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Open letter from Daniel levy

seany

Parklane yid
Jun 8, 2003
14,173
228
Dear Supporter

I write to update you on the Club’s stadium plans. I am conscious that there has been an exceptional amount of coverage on this subject over the past couple of weeks. We submitted our final bid for the Olympic Stadium site at noon today and I should, therefore, like to outline our proposals and to update you on the position of the Northumberland Development Scheme (NDP).


Our proposals for the Olympic Stadium site include an iconic 60,000 seater stadium, the construction of which is fully financially guaranteed. It is designed along the lines of that which we incorporated in our planning application for the NDP, with a single tier end and seats close to the action on the pitch.It would rank amongst the finest in the world and deliver one of the best fan experiences anywhere in Europe. It would also host major concerts and other sporting and cultural events to be delivered as part of a year-round programme by our partner in the bid, AEG, the operators of The O2.


The proposals include the re-use of the existing infrastructure in order to maximize the benefit of the public investment to date. Surrounded by an exceptional public realm which would host community-focussed events and activities, the stadium would benefit from the best public transport and access for any stadium in Britain and our plans also include a major tourist attraction based around extreme sports and incorporating specialist sports retailing, restaurants, cafes and bars.


We proposed a comprehensive athletics legacy which included facilitating a permanent 25,000-seat athletics venue at Crystal Palace, with the ability to convert to 40,000 for a World Championship, along with support for grassroots athletics.


The easiest option for us would undoubtedly have been to bid for the Olympic Stadium site with a retained athletics track. But it would have been the wrong option. The front row seats in the Olympic Stadium with a retained athletics track will be up to 45m from the pitch; in our stadium design they would be 8m from the action.


Football and athletics cannot co-exist successfully in the same stadium. There are examples all over the world of where clubs have removed tracks or moved stadiums simply because of the poor spectator experience and the lack of sustainability in the long-term due to decreasing attendances.We never considered for one moment placing our fans in such a stadium environment.


The decision now rests with the Olympic Park Legacy Company as to who they will select as their preferred bidder, with whom they would then enter into detailed negotiations in order to reach a final agreement. This is scheduled to be announced following an OPLC Board meeting on 28 January 2011. As I have stated previously, should we be selected as the preferred bidder, we shall engage with and fully consult our supporters.


In respect of the NDP, the S106, the planning agreement required before full planning consent can be issued, has been signed by ourselves, Haringey Council and Transport for London and is in the process of being signed by the relevant financial institutions.


That said, I must once again repeat the concerns we have about the viability and deliverability of the NDP. The cost of consent has been high. This is not attributable to any one stakeholder, but is rather the result of the cumulative nature of the various obligations. We have worked well in partnership with Haringey Council and I should like to thank them for their support in reaching this stage in the process.


No progress has been made with the remaining land owners and this is a potentially costly issue. As such, we have yet to conclude the site assembly. Compulsory Purchase Orders are of course one route to resolving this, but that process is uncertain and can take years to conclude.So, in some ways much has happened and in others, we are still determining new stadium plans.


Our guiding principles remain the same – we are committed to taking this Club to the next level and an increased capacity stadium is central to that intention; and we have to seek a stadium solution which does not undermine the financial stability of the Club or its ability to continue to invest in the First Team.


If you look at the stadium capacities of the top 20 clubs in Europe, they all exceed ours. The new Financial Fair Play rules will mean that we shall only be able to outlay income generated through the activities of the Club – increased match day revenues play a major role in a club’s finances and we need to ensure that we are in a position to thrive and to continue to compete at the highest level.


Perhaps more importantly, we now have over 35,000 fans on the paid for waiting list for season tickets. It is an astonishing figure and a real reminder of the strength of support for this Club and the hunger there is to come and see the team playing some of the most attractive and exciting football in the Premier League and in European competition.


I am ever conscious of the feelings of our fans - on all fronts. I have never made any secret of the fact that I am ambitious on behalf of this Club and our fans. You could say that the one choice we do have , is the choice between standing still or moving forward. I know what my choice is and, judging from the emails we receive at the Club, you join me in wanting to see our Club progress. A new stadium is critical to our continued success. I shall keep you updated and thank you for all your support.


