New Agreement With Local Government Brings Tottenham Closer To Securing New Stadium

EPL club Tottenham Hotspur has "moved a crucial step towards building a new stadium with a capacity of up to 60,000 on the site of their existing White Hart Lane home after reaching a new agreement with local government over the area's redevelopment," according to Owen Gibson of the GUARDIAN. After the Haringey council "promised to invest" US$14.2M into improvements to the public realm, to add to US$28.4M already promised by London Mayor Boris Johnson toward "regeneration in the area in the wake of the riots last summer, the club will now begin talks with banks and commercial partners regarding the scheme." The US$631.4M Northumberland project "includes the development of a new stadium plus the redevelopment of the surrounding area and new commercial premises including a supermarket, offices and residential properties." Tottenham has applied for planning permission for an "amendment to their scheme for a new supermarket on the site, which could be the first part of the development to be built if permission is granted next month." Continuing attempts to find a naming-rights partner will be "redoubled and conversations with banks about the required financing are expected to step up a gear" (GUARDIAN, 2/1).

SWEET 16: The PA reports English soccer club West Ham United is one of "16 parties interested in moving to the Olympic Stadium after this summer's London Games." The original deal for West Ham to take over the venue "collapsed in October amid concerns over delays caused by the legal dispute" with Tottenham and English soccer club Leyton Orient. West Ham remains the favorite to "become the tenants, although the Olympic Park Legacy Company confirmed it would accept a ground-share bid from a football and a rugby team, and said retaining the athletics track was non-negotiable" (PA, 2/1).