I Hope West Ham Win! Not something you’ll hear a Spurs fan say everyday, and I know there are plenty of you out there that are all for the move to the Olympic Stadium but there are a lot of us that don’t want to. While you may think this is just another anti Stratford blog update it’s more than that and I hope even if you’re very pro moving, you’ll appreciate the possibilities of what I’m about to say.
Having spoken to members of the We Are N17 group in recent days I’m sure they will excuse me for publishing some of our thoughts in this blog. One thing you should be aware of is that just because things have gone a little quiet with regards to the campaign doesn’t mean ears aren’t to the ground and progress isn’t being made. Fundamentally the whole process is in limbo at the moment until the end of January when the Olympic Park Legacy Company will make their “preferred bidder” announcement. There are pro’s and con’s for both our joint bid with AEG and West Ham’s bid with Newham Council and if the West Ham bid is successful, the following is inconsequential, but if as it looks, Daniel Levy and the Tottenham board get the decision they want we could witness a massive change in our club.
Let me start with today’s news that the club have appointed Mike Lee. In what capacity isn’t exactly clear but given he’s a PR guru it’s likely he’ll be tasked with bridging relations between the board and those fans opposed to any possible move. The fact he’s already got links with the Olympic board is an added bonus, just like the appointment of Charlie Wijeratnaas back in November. A strange coincidence perhaps but one that makes you wonder if the links they have formed while working on Olympic bids are the main reason for their appointments. While it’s not 100% clear what the spurs board would prefer it certainly seems like they’re edging towards Stratford. If the Olympic Stadium was a bargaining tool as first thought there is little reason to keep it as such, now planning permissions have been granted in N17.
So, lets say we are the preferred bidder, and judging by the financial reasoning and the fact we’re in partnership with a company who seldom loses, it’s highly likely we will be, what will happen next? Well here’s a theory. Not long before Christmas I wrote a piece on the possibility of ENIC selling the club. At the time it wasn’t obvious who they would sell to but I thought it would be to the highest bidder.
If you look a little deeper, and this one is clutching at straws but bare with me, David Beckham joining Spurs, whether it’s on a 3 month loan or the rest of his career can also be seen as a potential building block for new buyers. David Beckham and AEG have long gone hand in hand. He’s a pawn they use for their needs and whether he plays for them in Los Angeles or in London really isn’t any concern of theirs. Told you that one was a little out there but it’s an interesting thought. He’s another who’s influence will no doubt reach as far as the people who make the Olympic Stadium decision.
So back to potential buyers of what we know as Tottenham Hotspur Football Club. The most obvious one is already in partnership with us, AEG. A worldwide, massive company who’s business model revolves around buying sports franchises (teams in English), building new stadiums like The Staples Centre and The Home Depot Centre and putting sports teams in them to generate a steady revenue whilst also staging concerts and other events when the team isn’t playing. Rumours have it that AEG would be looking to stage approximately 100 concerts/events a year if they were allowed to buy the Olympic Stadium or whatever stadium is on that patch of land. If that’s true the obvious next step would be to buy Spurs from ENIC and cut out the middle man, making profit and running it like a franchise. They’ve already got a large portfolio of sports teams throughout the world, but Spurs would be the feather in their cap.
This is where we need to be careful. Many people will see this as a good thing. AEG being a very large company, and a well run one at that taking over Spurs would potentially give us more clout in the transfer market etc. However, take another look at it. What would become of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club? I genuinely understand the reason’s why people don’t mind the thought of leaving N17, personally I’m against it but I understand. The problem and the reason why there are differences of opinion is based on tradition and what football means to you.
I support a football club. A football club with a great history. Maybe not the most successful history but a history I’m proud of and for all it’s low points and failures, it’s that which keeps me coming back for more. To go on a slight tangent for a second, have you ever wondered why Americans have huge attendances for their college sport and we don’t? It’s because of the “franchise”. Many people support their college team as we support Spurs. The reason is because they know it’ll always be there. We’ve all heard of the LA Raiders American football team right? Sorry, I should say the Oakland Raiders because that’s what they’re called now. They were the LA Raiders for the 12 years they played in LA. They moved back to Oakland because they were basically offered more money to play in that area and promised a larger stadium. What about the San Jose Earthquakes who we’re partnered with and played a pre-season friendly with last summer. They moved from San Jose in 2006 to Houston to become the Houston Dynamo. A year later a new franchise was set up in San Jose which was allowed to use the name San Jose Earthquakes which means apart from name we didn’t really play the San Jose Earthquakes at all. At least not as their original fans would know them. Take a look at this list to see just how often it happens and while it’s more rare to occur on this side of the pond, it does still happen, the prime example being Wimbledon and MK Dons.
