Tottenham Hotspur opened their new stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Spurs’ senior side are looking to play their first home match at the ground against Crystal Palace on the 3rd of April.

Eleven years after the plan was unveiled and three years After work begun demolishing their old ground, Tottenham Hotspur Officially moved into their new home, with the ground hosting an under-18’s clash between Tottenham and Southampton.

J’Neil Bennett scored the first ever goal at the new ground, giving spurs the lead, en-route to a 3-1 victory over their south-coast opponents. Just under 30,000 people attended the venue that has a max capacity of 62,062, making it the 7th most populous sporting stadium in the UK.

Spurs have being praised for the mix of traditionalism and modernism in the stadium’s design. Keeping the intimacy of the old White Hart Lane, whilst taking inspiration from German side Borrusia Dortmund’s world famous Westfalenstadion, known for it’s loud noise and partisan atmosphere.

The stadium next hosts a match on Sunday, 31st March as Tottenham Legends entertain their Inter Milan counterparts in a charity match but the stadium awaits its competitive bow as it needs to meet the safety standards of Haringey Council.

Tottenham have being playing their home matches temporarily at Wembley Stadium, home of the England national team for the past two years and hope their first senior team game will be against London rivals Crystal Palace on April 3rd in the premier league.

The total cost to complete such a complex infrastructure was a whopping £1 billion British pounds, exceeding the estimated £450mil estimation and £800mil budget. Originally scheduled to open in August 2018, the stadium would’ve been 32 weeks overdue, but it seems to be worth the wait.

The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium isn’t Wembley, thank god that’s over, but it’s not WHL either. That’s gone but left behind are off memories. Overall it’s good to be back home. Stadium is impressive, compact, close to the pitch. My seat however is up in the gods.

— Javad 🍋 (@Jav_1882) March 24, 2019

I spoke to Croydon resident and Spurs fan Pradeep Solanki who said: “The stadium seems very nice, perhaps a bit over the top, it’s going to be renamed also – so not Tottenham Hotspur Stadium which is a shame. Looks amazing, can’t wait to go. also, a bit expensive at £1bn.”

Tottenham’s manager Mauricio Pochettino was interviewed on the pitch at half time: “I think it is unbelievable, it is so difficult to explain in only a few words,” he said. The emotion was undeniable for the man who has been at the helm of Spurs for nearly 5 years.

“We all feel the same, so excited, I got the same feeling when we left White Hart Lane on the last day, we were crying and now in the first day in the new stadium we feel the same emotion.We need to cry because our dream became true.”, he continued.

Spurs have a crucial upcoming Champions League quarter-final tie against favourites Manchester City, and some people believe that the opening of the stadium will give them the edge over the defending Premier League champions. It is the furthest they have advanced in the competition since the 2010/11 season.

The stadium secured the rights to host 2 NFL American Football matches and 6 music concerts per year as well, making it a top multi-purpose venue. It will temporarily be called Tottenham Hotspur stadium until a naming rights deal can be agreed next season, where its believed it will be known as Nike Stadium.