Source: Daily_Mail
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy pens open letter over Olympics Stadium
Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has promised Spurs fans "one of the finest stadiums in the world" if they take over the 2012 Olympic Stadium and has expressed concern over whether a new ground near White Hart Lane is viable.[LNB]The north London club have submitted their bid to take over the stadium to the Olympic Park Legacy Company - they and West Ham are on the shortlist.[LNB]Levy said in an open letter to fans: 'Our proposals for the Olympic Stadium site include an iconic 60,000 seater stadium, the construction of which is fully financially guaranteed.[LNB] The battle is on: The Olympic stadium pictured on Friday in the morning sunshine[LNB]Pele backs Spurs, too... Brazil legend Pele has also written to the OPLC supporting Tottenham's bid for the stadium.[LNB]His letter says: 'I understand they are based on creating a dedicated football stadium and providing an athletics legacy at the original home of athletics (as I remember it!) Crystal Palace.[LNB]'That would be a great stadium. I really don't understand wanting to play with a track around the pitch. The players won't like it and it probably won't last.[LNB]'As a player I need to feel the passion and the intensity of the fans. The best stadiums connect the fans to the pitch and if you lose that you lose something that really matters and eventually you lose the fans.'[LNB]'It is designed along the lines of that which we incorporated in our planning application for the NDP [Northumberland Development Project], with a single tier end and seats close to the action on the pitch. It would rank amongst the finest in the world and deliver one of the best fan experiences anywhere in Europe.'[LNB]Spurs' plans would see them demolish the stadium and build a new one without a running track - West Ham's plan is to keep the structure at a reduced capacity and with the athletics track retained.[LNB]Levy said: 'The easiest option for us would undoubtedly have been to bid for the Olympic Stadium site with a retained athletics track. But it would have been the wrong option.[LNB]'The front row seats in the Olympic Stadium with a retained athletics track will be up to 45m from the pitch; in our stadium design they would be 8m from the action. Football and athletics cannot co-exist successfully in the same stadium.[LNB]'There are examples all over the world of where clubs have removed tracks or moved stadiums simply because of the poor spectator experience and the lack of sustainability in the long term due to decreasing attendances. We never considered for one moment placing our fans in such a stadium environment.'[LNB] Alternative: An artist's impression of Tottenham's Northumberland Development Project[LNB]Ambitious: Chairman Daniel Levy[LNB]Levy said that should Spurs be chosenas the preferred bidder, the club would have a full consultation process with supporters - a number of whom are campaigning against a move to east London.[LNB]Spurs' original plan of developing a new stadium close to their current home - the NDP - is likely to be more costly and troublesome.[LNB]'I must once again repeat the concerns we have about the viability and deliverability of the NDP. The cost of consent has been high,' Levy added.[LNB]'No progress has been made with the remaining land owners and this is a potentially costly issue. Compulsory Purchase Orders are of course one route to resolving this, but that process is uncertain and can take years to conclude.[LNB]'Our guiding principles remain the same - we are committed to taking this club to the next level and an increased capacity stadium is central to that intention; and we have to seek a stadium solution which does not undermine the financial stability of the club or its ability to continue to invest in the first team.'[LNB]Levy pointed out that UEFA's new financial fair play rules, where clubs in European competition can only spend what they earn, made it imperative that Spurs are able to boost match-day income by moving to a bigger ground.[LNB]'Perhaps more importantly, we now have over 35,000 fans on the paid-for waiting list for season tickets. It is an astonishing figure and a real reminder of the strength of support for this club," he said.[LNB]'The choice is between standing still or moving forward. A new stadium is critical to our continued success.'[LNB]Tottenham say they would provide an athletics legacy for London by redeveloping the Crystal Palace athletics stadium.[LNB] West Ham captain Parker insists club are 'perfect' for Olympic StadiumHarry Redknapp: West Ham's plans for Olympic Stadium would turn it 'into a graveyard'Spurs v West Ham: the key points in battle to take over the Olympic Stadium[LNB] Explore more:People: Daniel Levy Places: London, Brazil, Europe, Olympic Stadium
