When it comes to football, there are some truly magnificent stadiums around the world. Famous arenas such as the Allianz Arena and the Santiago Bernabeu are renowned for their unbelievable atmosphere, and are architectural marvels in their own right. So, it comes as no surprise that they’ve made it on to our list of the ‘Most Impressive Football Stadiums in the World’ that football fans should visit.
However, there is one new contender that may have to be added to our list: the new technologically advanced Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Under construction since the summer of 2015 and only having opened in April of this year, Construction News reports how the project suffered numerous delays. The club’s official stance was that it was safety issues that caused the bulk of the delays, although inside sources allege it was the lack of communication between subcontractors that was the real culprit.
While problems were being ironed out and their new 62,000 capacity home was being built, a guide to the 2018/19 Premier League stadiums outlines how Spurs made the 90,000 capacity Wembley Stadium their temporary home. The North London club played their home games at Wembley for the whole of the 2017/18 season and some of the 2018/19 campaign. This didn’t go unnoticed, with some fans even questioning whether they’d even move into the new £850m stadium at all.Despite the turmoil though, the newly built Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has gone on to demonstrate it was well worth the wait. Below are just a few reasons why:
It has a retractable pitch
Although the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium’s primary use will be for Spurs’ home matches, it will also facilitate NFL matches and concerts, too. As a result, NS Business Hub states that just one of the technological innovations at the stadium is its state-of-the-art retractable pitch, that will be able to convert from a football pitch into an American football field. This will be the world's first dividing retractable pitch, and it will work by splitting the grass into three different sections, with some 68 electric motors carrying the sections under the stadium and completing the transition.
Grass-growing tech
Another world's first is the grass-growing technology that is being utilised that guarantees the perfect surface to play on. A 120-tonne integrated LED lighting system with 863 lights ensures that every blade of grass is covered, while subterranean LED lights also keep it growing even when it’s in storage. Unlike other stadium grow-lights, the entire system is integrated into the stadium and suspended above the pitch, with zero pressure on the grass. Additionally, a Permavoid water management system also enables groundsmen to draw water underneath the pitch when it rains, and blow more air when it needs oxygen.
It’s the height of modern sustainability
In the fight against plastic pollution, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has been hailed for its initiative to eliminate single-use plastics. The club has pledged to stop using plastic straws, stirrers and cutlery in the stadium, even requiring suppliers to adhere to the imitative. Additionally, the club will also switch to biodegradable bags, and move away from the standard carrier bags used in most Premier League stadiums.
Connectivity
Thanks to a partnership with Hewlett-Packard Enterprise, the North London club will be able to offer match goers additional Wi-Fi and mobile connectivity. Over 1,600 wireless access points throughout the stadium will allow thousands of fans to stream live videos without interruptions. Additionally, communications infrastructure provided by Mitel will help connect staff and fans by personalising their match days, as fans calling the box-office will also have their customer history pulled up to speed the process along.
Unique dining experience
From the ticketing to the merchandise and its food, Spurs’ new home is also the world's first cashless stadium with over 878 contactless payment points. To speed up service and improve hygiene, fans can pay for everything via their credit or debit cards, or using their mobile devices.
There are over 60 food and drink outlets in the stadium that also facilitate contactless payments. Not to mention a variety of Michelin-star restaurants and the UK’s longest bar; a 65m-long tavern aptly named the “Goal Line Bar”. Here, fans can marvel at an innovative pouring system that uses magnetic technology to pour beer from the bottom up.
Post solely written for travel.zeelo.co by Amy Carey
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