Tottenham reveal amazing retractable pitch at new stadium - which is first of its kind in the world and will allow NFL and football matches to take place

  • Tottenham are building their new stadium, which is due to open in 2018 
  • Club have revealed new stadium will have the world's first retractable pitch
  • Video was posted to Twitter explaining exactly how the pitch is constructed
  • Technology means both NFL and football can take place - on separate pitches

Tottenham's new stadium will include the world's first retractable pitch, allowing the venue to hold both football and NFL matches, the club have announced.

Spurs' Twitter account released a video on Thursday to demonstrate the remarkable process, which will essentially see a football pitch built one layer above the NFL turf.

The stadium is due to open in 2018, while the club play their home matches 12 miles down the road at Wembley in the meantime.

Tottenham have recruited Sheffield construction company SCX to build a retractable pitch

Tottenham have recruited Sheffield construction company SCX to build a retractable pitch

The technology will see a football pitch built - in three sections - directly above the NFL pitch

The technology will see a football pitch built - in three sections - directly above the NFL pitch

Each section will be rolled on from under the South Stand, and the process takes 25 minutes

Each section will be rolled on from under the South Stand, and the process takes 25 minutes

There are 68 motors that drive each of the three sections out and over the NFL grass

There are 68 motors that drive each of the three sections out and over the NFL grass

The pitch rolls along a complex rail, which will stay between the NFL and football pitches

The pitch rolls along a complex rail, which will stay between the NFL and football pitches

Sheffield engineering company SCX have been recruited to build the retractable pitch, which will be the first of its kind anywhere in the world.


The football pitch will be used solely for Spurs, while the NFL pitch below will be used additionally for concerts and other events inside the venue. 

The turf for the football pitch will sit in three pitch-long steel trays weighing more than 3,000 tonnes each, which will then slide from under the South Stand and into the arena.

The levels of the tunnel and sidelines will then adjust to the correct height, with the entire process of NFL to football said to take approximately 25 minutes.

Spurs' new stadium will hold more than 61,000 when it opens next year, and the retractable pitch will take 12 weeks to install. 

SCX - the company building the pitch - have enjoyed success previously, building retractable roofs over Centre Court and No 1 Court at Wimbledon, as well as movable turf at Royal Ascot racecourse.

Spurs will be the first Premier League club that can boast a football pitch and NFL field

Spurs will be the first Premier League club that can boast a football pitch and NFL field

The technology is very complex and will take around 12 weeks to install at the new stadium

The technology is very complex and will take around 12 weeks to install at the new stadium

The club say that the players will not be able to tell the pitch has been installed in three parts

The club say that the players will not be able to tell the pitch has been installed in three parts

At Spurs' training ground, the construction company have been testing out the mechanics

At Spurs' training ground, the construction company have been testing out the mechanics

Tottenham are likely to be itching to move into their new stadium in north London, given their torrid home record at Wembley.

Mauricio Pochettino's side have won just one of their 11 matches at their temporary home, but star man Dele Alli has backed them to turn it around this season. 

'I think both teams, for Tottenham and for England, we need to make the place a fortress, we need to do as well as we can,' he said.

'I think at Tottenham and England we have been playing very well, but more so at Tottenham the results haven't quite been going our way yet but I think there's no need to worry.

The touchlines will then rise up from NFL level to the football pitch to complete transformation

The touchlines will then rise up from NFL level to the football pitch to complete transformation

The touchline will be on flaps, which open and then are raised to reach the correct level

The touchline will be on flaps, which open and then are raised to reach the correct level

The ramp by the tunnel will also raise from NFL levels to the correct height for Tottenham

The ramp by the tunnel will also raise from NFL levels to the correct height for Tottenham

Tottenham's extremely complex technology is the first of its kind to be used in the world

Tottenham's extremely complex technology is the first of its kind to be used in the world

When the touchline closes, the pitch will be complete and ready for Premier League action

When the touchline closes, the pitch will be complete and ready for Premier League action

'I think if we were playing poorly, then it would be something to worry about.

'But we're playing very well, there's just a few things we need to tighten up on and we've been punished for a few, small errors and switching off at the wrong times in the later stages of the game.

'It is important that we work on that and keep improving, but I think the results will be coming soon.'

A computer-generated image shows what Tottenham's new stadium will look like in 2018

A computer-generated image shows what Tottenham's new stadium will look like in 2018

The new ground is being built over White Hart Lane, Tottenham's previous home stadium

The new ground is being built over White Hart Lane, Tottenham's previous home stadium

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