Filed under: Tottenham, West Ham, Premier League, Football
Tottenham look to have lost in their bid to take over the London 2012 Olympic stadium. But the question remains, why did they even try to convince the Games legacy team they were worthy of it in the first place? The most pressing concern to the Olympic Park Legacy Committee was that, well, there would be a legacy post-2012. They will have regarded the argument over who belongs in east London or not as a side issue.
The claims from West Ham that Tottenham were muscling in on their manor will have done little to sway the committee's decision. No, what they will have wanted is to show that London are serious about avoiding white elephants after the Games are over.
And they will also have been concerned with wanting to avoid looking incompetent, especially after football - the only option if a stadium is going to be economically viable - was more or less ignored when the initial feelers were put out to secure a tenant at the Olympic stadium.
So Tottenham, in all their wisdom, put forward the proposal of knocking down the taxpayer-funded stadium and building a new one - and refurbishing the dilapidated Crystal Palace athletics venue.
They wanted to move five miles (as the crow flies) south east, into east, rather than north London into a stadium which would only start to be built in August 2012. But guess what? The fans didn't like that idea.
They protested at every opportunity and there was even a group set up, 'We Are N17' - named after White Hart Lane's postcode - that won an audience with Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore.
As well as the fans, it seems the London 2012 legacy committee were not too keen on Spurs' proposals. They have backed West Ham's bid, which all-but guarantees that the Hammers will move in post-2012, rather than Tottenham.
The London Mayor and Government Ministers have the final vote on Friday, but they are highly unlikely to go against the committee's view.
So, to refer to the initial question: why did Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy attempt to convince fans and London 2012 chiefs a move to Stratford was the best option for all parties? The simple answer is money.
Spurs need a bigger stadium - their 33,000-person waiting list for season tickets could almost fill White Hart Lane over again - and rebuilding the Olympic stadium was the cheapest option.
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Source: http://www.fanhouse.co.uk/2011/02/10/tottenham-may-have-to-look-elsewhere-to-save-200-million-after/
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