In the meantime we have a season to be getting on with and some fantastic football to enjoy.


Yours, Daniel
 

michaelden

Knight of the Fat Fanny
Aug 13, 2004
26,386
21,685
I really, really hope we become the prefered bidder :pray:

Then the future will truly be bright, Lillywhite bright!!!!
 

Darbinho

New Member
Jul 16, 2010
93
0
Rub Wet Spams noses in it big time, save a few hundred million, increase capacity, fk those idiot athletics people off (buy it yourselves if you are so bothered spazwits), not being in Harringay, more revenue, stadium befitting a club our size.
Vs.
Not being in North London
Some short live fun poking from jealous rival fans.

Shame there is no suitable site in North London but Ho hum.
 

bubble07

Well-Known Member
Dec 27, 2004
22,959
29,896
I really don't know what I want to happen from this. Such a huge decision to make
 

bubble07

Well-Known Member
Dec 27, 2004
22,959
29,896
Rub Wet Spams noses in it big time, save a few hundred million, increase capacity, fk those idiot athletics people off (buy it yourselves if you are so bothered spazwits), more revenue, stadium befitting a club our size.
Vs.
Not being in Harringay
Some short live fun poking from jealous rival fans.

Shame there is no suitable site in North London but Ho hum.

Problem is it won't be short term and if we have to change our name that would be HUGE
 

EastLondonYid

Well-Known Member
Jan 26, 2010
7,837
16,145
Some interesting points....

I hope he keeps his word, and thoroughly seeks the fans views...properly.

I can't believe that he is capable of making the Olympic commitee allow us to knock down the stadium, against all odds and build a new one.....but can't convince the remaining land owners around the lane, to sell up, is he trying hard enough? or is this part of his get out....:shrug:
 

Marty

Audere est farce
Mar 10, 2005
39,885
62,561
No progress has been made with the remaining land owners and this is a potentially costly issue. As such, we have yet to conclude the site assembly.

If we can't get the land we need for the NDP to go ahead without paying a ridiculous amount of money, as DL is suggesting here, then we don't really have any other choice than to go all out for the OS.
 

Marty

Audere est farce
Mar 10, 2005
39,885
62,561
Problem is it won't be short term and if we have to change our name that would be HUGE
Did you really believe Lammy when he said that? Even if he does sue, he WILL lose the case. There is absolutely no chance that we'll have to change our name.
 

Lucky22

Active Member
Dec 11, 2006
710
160
That's a superb letter that puts everything in context. For me, the big issue is the Fair Play rules and I salute the club's ambition and desire to put us on a level playing field with the leading clubs in Europe. They have obviously calculated the figures and, for me, it's about finding the balance between delivering the stadium we want and need and the costs - that looks like the Olympic bid.
I have the greatest respect for the supporters who follow the club home and away and want to remain at WHL. However, for those of us who travel from outside London to go to matches, our stadium is a bloody nightmare to get to. If the Olympic stadium solves those problems (and I know that is part of the plan), then I for one will back that one.
 

Darbinho

New Member
Jul 16, 2010
93
0
Doubt we'll have to change our name but to be honest I supported Spurs because it was a closish London team (I live in High Wycombe) not because of any great affinity with Tottenham (the place). I wouldn't like Stratford Hotspur but i could live with London Hotspur.
 

DJS

A hoonter must hoont
Dec 9, 2006
31,261
21,760
From skimming through the letter he hasn't really addressed the discontent amongst supports who wish to remain in N17.

It is a very sad situation still if we seriously cannot get a stadium built in Tottenham.

I'm in no way laying blame for that at Levy's feet as he's worked very hard on the project but neverless I find it very disappointing.

You look at Spain - the government practically bails out some of their top teams in financial difficulties, what has our government done for us?

The area around WHL is a shithole and surely a nice new stadium might help towards regenerating the area a bit?

In addition to sending any young yobbos on national service...
 

