By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
February 7 – Tottenham Hotspur tonight released the first image of how the proposed 60,000-capacity football stadium will look if their bid to take over the Olympic Stadium after London 2012 is successful as the war of words between their chairman Daniel Levy and Karren Brady from Premier League rivals West Ham United continued to escalate.
The two clubs are battling for the right to be awarded the £537 million ($836 million) Stadium after the Olympics and Paralympics with the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) due to meet on Friday (February 11) to discus the rvial bids.
Tottenham’s plan, which they put forward with their partner AEG, is highly controversial because it does not fulfil the pledges made during London’s successful bid to host the Games when chairman Sebastian Coe promised that the Stadium would ensure the capital of a long-term legacy for athletics.
Tottenham’s proposal to rip-up the track as been heavily criticised and this morning West Ham vice-chairman Brady launched another broadside at their plans.
“It’s a corporate crime to spend £500 million ($806 million) on a stadium and, just four weeks after the Games have finished, bring the bulldozers in,” she told BBC Breakfast.
Daniel Levy, the chairman of Tottenham, tonight denied angirily Brady’s claims.
“Accusations that we would ‘demolish’ £500 million of stadium are hugely inaccurate and highly irresponsible and I want to be very clear on this issue,” he said.
“Our proposal will retain around £420 million ($677 million) worth of the Olympic Stadium, and we will re-use or recycle the £80 million ($129 million) that will be dismantled with zero landfill.
“It is also important to remember that two thirds of the Olympic Stadium, under the original legacy plan, was to be dismantled – it was not designed to be a permanent structure.
“Recent scaremongering conveniently forgets this fact.”
Levy is confident that what Tottenham is offering will sway the OPLC Board when they meet to make a decision.
“We are proposing one of the most advanced, state-of-the-art stadiums in Europe that will deliver an exceptional spectator experience,” he said.
“Fans will be closer to the pitch than at any other comparable size stadium in the UK, while its acoustic design will ensure that the noise from spectators remains within the stadium.”
Levy has also tried to counter West Ham’s criticism that Tottenham’s plans does not offer the same opportunity of local engagement as theirs.
“Our partner AEG would attract and manage a wide range of events for the stadium and surrounding public realm including world-class sport, music, festivals, and exhibitions,” said Levy.
“Tottenham Hotspur would also commit tens of millions of pounds for local sports and community projects and our Foundation would work with relevant partners to bring these to life.
“Ensuring the stadium and the surrounding space is sustainable, exciting and viable 365 days a year is crucial to our proposal and to the whole future of the Olympic Park.
As part of its bid to the OPLC, Tottenham Hotspur FC is also proposing the significant redevelopment of Crystal Palace Athletics Stadium that would see its capacity increase to 25,000, with the ability for it to be increased up to 40,000 for major championships.
“We would increase the current capacity of Crystal Palace by 9,500 to 25,000 and a new four-lane warm up track and all weather hockey pitch would also be built,” said Levy.
“With these proposals, Crystal Palace would become a re-invigorated dedicated facility, bringing more activity to the area and be available to the athletics community every single day of the year.”
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