Harry Kane's New Stomping Ground
I recently attended the AEV conference, a fantastic event with some great insights into the venue industry. One talk that really stood out was Sanjeev Katwa’s, Head of Technology at Tottenham Hotspur Football Club: a presentation on the stadium’s massive ￡850 million development.
The stadium is part of a momentous regeneration project in London which includes a wide range of schemes to transform the area including better housing, improved transport links, job opportunities, retail developments and much more!
The football stadium has an iconic design and when complete, will become a landmark for the capital. The detail and digital advancements that have gone into the design will transform the venue into a truly multi-purpose destination.
This stadium will be the most technologically advanced stadium worldwide. They have invested in world-class connectivity, advanced digital designs, payment systems, controls, and signage to name a few. Technology will be fitted and utilised across the entire stadium improving every aspect for guests, players, and staff, enhancing the experience for all and ensuring the destination is equipped for future development.
The site will deliver a completely paperless experience. There will be a significant volume of POS devices including roaming POS with employees on hand to take payment anywhere in the stores, eliminating queues and improving convenience. A bar will stretch across the entirety of the south stand with at least 50 POS, reducing wait-time and making the bar much more accessible to guests.
This multi-technological stadium will boast the biggest screens in the premier league. Screens will have fan engagement opportunities with offers and interactive promotions to add to the experience. There will also be much more advertisement space with the LED perimeter rotating screens pitch-side and also, fitted around the seated tiers.
The CCTV cameras that are being installed will not only be used for security, they will analyse player performance, gathering data at every opportunity! It’s exciting to see how venues are adapting to meet the current challenges and demands being faced.
The stadium won’t be a place people visit to simply watch a game, it will become a destination where people come for an entire day out. Space has been leased to a range of exciting tenants and the stadium’s layout has been designed in a truly innovative way to increase dwell time. Fans will be able to walk around the entire stadium on the 1st and 5th tiers, the ground will also include the world’s first glass hanging bridge above the pitch. This is being purpose-built for visitor experience and will really offer a truly unique viewpoint.
A wayfinding app has been designed to not only to help first-time visitors navigate their journey, but also diversify the experience of season ticket holders and regular attendees, encouraging them to explore different areas and tenants to ensure the entire stadium is being used fully. Fans can also enjoy a glass window tunnel club, really becoming immersed with the players as they are entering the pitch.
The venue will not just be used for football games, the space will be a concert destination and the pitch will have the capability to transform into two different sizes as the stadium will be the home of NFL football in the UK! This diversity and flexibility will allow 2 events to be held in one day – fully maximising the space!
There has been a real focus on developing the venue, making it more than just a football ground. Nike has leased 40,000 sq ft of retail space – bigger than the Nike store on Oxford Circus! There will be a F&B offering designed to give off a market-feel with at least 5 different food retailers.
Due to the dramatic increase in visitor numbers, White Hart Lane station is being redesigned to make improvements which include a new ticket hall, additional entrance, new lifts, improved CCTV and access to name a few! This will make travelling to the stadium much more comfortable and convenient.
This project is absolutely massive, they have 3,500 people working 24/7 to deliver the stadium of time – I can’t want to visit once complete…despite being a Man Utd fan!