JonnySpurs

SC Veteran
Jun 4, 2004
5,345
12,398
Man, it's tough, Levy always speaks well and makes a great deal of sense in his letters, this one is no different.

It absolutely makes sense to bid for the OS but the fact remains that I, along with many others, don't want us to have to move.

Having said that, I think I have finally come around to the opinion that should we win the bid then I will back it fully and look forward seeing it all develop.

Should we lose (which is what I expect) then I will be quite happy about that and just hope that NDP can come off and back that fully instead.

Either way, the club is in great hands, well done Daniel Levy, best chairman in the league, no doubt!
 

Marty

Audere est farce
Mar 10, 2005
39,885
62,561
Man, it's tough, Levy always speaks well and makes a great deal of sense in his letters, this one is no different.

It absolutely makes sense to bid for the OS but the fact remains that I, along with many others, don't want us to have to move.

Having said that, I think I have finally come around to the opinion that should we win the bid then I will back it fully and look forward seeing it all develop.

Should we lose (which is what I expect) then I will be quite happy about that and just hope that NDP can come off and back that fully instead.

Either way, the club is in great hands, well done Daniel Levy, best chairman in the league, no doubt!
Agree with every word of this.
 

sloth

Well-Known Member
Mar 7, 2005
9,018
6,900
From skimming through the letter he hasn't really addressed the discontent amongst supports who wish to remain in N17.

It is a very sad situation still if we seriously cannot get a stadium built in Tottenham.

I'm in no way laying blame for that at Levy's feet as he's worked very hard on the project but neverless I find it very disappointing.

You look at Spain - the government practically bails out some of their top teams in financial difficulties, what has our government done for us?

The area around WHL is a shithole and surely a nice new stadium might help towards regenerating the area a bit?

In addition to sending any young yobbos on national service...

I don't think he's saying the NDP can't go ahead, just that as things stand it looks tricky. I'm 100% certain that if we fail with the OS bid we'll continue to go all out to make the NDP a reality.

The real issue is the time it will take and the additional stress on club's finances. But, as I said elsewhere, if it means we have to sell a couple of star players to do it, then so be it.
 

roosh

aka tottenham_til_i_die
Sep 21, 2006
4,627
573
Some interesting points....

I hope he keeps his word, and thoroughly seeks the fans views...properly.

I can't believe that he is capable of making the Olympic commitee allow us to knock down the stadium, against all odds and build a new one.....but can't convince the remaining land owners around the lane, to sell up, is he trying hard enough? or is this part of his get out....:shrug:

He hasn't concinced the Olympic committee yet, but if he does it will be bcos it makes more financial sense.

As for the remaining landowners, they are either too stubborn to move, or they know (or at least thought) they had the club over a barrell and are looking to make a killing off their property.
 

EastLondonYid

Well-Known Member
Jan 26, 2010
7,837
16,145
Doubt we'll have to change our name but to be honest I supported Spurs because it was a closish London team (I live in High Wycombe) not because of any great affinity with Tottenham (the place). I wouldn't like Stratford Hotspur but i could live with London Hotspur.[/quote]


That is an incredible admission...i give up sometimes..alot of the fans on here are driving me nuts.
 

danielneeds

Kick-Ass
May 5, 2004
24,179
48,764
Some interesting points....

I hope he keeps his word, and thoroughly seeks the fans views...properly.

I can't believe that he is capable of making the Olympic commitee allow us to knock down the stadium, against all odds and build a new one.....but can't convince the remaining land owners around the lane, to sell up, is he trying hard enough? or is this part of his get out....:shrug:

What they will be "knocking down" is 85% a temporary structure that was never supposed to be there once the games finished anyway.
 

EastLondonYid

Well-Known Member
Jan 26, 2010
7,837
16,145
What they will be "knocking down" is 85% a temporary structure that was never supposed to be there once the games finished anyway.

I thought levy said we would build the same stadium as the original in tottenham, and knock the OS down...
 

MattyP

Advises to have a beer & sleep with prostitutes
May 14, 2007
14,041
2,980
Thanks for the open letter Dan, I'll be sending you one back in the course of the next week and will post it on SC.
 
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