EPL club Tottenham Hotspur is "working on secret plans for a new 65,000-seat multi-purpose stadium" that would allow the club to "share with a London-based NFL franchise," according to Alex Miller of the London DAILY MAIL. Tottenham earlier this year "dumped" original designs for a 56,000-seat stadium costing US$646.6M. The team has appointed Populous to "design a bigger ground allowing an easy switch" from soccer to the NFL. It is "understood that plans being drawn up for the Premier League outfit may include a sliding pitch to protect the playing surface" for when it is used for NFL games. The sliding pitch would "cost a substantial amount and suggests that, behind the scenes," Tottenham officials are "confident they can lure NFL games from Wembley or even attract a London NFL franchise." The "revelation also adds weight to the likelihood of an increasing NFL presence in London over the next few years." Wembley Stadium "could not realistically bid to become the permanent home of an NFL team needing to play eight home games per season and use the stadium as a base from summer to January" (London DAILY MAIL, 10/27). A Tottenham spokesperson "refused to rule out the club working with an NFL franchise and insisted" the facility would be a "multi-purpose arena" (METRO.co.uk, 10/27).
