Spurs News : Mr Levy - Ground Expansion Plans ?

By statto_the_yid
August 25 2005

For the last few years, maybe up to 4 years we have had a fantastic support, loyal fans following the team home and away, we have the best away support in the country and a high capacity to attendance ratio week in week out . . So where is our bigger ground ?

With this in mind I just cant understand why we haven't upgraded the ground yet, I agree with the sentiment - there is no point upgrading the ground if the team are not performing, as the club will not attract the attendance, but looking at the stats we have hit a point of saturation.

How can we go on charging sky high season ticket prices IF we don't progress on the pitch AND staying in the 36k stadium we have now - I love WHL always have always will, but we need to compete with season ticket sales with the likes of the top 5 if we are aiming for the top 5. Charlton have had planning permission requested (if not accepted ) for their ground to be expanded to almost 40k done in two or three stages, a copy of the plans were in my local paper a while back and looked impressive (even if I do think The Valley its an awful ground), whist I'm sure they wont fill it up even with their bus service which grabs fans from all over Kent, it does show that they are trying to get a larger fan base.

So why are Spurs always last in the community programs, the ground expansions, tour of schools further than their local back yard to promote the Spurs brand. If we are to progress we need to do these things, again success on the pitch will always bread more interest in the club and we have done average for the last 15 years and still filling the ground so why not expand now and do some promotion around the SE region to fill the ground up. Charlton, West Ham, Arsenal all have sone summer soccer schools in my area for the kids, I mean Arsenal are still promoting the brand even though they have enjoyed good home support and success over the last 10 years and I'm sure they have one eye on filling up Cashburn Grooove when it opens up, West Ham had good attendance even when they were playing in the lower leagues. Charlton not so good but still have a loyal core following but again they are doing some heavy PR further than their local patch.

Next season should see a final push into the UEFA / CL place if we continue to build the team the way we have, I have enormous hopes for the side this season but still just want to see an improvement on last year. For us to carry on spending we need to have more revenue - taking our hard earned cash off us and ploughing it into the side, I fear we may hit a brick wall soon IF we don't deliver on the pitch and expand the ground.

Plans were mooted that we would expand the ground but we were in debate with Haringey Council about the local infrastructure, if they were not improved we would have issues with safety - getting people too and from WHL. Did we not manage to get 60k+ into WHL before the all seating rules were implemented - how did they get to and from the ground on match days ? I do agree that the train service to WHL is rubbish with Seven Sisters closed now and again, WHL station itself over crowded, parking near the ground can be hard at times or you have to park a good 15 min walk away. These wont improve with a new tier being added to the Paxton or Park Lane, the Council cant build another station nearby where is the room for a start. Bus services cant be improved any further without investment - something I'm sure wont happen overnight. Will the local council build and new park and ride car park for fans with a direct bus shuttle service for match days ? probley not.

I cant help feeling a move from WHL is the only option, with the Olympics coming up in 2012 I fear we will have a long wait as all government money will be spent on that and not transport to our small bit of paradise in North London.