Tottenham confirmed that its £400M ($559M) renovation plans for White Hart Lane "have received approval" from London Mayor Boris Johnson, according to Sam Long of the London EVENING STANDARD. The north London club's plans "were given the green light by Haringey Council" in December but Johnson's stamp of approval "was still needed to ratify the scheme." Tottenham hopes to move into a new 61,000-capacity stadium in time for the '18-19 season. Club Chair Daniel Levy said, "This marks yet another major milestone for this vital and complex scheme and we are grateful to the Mayor for his ongoing support" (EVENING STANDARD, 2/25). The IRISH TIMES reported work "has already begun on the massive development," situated next to White Hart Lane, Tottenham's home for more than 130 years. Johnson said, "White Hart Lane is already an iconic stadium, steeped in history, and the new venue will not only almost double its capacity but provide world-class facilities to watch Premier League football, international sports events and concerts in the heart of the capital." The new ground will be the largest club stadium in London, exceeding the capacity of Arsenal by "around 1,000" (IRISH TIMES, 2/25).
