Nearly half of Tottenham Hotspur supporters "were unhappy with the atmosphere during games at Wembley last season," providing the club with "another challenge" when it returns to the national stadium this month, according to Gary Jacob of the LONDON TIMES. Some 44% of 3,208 fans who responded expressed "dissatisfaction" with the atmosphere at Wembley in the survey conducted by the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Trust. The fan group said, "That's an area that needs attention. There have, over the last few years, been many opinions expressed about flags, banners and other visual elements of support, but 61 percent of respondents still see them as helping to lift the crowd." Tottenham played European matches at the ground last season "but will stage all home games at the venue in this campaign" while it continues building work on its new stadium. Manager Mauricio Pochettino said that his players need to "quickly make Wembley feel like home." Almost half of Tottenham fans "also expressed concern that it would cost more to travel to Wembley than White Hart Lane." When Tottenham returns to the redeveloped White Hart Lane, "which is expected to be next season, the supporters have suggested that the stands are named after some of its great players." The report said, "Perhaps unsurprisingly, 85 percent thought retaining tradition and heritage in a modern ground was important, with 63 percent wanting to see the stands named after players and managers" (LONDON TIMES, 8/7).
