Tottenham Hotspur have announced they intend to make a bid for the 2012 Olympic Stadium, in what has been described as a "surprise bid" and a "backup option" in case plans to redevelop the existing White Hart Lane site encounters hurdles. Further hurdles include the approval from City Hall and the government, planning approval has been given by Haringey council on Thursday night.
Tottenham according to the Financial Times have teamed up with AEG the owners of the O2 Arena, in a plan to convert the 80,000 Olympic stadium into a 60,000 capacity venue specifically for soccer, mirroring the West Ham application.
Spurs have strong allies on the side of the Olympic 2012 team, with Sir Keith Mills who was chief executive of the London 2012 bid, and now deputy chairman of the organising committee on the Tottenham bid.
One Spurs fan John Hellman commenting on the proposal said:
"By moving to east London we change the nature of the club. By moving into the Olympic stadium it will give Spurs the same leverage as other major European football powers like Real Madrid, Inter Milan, we will be able to compete with other European football clubs for the top players".
Many fans have complained for years at the poor transport links to White Hart Lane, by moving to the Olympic Stadium fans will be served by car parks, new underground and bus links.
