Tottenham to build karting track under stadium; First photos of Man City stadium expansion plans

Tottenham say they are to build a karting track under their stadium, the same day as the first images of Man City stadium expansion plans.

Spurs have announced a partnership with Formula 1, which will see a karting track built under the South Stand.

It will see an electric karting circuit, as part of a 15-year strategic partnership between F1 and the Premier League.

The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which was built for £1billion and hosted the Premier League’s first game in April 2019, has a capacity of 62,850 and is the host venue for a number of sports including boxing, NFL, and rugby matches.

Tottenham Hotspur is delighted to announce a 15-year strategic partnership with @F1 that will bring a brand-new motorsport experience to London.

The world’s first in-stadium karting facility and London’s longest indoor electric go kart track will open in Autumn 2023. ⤵️

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) February 28, 2023

TOTTENHAM STATEMENT

Tottenham Hotspur is delighted to announce a 15-year strategic partnership with Formula 1 that will bring a brand-new motorsport experience to London.

The partnership brings yet another popular global sport brand to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, now uniquely hosting the Premier League, NFL and F1, supporting worldwide fan growth.

With music concerts, boxing and rugby now also being staged in London N17, it means an estimated 5.9billion people globally are interested in events held at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – equating to nearly 80% of the world’s population.

The partnership will see the exclusive delivery of the world’s first in-stadium electric karting facility and London’s longest indoor track, based below Tottenham Hotspur Stadium’s iconic South Stand – the latest example of how the multi-use nature of the stadium is attracting a wide range of sports and events, creating a wealth of opportunities and experiences for partners, fans and visitors.

The one-of-its-kind experience, which will be seen at no other football stadium in Europe, will include separate tracks for both adults and juniors and has been accredited by the National Karting Association, making the facility a potential future venue for national karting championship races. In addition, the experience will also include interactive motorsport activities and food and beverage facilities.

It adds to the growing range of Visitor Attractions already available at London’s newest sports and entertainment destination, including the popular Dare Skywalk – rated as London’s No.1 outdoor attraction on TripAdvisor – driving visitors to the area 365 days a year and providing an estimated £300m a year boost to the local economy in one of London’s most deprived neighbourhoods.

The karting experience will be the focal point of a long-term partnership between the Club and F1, that will aim to create apprenticeship and career opportunities for local young people and bring greater diversity to the motorsport industry, particularly for women and underrepresented groups. It will also provide F1 with a touchpoint in London from which to further grow its fanbase throughout the world.

A driver academy programme will widen the motorsport talent pool and help to identify the next generation of F1 drivers. The Club and F1 will deliver educational activities for schools to engage local young people in motorsport and showcase career opportunities and pathways in areas such as engineering and software development.

Tottenham Hotspur and F1 will collaborate throughout the partnership on initiatives that promote environmental responsibility. F1 is committed to be net zero carbon by 2030 and that target forms part of every decision F1 makes and every initiative they embark on. Tottenham Hotspur is the Premier League’s greenest club and, as a signatory of the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework’s ‘Race to Zero’, is committed to halving its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and become net zero by 2040.

Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO, Formula 1, said: “As we continue to grow our sport around the world, partnering with world renowned brands like Tottenham Hotspur allows us to take Formula 1 and motorsport to new and diverse audiences. The karting experience will be a destination and place that families, friends and aspiring drivers from all over the world will want to visit and enjoy, engaging new audiences and offering an accessible entry point to the world of motorsport. Our brands have a shared vision to create life-changing career opportunities, promote diversity and inclusion, such as through the recently announced F1 Academy, and driving environmental sustainability – our innovative partnership will bring all of this to life.”

Daniel Levy, Chairman, Tottenham Hotspur, said: “Since building this stadium our ambition has always been to see how far we can push the boundaries in delivering world-class experiences that will attract people from around the world all year round. We have been able to bring the biggest names in sport and entertainment to London N17. We are extremely excited about what this long-term partnership with F1 will bring for our global, national and local communities.”

– STATEMENT ENDS

Meanwhile, the first photos for Manchester City’s proposed North Stand expansion and new fan zone at the Etihad Stadium have been revealed on Tuesday.

The Premier League champions wants to increase their stadium capacity beyond 60,000. Plans have been announced that would include an expansion and a new covered fan area.

Man City said in a statement: “Manchester City is delighted to unveil concepts for a best-in-class fan experience and year-round entertainment and leisure destination at the Etihad Stadium, with fans and the local community invited to share their feedback from today until Sunday 26 March.

