Renaming of the new Spurs stadium: White Hart Lane or a sponsor’s name?
As fans know White Hart Lane stadium came into existence 4th September 1899. One hundred and seventeen years ago. Before that we started out life on the Tottenham Marshes (1882), then in 1888, the club rented a pitch at Asplins Farm next to the railway line at Northumberland Park. As Northumberland Park could no longer cope with the larger crowds Spurs were forced to look for a larger ground and moved to the White Hart Lane site.
In 117 years Spurs enjoyed great success at White Hart Lane; Glory, Glory nights and days, great players coming and going, special events (like Boxing matches etc.) and much more. Then the decision was to knock it down and make way for a bigger and better stadium. A stadium to compete with the best in the world. A 61,559 all-seater stadium with luxury boxes and executive seating thrown-in. Also, they will share the stadium with an American football club (more revenue). And then there will be other special events hosted at the club. We also mustn’t forget that the surrounding area is also being redeveloped, which Tottenham Hotspur FC owns. This will give the club added income. Now to the controversial bit; naming rights.
Reading social media some fans are campaigning to keep the name, White Hart Lane. I am one person – among many – who don't share this proposal. White Hart Lane belongs to a stadium and history that has been demolished. When we talk about White Hart Lane the thoughts that that image conjures up is memories of the 14th May 2017 and before. It is special to that part of Spurs history. Now a new chapter is opening up for Spurs. A new stadium, a new and vitalised future, with a new sponsored name.
The sponsored name is important because it will give Spurs extra revenue, along with the rents (from surrounding area), gate receipts, merchandise, etc. If Spurs want to compete with the best in the world they will need the money to do so. At the moment we are rated outside the top 10 teams in the world of the richest clubs. Arsenal, Chelsea, City, United and Liverpool are above us (of the English clubs). And this has shown over the years in our league placings (Liverpool not quite able to achieve their financial placing position of late). Spurs have always been a top-six club over the years (recently punching above their financial weight).
I want our club to compete with the best, financially and in a football sense. I don’t want Spurs to be given the same name of something that was dear to our hearts, I want a new chapter to open, a new beginning and a new purpose. I am not alone in these thoughts.
Every time we tried to improve our club (one example was remodelling the “Shelf"”to make way for executive lounges, giving the club more revenue) there has been an outcry. Fanzines pop up to protest, fans forum groups to condemn the club for destroying a part of “their” club, but progress and time move on and another cause pops up to irritate a hardcore section of the fanship. With both club and supporters having different ideas in what is the best for them.
One post I read – on a fans-site – was from somebody who wanted to create a poll or petition to get the board to keep the name, in the same breath they wanted the club to spend more and compete with the richer clubs. By getting naming rights we will be amongst the richest clubs and therefore compete, but keep the name the same and less revenue and a lower position down the richest clubs’ table. Some fans do not have the cognitive abilities to see a contradiction in their statement. Some just have tunnel vision.
I want our club to build a multi-million-pound industry so we will never again look up to the Chelsea’s, Arsenal’s, United’s, City’s, Liverpool’s etc. of this world. I want them to look up at us and dribble with jealousy. Change is hard, more so when you’ve invested an important part of your life into a great institution. We are all fans who want the same thing, sadly, some of us look at it from different and divisive positions. Luckily for people with my type of thinking, we have a chairman who is on-board. Those that see it differently will just slink away into the dark recesses of their mind and sulk and shake their rattle in frustration. What is, is. And what is left is to put down your cutlasses, accept the inevitable and enjoy the ride and watch us rise up, like the Phoenix. And for those that don’t know, the Phoenix is from Greek mythology, a phoenix is a long-lived bird that is regenerated or reborn. Associated with the Sun, a Phoenix obtains new life by arising from the ashes of its predecessor. And Tottenham Hotspur will arise from the ashes of White Hart Lane into something newer and better. A team that can challenge the best, fight for the best and most of all, grab those trophies that are on offer.
Of course, whatever the new name will be the fans can call the new Stadium whatever they want. Even Pixie-Dixie-Wixie, but as time goes by the name "White Hart Lane" will pass into history and memory and read in our history books. Just as our creation, our first two grounds, have passed into history, but the boys from Tottenham Hotspur or Spurs will continue marching on, causing devastation in their path. May White Hart Lane live long in our memories and never leave our hearts. The future is Spurs, the future is bright. COYS!
Yours truly, Don Scully
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