There’s little or no link between teams, sorry, franchises and their fans. Imagine putting your heart and sole into a team, only for them to move to another part of the country. Obviously, the distances we’re talking about aren’t the same as those experienced in America but the principle is the same. When you think about a shiny new stadium in Stratford and you think of all the plus points how do you feel when you think “our” stadium would be used for concerts more often than we would play there? How would you feel if when you went to book tickets for a game you had to search through the lists of various non Spurs related events before you found what you wanted?
The Olympic Stadium wouldn’t be the home of Tottenham Hotspur, or Stratford Hotspur if you prefer, it would be a stadium for everyone, that our once loved football club play in once every other week. We would have very little affiliation with it and lose an identity we all feel today. There’s nothing like having a home, nothing like knowing it’s yours. A new stadium in Stratford wouldn’t just be a new stadium, it would be a change in footballing culture and could bring in the age of the franchise. Something we would live to regret and something I dearly hope doesn’t happen.
Whether you think moving to Stratford is a good idea or not, take a minute to think about the possible repercussions and whether you want that. What looks good at first glance can sometimes, especially when it comes to money and football, be detrimental to the fan. That’s you and me. Just ask Liverpool and United fans how they felt when they saw changes coming and how they feel now. Of course this is all speculation and conjecture and there’s no proof of what I’m saying other than reading between the lines and coming up with 14. However, it’s definitely a possibility so shouldn’t be dismissed out of hand. The other possibility is we stay/move and ENIC remain in charge and continue the good work they’ve done so far.
If you want to remain in N17 and build a new stadium there then please take a minute to visit the We Are N17 site and write to people at the club, local government, Olympic committee etc voicing your opinions. It’s looking more and more like Stratford is now Plan A and I believe those seats won’t necessarily be paved with gold, at least not for us fans.
COYS
Feel free to join and discuss this in our forum HERE
Related posts:
Spurs News 24/7
If we don’t get the Stratford stadium we will be in big trouble in years to come, histrionics aside the future of the club is paramount. http://swissramble.blogspot.com/search/label/Tottenham%20Hotspur
I think the name would end up being SPURS, not the slightly ridiculous ‘Stratford Hotspur’. But I’m pretty sure West Ham will win it, with all the athletics pressure.
Excellent piece Tom, very well written – I will even not ring the spelling mistakes this week
Franchising is only a couple of steps away for us and many clubs and once it happens, there is no going back.
all ifs buts and maybes?
I LOVE our club and our long glorious history and would prefer to stay at N17 in a heart beat!
unfortunately there has to be trust between the board of a club and its fans & i trust Daniel Levy implicitly to do what is right for our club if our future lies in haringey or stretford i dont know
Stop whinging. What happened to the protests before matches? Nothing, because us fans aren’t that bothered about moving. If we do then we don, if we don’t then we don’t.
Levy will do what is right for the club.
Tottenham ceases to be Tottenham the moment we leave N17.
Very good article. Whilst I am all in favour of staying where we are in that fantastically designed stadium it will only be 57000 the Olympic is going to be 80000 or something so money wise it makes more sense which is why I think we will end up there!
If we move and it allows the club to compete financially with the big boys a bit better then I’m all for it.
Moving allows us to save £100m on stadium costs (so I have read) this is without the residual loan interest rate added on. I’d rather see that spent on players of high calibre who can help us win the league. The extra gate receipts to offer the wages the top players command. We could be a force on the world stage……..
OR
We can stay in N17 for nostalgia and “tradition”.
The area is a toilet and the transport infrastructure is a joke. I understand the club is TOTTENHAM Hotspurs but let’s face it clubs in London love deluding themselves about their locations. Chelsea is really in Fulham and Fulham is basically in Putney.
I suppose you are still wearing Spurs shirts with the old badge because you refuse to buy the new ones due to the strong traditionally value you hold?
We are getting bigger and have outgrown the area. David Lammy is too busy moaning about the club moving rather than offering solutions to enable the club to stay in the area. He doesn’t care about the club, he cares about his career hitting the skids.
West Ham like to think they’ll get a free run on the stadium because of their location but would you give it to a team that is highly likely to be playing in the lower leagues. Embarrassing doesn’t come close enough to describing it.
