- Feb 8, 2007
- 11,942
- 21,098
I've been thinking about the new stadium a fair bit recently.
In among my reflections, what I came to realise is that I never think of the new stadium as White Hart Lane. I sometimes call it the THS or the Spurs Stadium, sometimes New White Hart Lane, but never just the unqualified "White Hart Lane".
For me, White Hart Lane elicits very evocative memories: that slight dilapidation in the concourses, the stained concrete beneath the seats, the brick facade on the outside and the pillars on the inside of the East Stand, the big gates that you walked out of at the end of the game - they all trigger memories and feelings of connection with the club. Not that the new stadium doesn't, just that it's different.
I do feel that there is a connection between that wonderful, truly-beloved old arena and the gorgeous new bowl that has replaced it, but I don't think of the latter as being the same as the former enough for my brain to feel right in assigning them both with such an evocative name. I certainly feel like the new stadium is home and I get the same feelings of excitement and joy when visiting. It's not me saying one is better than the other, just they aren't the same thing and so won't label the new stadium with the name of the old.
Am I alone in that?
In among my reflections, what I came to realise is that I never think of the new stadium as White Hart Lane. I sometimes call it the THS or the Spurs Stadium, sometimes New White Hart Lane, but never just the unqualified "White Hart Lane".
For me, White Hart Lane elicits very evocative memories: that slight dilapidation in the concourses, the stained concrete beneath the seats, the brick facade on the outside and the pillars on the inside of the East Stand, the big gates that you walked out of at the end of the game - they all trigger memories and feelings of connection with the club. Not that the new stadium doesn't, just that it's different.
I do feel that there is a connection between that wonderful, truly-beloved old arena and the gorgeous new bowl that has replaced it, but I don't think of the latter as being the same as the former enough for my brain to feel right in assigning them both with such an evocative name. I certainly feel like the new stadium is home and I get the same feelings of excitement and joy when visiting. It's not me saying one is better than the other, just they aren't the same thing and so won't label the new stadium with the name of the old.
Am I alone in that?