Tottenham stadium undergoes stunning transformation as NFL rolls into town for Oakland vs Chicago match
IT WAS a crime scene on Tuesday. One that Spurs fans will want to forget.
But after Bayern Munich looted Tottenham’s gleaming new home now it is the turn of the Raiders.
The two-week NFL takeover of London’s newest stadium will be completed when the Oakland Raiders run out through a special tunnel — created by removing 100 or so seats ahead of kick-off — against the Chicago Bears.
Out has gone Spurs’ livery, colours and feel.
Now, it is the acting home of the Raider Nation, with the silver pirate on a black background dominating.
It is an NFL stadium in London, not a London base for an NFL match.
The biggest change is the pitch.
It is the world’s first dividing, retractable grass football pitch.
Mounted in three enormous trays, the grass surface has been rolled away to be stored beneath the South Stand to reveal an artificial NFL American football field beneath.
With a drop of nearly 6ft, it is an exact replica of the artificial turf used in the new US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
Elsewhere, the Spurs memorabilia in the club shop has been taken out. Until October 15, it is an NFL store, where you can buy shirts from every franchise.
Food outlets will also look different and even the stadium direction signs on nearby streets have had Tottenham logos replaced with NFL ones.
Two NFL-only dressing rooms will be used, too, rather than the ones set aside for Spurs games.
The Bears will walk out of the away room, located in the north-west corner of the stadium.
It looks big until you walk into the home room in the East Stand.
That is already bedecked with Raiders insignia and measures some 70 yards in length, complete with exercise bikes, hydrotherapy baths and treatment tables.
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Spurs and the NFL have a ten-year deal which promises two matches every season.
The long-term ambition is to host a London-based franchise. Tomorrow is just the beginning.
Listen to Oakland Raiders v Chicago Bears on TalkSPORT 2 tomorrow at 6pm.
