The 62,303-seat Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, located in London, is the largest club stadium in London and the first in the world to be custom-built to stage soccer and NFL football games, thanks to its fully retractable pitch.
The soccer pitch sits atop the football field and in order to reveal the latter, the former needs to split into three sections to maneuver around two massive supports under the south stands. The pitch runs along tracks and slowly moves into a covered parking lot on the south end of the stadium where it is stored. While in storage, LED lights provide the grass with enough light to keep it alive, but not so much that it will begin to grow out of control, and autonomous mowers keep the grass at a proper length.
The Populous-designed stadiums features uninterrupted sight lines and brings spectators closer to the pitch than at any comparable ground in the UK. The stands are angled at 35 degrees to create a tighter, atmospheric stadium bowl. The southern “home end” of the stadium (under which the pitch is stored) seats 17,500 spectators, making it the largest single-tier stand in the UK. The seating rows are separated by an ergonomically profiled bar set at 900mm for clear sight lines. Each of the seats provides the same levels of comfort and leg room as any other seat anywhere in the stadium and is fitted with a lock to ensure it can be securely fixed in the upright position.
The stadium also features something not seen every day in a stadium, a microbrewery. Owned and operated by local brewer Beavertown, the brewery makes approximately 23,000 pints of beer per match. Another interesting feature for those who like to imbibe in alcoholic beverages is the Goal Line Bar. At 65 meters, the bar is the longest in Europe.
Both the microbrewery and the Goal Line Bar are located in The Market Place, a fan zone with street-food style market stalls in the South Stand atrium. The South Stand Atrium is five stories high and will provide a new meeting place for home supporters before and after matches.
Other features include fine dining experiences; The Tunnel Club, a glass-walled private members club allowing fans a behind-the-scenes view of the players making their way from the pitch, as well as seats located behind the First Team technical area; and The Sky Lounge, where guests can enjoy panoramic views of London from the stadium’s highest point.
There are also a number of experiences for fans available year round, such as the 38,000-sf visitors center with the largest club retail space in Europe, the club museum and archives, and a publicly accessible cafe with an outdoor seating area.
Related Stories
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Sep 27, 2017
A soccer team’s fan base could play an integral role in its new stadium’s design and operations
Sacramento Republic FC and HNTB are conducting a contest where the public can submit concept ideas.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Sep 11, 2017
Mid-size, multi-use arenas setting a trend for the future
While large 20,000-seat sports venues aren’t going away, mid-size venues provide advantages the big arenas do not in a time of budget constraints and the need for flexibility.
AEC Tech | Aug 25, 2017
Software cornucopia: Jacksonville Jaguars’ new practice facility showcases the power of computational design
The project team employed Revit, Rhino, Grasshopper, Kangaroo, and a host of other software applications to design and build this uber-complex sports and entertainment facility.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Aug 18, 2017
Video: Designing the ideal rugby stadium
HOK invited four world-class rugby players into its London studio to discuss what they would like to see in the rugby stadiums of the future.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Aug 16, 2017
Detroit Pistons Performance Center hopes to invigorate the community, create an NBA championship team
The facility will be incorporated into the community with public spaces.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Jul 17, 2017
A new Rec Centre in Toronto links three neighborhoods
Community engagement impacts its design and programming.
Codes and Standards | Jun 21, 2017
Senate bill would prohibit tax money for sports stadium projects
Bipartisan legislation would prevent use of municipal bonds by pro teams.
Building Team Awards | Jun 8, 2017
Team win: Clemson University Allen N. Reeves Football Operations Complex
Silver Award: Clemson gets a new football operations palace, thanks to its building partners’ ability to improvise.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | May 19, 2017
Construction of $2.6 billion L.A. football stadium delayed by heavy rains
The Rams and Chargers won’t be able to move in until the 2020 season.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Apr 21, 2017
3D printed models bring new economic district in Detroit to life
The centerpiece is the scaled replica of a new arena that puts a miniature fan in every seat.