“This follows the Club’s announcement in December last year that feasibility studies were underway to explore concepts that could form part of a future stadium development, consistent with the long-held vision to establish the Etihad Campus and the wider area as a globally relevant and competitive sport, leisure and entertainment destination.

“Several connected all-weather facilities, fully integrated into the stadium, are centred around an expanded North Stand with one larger, single upper tier above the existing lower tier, increasing stadium capacity to over 60,000.

“A covered City Square fan zone, with a capacity of 3,000 and a wide variety of food and drink outlets, new club shop, museum and hotel, are all proposed in order to offer a broader range of dynamic matchday and non-matchday activities.

“Modest workspace has also been included for use by start-up and medium-sized organisations looking to co-locate and collaborate with the Club, City Football Group and Etihad Campus partners.

“Matchday travel measures are currently being explored with partners from across the City, with a view to enhancing existing services. Alongside this, the Club is developing alternative methods for fans to travel to and from the stadium as part of its wider sustainable transport strategy.

“Since 2008, City Football Group has overseen over £700m of investment into the Etihad Campus and East Manchester. This investment has supported thousands of jobs, with CFG and its partners delivering a range of facilities, including City Football Academy, the Connell Co-op College, the Manchester Institute of Health & Performance and Co-op Live, the UK’s biggest and most sustainable arena, which opens in December 2023.

“In line with previous Club development proposals, the initiative would ensure that training, recruitment and employment opportunities are prioritised for local people.

“Opportunities would extend beyond the period of development works, with plans being explored for a long-term ‘skills academy’ programme designed to provide local people of all ages with qualifications to secure permanent jobs at the Etihad Campus.

“Should a planning application be submitted and successfully approved, the construction programme would take place over a three-year period, with works staged to minimise disruption during the football season.

“Detailed information outlining the Club’s concepts are now available for fans and the local community to view at mancity.com/etihad-stadium-consultation where feedback and comments can also be submitted. “

This is what fans said as Tottenham get set to build a karting track under their stadium while the first photos of Man City stadium expansion plans are revealed…

@Rog_THFC: If it were true that all money raised goes back into the team, we’d go from strength to strength every transfer window. The only beneficiaries of this deal are Lewis and ENIC. #LevyOut #ENICOut

@bashy_1986: Was hoping for a Monaco type F1 up Tottenham high road

@thfcle: we’ll sooner use our money to build a spurs hotel on mars than win a trophy

@warren93112143: I’m in favour as long as the money goes back into the team…makes us a very attractive proposition for Acquisition. I say well done to Levy on this one, you can’t fault his business acumen.

@irelandofjonny: 🎶…you’ll never sing that, you’ll never sing that. The world’s first in-stadium karting facility… you’ll never sing that” 🎶

@Stu__thfc: Stick it in the trophy cabinet, tell the grandkids, make songs about this day. The Tottenham Hotspur Football & Athletic Co. stadium saw go karting before it saw a trophy.

@WestStandTone: Taking a Go-Kart and trying to convince people it’s F1. That’s like taking a football club that hasn’t won anything of note for thirty-odd years and trying to convince people it’s a big club. Spursy as you like.

@VectisSpursIOW: Now this is brilliant for Tottenham as a brand, Levy runs Spurs as a business very well…… but fans won’t be happy until we start seeing more done for the footballing side of Tottenham.

@alex_thfc22: The club is now associated with the biggest motor sport in the world and we all know F1 is a cash cow. I’m not here to argue, so if you fancy one, then don’t bother. It can only do good things for the club

@swspurs: The mob will criticise but this is good. We know we’re a business and no gifts are forthcoming so the more we make the better. 3 years of losses but light ahead. Flops contracts getting nearer the end, a year of CL, plus deals will mean good numbers. No chance they’ll sell.

@Marc200516: Well they gave got to be in some sort of race I suppose

@manlikeash09: Sad days. Even less emphasis will be on building a successful football team. Some think all these revenue streams will benefit the football team are so detached from reality and it will do the complete opposite. As long as money is coming in they dont care about the team

@ParkLaneAZ: “There used to be a football club over there”

@FormuIaUno: Harry Kane about to get a podium before Hulkenberg

‘The world’s first in-stadium karting facility and London’s longest indoor electric go kart track’. pic.twitter.com/5NwJXCsKrd https://t.co/FaKOgHqEz7

— Paddy Power (@paddypower) February 28, 2023