May 30 – Tottenham Hotspur will play their Champions League home games next season at the national stadium at Wembley because of reduced capacity at the north London club’s already limited 36,000-seater ground.
Spurs have begun the process of constructing a new £400 million stadium built next to their existing home, a development due to be completed in time for the start of the 2018-19 season.
Tottenham’s third-place finish in the Premier League qualified them for the group stages of the Champions League in what will be their final season at the ground they have called home since 1899.
The club have the option of playing all home league and cup matches, as well as any European games, at Wembley during the 2017-18 campaign when they vacate their White Hart Lane ground for good to allow the state-of-the-art 61,000-seater venue to be completed.
“Our season ticket waiting list is over 50,000 so this now also offers us a great opportunity to provide more of our supporters with a chance to see the team play live during our Champions League campaign,” said club chairman Daniel Levy.
“Importantly, as we know it was our fans’ preference, it means that we can play our home matches in London during our season away.”
Tottenham’s title challenge faded with an ill-tempered 2-2 draw at Chelsea but the partial move to Wembley represents an off-the-field victory over their cross-town rivals who have also expressed an interest in playing at the national stadium during their own planned stadium expansion.
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