The local area surrounding the 61,000-capacity stadium being built for Tottenham Hotspur FC will benefit from an extra £430m (US$528.4m, €496.5m) being spent by fans and visitor per year.
According to executive director Donna Cullen, the Populous-designed venue will bring a much needed economic boost to ward that is the “fifth most deprived in the UK”.
During a tour of the construction site, she told
Sports Management that for Premier League football matches, £300m (US$368.6m, €346.6m) extra would be spent in the surrounding area, with a further £130m (US$159.7m, €150.1m) being spent by fans for National Football League (NFL) matches.
As part of the stadium agreement, at least two NFL matches will be played at the stadium per year, so feasibly that figure could increase.
The stadium will also have an economic impact in terms of employment, with 3,700 new jobs supported, bringing in another £293m (US$360m, €338.3m) to the local economy.
One way to boost the economic impact, said Cullen, would be to host “double-headers”, in which a Premier League match is played on a Saturday at the stadium, with an NFL game occurring 24 hours later on the Sunday, or vice versa.
She said that while the concept was only being considered at the moment, it would be a powerful way to keep people in the community for a longer period to spend money.
“People could come to watch a Premier League game, have dinner, and then come back the next day,” she explained.
Cullen and director of hospitality Andy O’Sullivan also lifted the lid on fan engagement plans for those wanting to take part in hospitality packages.
A tunnel bar –
which was first reported by Sports Management in November – was the standout feature, in which clients pay £339 per event plus membership to have a view of the players tunnel.
O’Sullivan ran through a number of high-end hospitality packages, including the “loge” private dining concept. The stadium will be the first in the UK to offer this facility.
But away from the luxury spectator options, Cullen stressed that the stadium was for everyone in the community – a “365 day a year venue” with markets, pop-up stalls and festivals.
She added that transportation and infrastructure was being improved following the divisive riots of 2011, and it was “becoming Tottenham’s time” following a long period of underinvestment.
“Within the Northumberland Park ward 76 per cent of people claim social benefits,” she said. “It has been overlooked for too long. It’s time has come now.”
