Tottenham first EPL game at its new stadium ended in a 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace.GETTY IMAGES
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, “one of, if not the, most advanced stadiums in the world,” hosted its first EPL match on Wednesday when Tottenham defeated Crystal Palace 2-0. The 62,062-seat stadium might have been "late (and) it might be over budget," but Wednesday was still a "landmark day" for both Tottenham and the EPL. While Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium and West Ham’s London Stadium have opened in the past 15 years, NBCSN’s Neil Ashton said, "I don't think anything compares to the electricity, the buzz, the atmosphere that’s been generated at White Hart Lane." Other NBCSN analysts described the venue as "magnificent," "absolutely magnificent" and "spectacular" ("Premier League Live," NBCSN, 4/3).
In "the end, it was worth the wait." Tottenham's 2-0 victory drew 59,215 fans as it opened the $1.7B stadium "amid glorious fanfare." Spurs striker Son Heung-Min, who scored the first goal, said, "What an unbelievable stadium. The noise was just so loud. ... White Hart Lane is our history but the new stadium ... I can't believe it. To play in it is an amazing feeling. It's a bit different from Wembley. Wembley was not our home." For Tottenham supporters, it was a day "they have been dreaming of after 23 months away from home." Any concerns that the "new modern structure would crush any semblance of atmosphere or leave supporters too far away from the field appear unfounded" (CNN, 4/3). This "magnificent sweeping stadium is a spectacular arena that proved well worth" the wait. It "ranks alongside any in the world." Spurs fans "gathered around their new home hours before" kickoff, the "space-age structure dominating the skyline and the local area" (BBC, 4/3).
Spurs "held the perfect housewarming party," which included a pregame "nod to the farewell observance they paid to their former ground." The opening ceremony for the new stadium began with a video which included interviews with Spurs Chair Daniel Levy and Tottenham MP David Lammy. Supporters were given "Welcome Home" flags and "the first chants to roll down from the single-tier south stand declared the fans were back where they felt they belong." Fireworks from the roof "ended the pre-match event" (TALKSPORT, 4/3).
