Two different field surfaces in one venue? An arena that switches between a basketball court and hockey rink is common. But a retractable real turf football pitch sitting on top of an artificial playing surface? This is the task assigned to SCX Special Projects for the Tottenham Hotspur’s new stadium set to open in 2018.
The retractable real turf surface is where the Spurs will battle. Designed in three pitch-long steel trays (each weighing 3,000+ tonnes), the surface will retract into the South Stand giving way to an artificial surface. The process of making the switch will take approximately 25 minutes.
Once the three trays come together there will be no worry of quality or safety, either. The joins are invisible and provide an up-to-standard playing surface for Premier League matches.
“Our expertise and heritage enables us to push the boundaries of moving structures and precision engineering,” SCX lead engineer Danny Pickard said in a statement. “This latest pitch technology embodies everything we strive for and care about — delivering precisely what the client needs, with the engineering flair that has become a hallmark of SCX. We are so very proud to deliver this engineering world first.”
The artificial turf will be used for concerts and plenty of other events, including NFL games. This is after Tottenham reached a 10-year agreement with the NFL to host a minimum of two games per year at the new stadium.
Once completed, it will be the first stadium in the U.K. to have two pitches under one roof. Set to house 61,000+ fans, the club hopes to “deliver an unrivaled fan experience inside its stadium,” according to its website.
“We are pleased to confirm SCX as our official Retractable Pitch Supplier,” Matthew Collecott, Director of Operations & Finance for Tottenham Hotspur, said in a statement. “SCX has a proven track record in delivering innovative solutions and this bespoke pitch mechanism will allow our new stadium to host a range of major events in addition to Tottenham Hotspur matches, as we strive to create a venue that is a hive of activity all year round.”
