Spurs Fans Could See More Than Football at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

There’s nothing more natural than watching world-class players grace the pitch at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The combination is almost as clinical and Harry Kane and Son Heung-min! The thing is, stadia are more than one-trick ponies in the modern era.  

Sure, football does and will continue to take precedent over everything else. Still, there’s room for the arts to fit comfortably into one of the most modern venues in the UK. As Spurs supporters, we can expect to see events that aren’t football-based grace the pitch more often, and these are the reasons why.  

Other Clubs Lead by Example  

When you look at the big picture, it shouldn’t be surprising that Daniel Levy will want to use the brand spanking new stadium to boost Spurs’ appeal. After all, the top Premier League teams, the ones we count as our rivals, have been doing it for decades.  

Manchester City FC is probably the most infamous example as they have been hiring out the Etihad Stadium to the likes of One Direction and other pop stars since at least 2016. However, Man Utd’s history goes back to 1998 when Old Trafford hosted its first-ever Super League Grand Final. Indeed, the only time rugby league’s showpiece hasn’t been at Old Trafford since 1998 was last year when it went to Hull.  

Wembley’s 2012 turnover figures highlight why clubs are doing it – money. The national stadium brought in £11 million less than in 2011, which directly correlated to the fact it hosted fewer events that year. For Spurs, the awareness and cash are too much to turn down.  

The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium Is Making a Name for Itself  

Part of the issue with being located in London is that there are dozens of readymade venues willing to host a myriad of events at a moment’s notice. Therefore, it’s harder for us to carve out a lane for ourselves in this extra-curricular industry compared to the northern clubs.  

Thankfully, there is an avenue that doesn’t appear to be taken that we have already sampled. Boxing’s popularity is at a fever pitch to the point where only the biggest venues will do for major fights. Back in 2020, for example, world champion Anthony Joshua was due to defend his belts against Kubrat Pulev at Tottenham’s home. With a match-up of that calibre making the grade, it’s not hard to see more exciting bouts turning up on our doorstep, such as Anthony Joshua versus Tyson Fury.  

⏰ ⏰ ⏰ pic.twitter.com/GRN9UowO4d

— TYSON FURY (@Tyson_Fury) April 7, 2021

The boxing betting odds that have Tyson as an 8/15 favourite aren’t the only anticipated features of the potential slugfest. Another is the location because fans want to see an all-British contest take place in the UK, making the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium a strong candidate.  

Plenty to go Around  

The reality is, there are plenty of events to go around and not enough venues that fit the bill. After all, boxing isn’t the only sport that demands a stadium with a capacity of 60,000 or more. Mixed Martial Arts, a close cousin, reels in audiences that equate to millions of pounds of revenue.  

The clamour for more MMA Fight Nights in the UK will only increase as the sport engages a broader viewership. Then there is American football, which now has a dedicated fixture played in the UK annually. We have hosted NFL franchises before, and will gladly house more when the time arises. Surprisingly, there is even talk of an Ashes test matchmaking its way to Spurs’ ground. All of this potential has resulted in the largest indoor stadium in the UK being erected in Manchester next door to the Etihad.  

If we want to keep up with our competitors’ budgets and marketing potential, we’ll need to welcome non-football events to the new stadium. Of course, it should never be at the demise of the team or supporters.