I’ve always supported the view that Mr Levy runs spurs as a very good business. when WHL was initially up for ‘refurbishment’ Mr Levy said they will have the funds to do so and it will not affect spurs on the pitch. therefore we’re fundamentally sound. So why move? Money. It’s always about money. Which is what this move is all about. there’s no way spurs could do a leeds united! the crap i just read ‘if we don’t move we’ll be in trouble just doesn’t stand up. Spurs are a very wealthy club and always punch under their weight. We’re a chance of getting into the top 4 again but as with the jol era Levy will not back the team (sold berba and keane from under ramos) with a world class player or two. Never mind Arry telling everyone that Levy wants the best what a load of tosh that is. moving to stratford has not really been in my mind to be honest. My familly come from poplar and surrounds so i should be happy. But it’s Tottenham hotspur and should stay in tottenham. Should this club become another name that leaves me without a club! Years and years of history swept away in one go. There are rumours Levy will sell. so sell then! Let the rich arabs takeover. Unlike the yanks they do things for sports sake not advertising or having a scalp under your belt. I don’t like Levy. this run in the champs league will end this year. Levy will not commit to football and will move spurs to the east end and destroy everything I’ve come to love about our club. Never really wanted to do a chelsea or citeh but if it takes that to stay ‘Tottenham Hotspur’ the so be it. I couldn’t call out for another club. And that’s what we’d become another club. Worse we’d be another club still being ran for profit and not football. worse still we’d be imitating Arsenal..everything about this move is wrong! If you can’t see that you aint no spurs fan in my eyes. get out Levy. QPR coming up next year. Big money club spending money where they should on the club for it’s enhancement. not that of the board! olympic stadiums are nothing like football stadiums you wouldn’t be able to see the players let alone the ball. I’m giggling abit about the 80,000 giving spurs more money. how will they fill it? Especially if the fans don’t travel from tottenham to watch it? I used to travel from Swindon to WHL and had no problems i didn’t expect regarding transport. When in london we’d go the overground and had no problems there either. spurs have massive funds available but do not use it! Our books always balance because we sell our best assetts to do so. 1.5 million fans worldwide, eigth-twelth richest club in the world at a given time and we still penny pinch! Beckham to spurs makes perfect sense. no footballing ability left in him but he’ll make a quid for the club in advertising! Exactly the way Levy likes it.
We would all like to stay in Tottenham but realistically its time to move!
‘kiwiyid January 5, 2011 at 7:35 pm If we don’t get the Stratford stadium we will be in big trouble in years to come, histrionics aside the future of the club is paramount. http://swissramble.blogspot.com/search/label/Tottenham%20Hotspur‘
Absolute bullshit
@Tom, there were never any protests planned before matches. If you believe what you read on goal.com then more fool you. We Are N17 have tried to inform the club what the general consensus of fans is, which is to stay in N17. The Tottenham Trust which is meant to speak on behalf of the fans have not done this. They haven’t said either way and are sitting on the fence, generally not wanting to upset the board.
As for Levy doing what is right for the club, I’m not so sure. I’m the first to say he’s been a fantastic chairman but it’s all business and while football is most definitely a business nowadays it’s not solely a business and that needs to be taken into consideration when decisions are made and not just the bottom line.
Veiga – Out of interest will you have a problem when they change the name to Stratford Hotspur? After all its only a few letters? What about the kit to red? after all its only colours?
TOTTENHAM Hotspur of North London! That’s my team.
I have no love (and never will) for STRATFORD Hotspur of the South London. Ffs the South London Derby will really suck!
To ‘We are N17′; Maybe we should get permission to re-register the name Tottenham Hotspur of North London once Levy (and his Americans) take their money to South London – and start all over again!
Stop moaning about moving. Stratford MUCH larger stadium transport infrastructure MUCH better so access to n from ground MUCH easier revenues MUCH larger so able offer larger wages and pay larger transfer fees for more world class players to move club on. We can stay N17 and stay where we are- top 4 or 5 or move and become top 3 in country!! Moan as much as you like about move being about money If it is then it is – that’s how clubs become successful nowadays – it isn’t the 60′s anymore to succeed we need to move on, stop living in so called utopia and grow up a bit!
It’s not about growing up Vin1. It’s about what you see football as. Personally I don’t see it as a business. Of course i know there’s a business aspect to it and a large one at that but i don’t think it’s a business in the sense of a company.
If spurs move, of course there will be all those positives you mentioned. There’s nothing to suggest at the moment the we would have more transfer funds if we moved to the Olympic stadium however. You, like so many spurs fans, don’t have all the facts and until you do you’re not really in a position to make an informed decision. The one thing that no one can argue with is the improved transport links though.
I see football all about traditions and the feeling you get when you go to the ground of the team you support. These feelings will of course be gained in a new stadium eventually wherever it is and i for one wont stop my support for the club if we did move.
I think the problem is everyone see’s the need for success over tradition which i don’t. I’m loving what’s happening t the moment as everyone is but I didn’t love the team any less when we were crap and losing all the time. Unfortunately i think there’s a lot of glory supporters about nowadays who only see what’s right in front of them and can’t see the bigger picture.
I will never shout for stratford it sounds crap i cant see why we cant stay at tottenham realy pissed off this is going on there is only 1 team for me and that is TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR F C if my gran knew about this she would turn in her grave cause she was born in tottenham.TOTTENHAM TILL I DIE you cant say that with strattford all other teams supporters will be loving this now the bastards.oh when the spurs goes marching on everyone should stop this move NOW i just hope west ham gets it.