]

It;s not necessarily the size of the furore but the length of time it'll go on for, every game at New WHL would cause the media to lose their shit, that's where the exposure will lie. Skip Bayless alone will keep it going on long after the rest of America has gotten over it .

I can already hear Chris Berman "back back back back back back back back back all the way across the Atlantic Ocean to London"

 

[HotspurSam]

I have, so I'm guessing the view is that the elevated lines to the right indicate a sliding pitch, right? Surely that's impossible, as there will be buildings there, in reality. I took those elevated lines to be indicating the single-tier Kop, but I know nothing about architectural drawings...

The pitch could slide under the Kop stand and under or into the podium without bothering the flats. It would only need to be there for a short while before being put back into position to get the sun and/or artificial lighting

 

[worcestersauce]

So which pitch is retractable, the NFL one or the Spurs one and if both where does the other one go when a game is on?

 

[BehindEnemyLines]

I find it difficult to believe they could retract the pitch under the blocks of flats and stand. That's an awful lot of weight on top of a very wide span with little or no structural support. There will be no pillars and little space for cross beams........ Unless they're looking at the mother of all lintels.
exciting times though!

 

[spursfan77]

Isn't there going to be a bridge to the new stadium?

Could be the piling for that on the right hand side. I'm assuming that would need piling?

 

[GMI]

Why would you need a retractable artificial pitch? Just take it apart and store it in a locker somewhere.

I used to just roll up my old Subbuteo pitch and stick it in my cupboard. I had to give it a good ironing before a big match though.

Not sure if it was because of the artificial pitch but my Subbuteo Spurs players used to suffer horrific injuries; broken legs and even, occasionally, their head coming off. My keeper was awsome though.

 

[whitesocks]

I find it difficult to believe they could retract the pitch under the blocks of flats and stand. That's an awful lot of weight on top of a very wide span with little or no structural support. There will be no pillars and little space for cross beams........ Unless they're looking at the mother of all lintels.
exciting times though!

There look to be significant pilings under the retracted pitch area which cannot be for the pitch alone as there are only smaller pilings under the stadium pitch area. Either the pitch needs extra support or it doesn't.

There are no additional pilings either side of the south stand, so the weight of this stand is somehow transferring straight down - via some sort of box structure you imagine.

I think it is our grass pitch that is being retracted - Levy will want a plain concrete floor option for concerts, visits by popes, fox hunter of the year competitions, etc - the pitch has to go.
The rubber NFL pitch can be stored in boxes in their own mega changing rooms.

At the risk of being told off again, there always was something very fishy about this 'kop' stand,
from which Levy intended so generously to remove all the highly lucrative corporate boxes and facilities. Rather than ease of build in a 2 phase project, perhaps it was weight restrictions and lack of space due to this pitch that drove its design.

An underground retractable pitch - well, who would have thunk that?

 

[Wine Gum]

Source of the piling drawing http://www.planningservices.haringey.gov.uk/portal/servlets/AttachmentShowServlet?ImageName=664631

 

[CoopsieDeadpool]

Someone on another site says:

"According to a very good mate of mine who posts on TFC, Archway were offered £10m to get lost but wanted £13m. As a result of the CPO, they settled for £3m."

That's a shame.

 

[Spursidol]

Source of the piling drawing http://www.planningservices.haringey.gov.uk/portal/servlets/AttachmentShowServlet?ImageName=664631

Thanks for finding the source of plan

Interesting that this is dated November 2014, so the consent to use piling could be to build the stadium only - it it just me but I cannot see any overt signs of the basement itself (maybe no surprise as its well before the planning application for the basement). Point is lots of posters are assuming it shows signs of the retractable pitch, and yes it mau do so but not the basement itself. Or am i wrong on that

 

[DiscoD1882]

So which pitch is retractable, the NFL one or the Spurs one and if both where does the other one go when a game is on?

it goes and cuts its hair cut. visits friends. goes out for some food. ususal shit..