Tottenham's failed Olympic bid comes back to haunt them

11 September 2014 11:27

When Tottenham lost the right to stage their home games at the Olympic Park, it was not a cause for great panic for Chairman Daniel Levy.

It was seen as a missed opportunity, but Spurs already had foreseen plans to move from White Hart Lane. Their new stadium was set to be ready for the 2017/18 campaign, with an increased capacity to 60,000. Yesterday, as the plans’ were evidently delayed, they will have no home in 3 season’s times. Their persistence of the Olympic bid was not without cause, but what will frustrate the Tottenham hierarchy is how they did not put together a better campaign to push through the deal. West Ham were quick to see the opening , moving in to one of London’s most prestigious venues, an d the opportunity was too good to miss for Sullivan and Gold. As soon as the two businessmen realized this, they set about a promoting their campaign along with Chairwoman Karen Brady. The club submitted an application in 2010, even before the stadium was fully finalised.

Tottenham at the same time were only tinkering with the idea, with sources suggesting they were flirting with rumours of a potential interest in taking over when the games had finished. They eventually made a bid in 2011, a year after West Ham made theirs, and by then the government had plenty of time to consider West Ham’s campaign. Daniel Levy will be ruing at the lack of endeavour, and commitment to the cause. West Ham however, will be looking forward to 2017/18 not with worry or panic, but with excitement and pleasure at being host to the Olympic park.

Source: DSG