Tottenham could host Champions League final as Daniel Levy remarks resurface

Mon 2 September 2024 18:45, UK

It is not exactly a trade secret that the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has been transformative for Spurs since they moved in 2019.

As well as almost trebling matchday revenue, the 62,850-seater arena has made Tottenham far more𒁃 attractive to sponsors and superc♔harged their commercial income.

Spurs earned £118m through the turnstiles in the last reported financial year, while sponsorship, events and merchandise sꦡales have reached £228m.

The North London club are second only to Man United in terms of their gross matchday income but are tied with Ch🌃elsea as the Premier League club who makes the most cash relative to capacity.

And while the move is understand🥂ably deeply unpopular with supporters, a controversial new concessions policy and a six per cℱent hike in ticket prices will ensure the upward trend continues in 2024-25.

What’s more, Harringey council have now given Spurs licensℱe to stage almost dꦕouble the number of non-football events per year. That too will unlock huge new revenues.

The Tottenham Hotspur Stad🎶ium will also host m🌸atches at Euro 2028, which will be a status symbol as much as a revenue genera𒊎ting opportunity for Daniel Levy and his peers in the boardroom.

However, perhaps the biggest endorsement of the stadium on a continental basis, hos🐻ting a Champions League final, has so 👍far evaded them.

But recent developments m♎ean that opportunity could present itself again very soon.

READ MORE: How Daniel Levy may splash £750m Midd🅰le East takeover cash at Tottenham

San Siro twist opens door for Spurs to host European final

W🦄hen architects Populous designed the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, they did so with multi-functionality in mind.

As well making the stadium suitable for, amon🙈g other events, the NFL London Games, Populous al꧃so came up with blueprints that met UEFA’s spec for hosting major tournament matches.

As quoted byꦇ the in 2019, chairman and co-owner Daniel Levy has admitted as much when quizzed about the possibility of staging the biggest fixture in European club football.

“We have the top UEFA stadium status, which means the venue is fit to stage any European football event, and we believe the stadium’s extensive capabilities, particularly the flexibility of having two surfaces, mean we can host a vast range of world-class sporting and entertainment events.

“We’d be open to having conversations if the relevant organisations were interested in using our stadium.

“We want this venue to be visited by millions throughout the year and having secured such big attractions in Tottenham like Premier League football, Saracens and the NFL, this can only boost the economy in London.”

TBR Football has be🐠en told in the last 12 months that Spurs’ plans have not♕ changed – whether that be in the short or long-term.

News ♏reported🦋 by that San Siro is expected to be dropped as the host venue for the 2027 Champions League final will therefore have pricked ears in N17.

As the most modern 60,000-plus seater 🍰stadium in Europe, Spurs would be ready to step up and take the pla𓆉ce of the iconic Milan stadium.

One key consideration would be how likely it is that Spurs are taking part in the competition, as their absence from Europe’s top table would 🍌be particularly conspicuous if the final was held on their turf.

Tottenham’s hunt for a naming rights partner

When former Spurs chief commercial officer was appointed in 2021, his self-professed mis♉sion was to find a naming rights partner.

There was much talk of a naming rights deal worth £25m per year, and TBR understands that was th🌄e figure the club hoped to achieve at the time.

However, tha💖t appears to have been to optimistic.

Kline has now left Spurs for Chelsea and does so having failed to secure a naming rights deal𒊎.

Some commentators have suggested that Levy‘s intransigence in negotiations with would-be partners is to blame, although he himself has said the benefits of having the Spurs brand name associated with the stadium have made the trade-off worthwhi🧸le.

Tottenham will, however, have been buoyed by news that another London venue, England rugby’s Twickenham, ha🍬s recently secured a £100m, 10-year deal for their naming rights.