Retractable grass, modern amenities, and more: Why the Eagles will pay close attention to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie has new stadium dreams that could be animated by this week's trip to London.
Twenty-five minutes is all it takes for three metal trays carrying three separate sections of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium grass — each sheet weighing more than 3,000 tons — to disappear into the bowels of the building.
The Eagles won’t play Sunday on the natural grass that the English Premier League team plays its home games on. Beneath the soccer pitch is an artificial surface tailored specifically for NFL football.
» READ MORE: The Eagles are arriving in London less than 36 hours before playing the Jags. Nick Sirianni explained why.
The stadium, which seats 63,000 and will host at least two regular-season NFL games a year through 2029, was designed and later opened in 2019 with NFL football in mind. It is the EPL’s stadium that most closely resembles a modern NFL stadium, and it’s one Jeffrey Lurie and the Eagles will look at closely.
The Eagles are in what Lurie earlier this year called their “exploratory research” phase when it comes to the idea of building a new stadium or renovating the 23-year-old Lincoln Financial Field, and the owner and the team’s staff definitely will be paying close attention later this week in London. Just like Commanders (and Sixers) owner Josh Harris, whose team played Sunday at the same stadium ahead of its own stadium project.
“We’ve walked around that stadium a couple times,” Harris told Sportico during his trip to London. “What we’re trying to do is take the best of every stadium and bring it to the new site.”
The Eagles are doing the same, though a year or two behind the Commanders, whose stadium is projected to be ready in 2030. The Eagles’ lease at Lincoln Financial Field does not expire until 2032.
Lurie in March specifically cited new stadium projects in Buffalo, N.Y., and Nashville, Tenn., as data points. But he also mentioned renovations in Barcelona and Madrid as case studies the Eagles will be eyeing closely.
“It’s really important,” Lurie said. “I think we want to maximize fan amenities and attract the best possible environment for Philadelphia. And to do that, you’ve really got to do the exploratory research. Don’t rush into it. This is a big decision.”
Lurie repeatedly emphasized the fan experience.
“We’re so focused on fan amenities,” he said. “To me, that’s the No. 1 thing. Just as a boy growing up, you want to have as best a fan experience. The rest is architecture, design, and where it ends up.”
That last part surely will be the biggest topic of conversation, though Gov. Josh Shapiro has steadily maintained that the Eagles are going nowhere and will remain in Philadelphia.
In the amenities portion, though, Tottenham has plenty to offer. Besides an array of premium suites and lounges, there’s a 65-meter Goal Line Bar that the club says is the longest bar on the continent. There is an on-site Formula 1-inspired go-kart experience. There is an on-site microbrewery and a craft beer hall located within a five-story atrium that houses street-food-style eating options. There’s also the Skywalk experience that allows fans to scale to the top of the stadium to have a birds-eye view of the field and views of the London skyline.
What it doesn’t have, though, is a full roof. In addition to location, that item will be a contentious one when it comes to the next iteration of the Eagles’ stadium.
But back to the grass. The retractable surface makes it much easier to host concerts and other events on the floor without the risk of damaging the playing surface. The Eagles won’t be there to see the field transform, considering an NFL game was just played there Sunday and their own travel plans make it impossible.
The Eagles won’t be in London long. They fly Friday night and arrive Saturday morning. They’ll have a walkthrough Saturday, rest up, play the game Sunday, and then immediately fly home after the game with no bye week to follow.
It is, after all, a typical road game business trip. This time probably in more ways than one.
Different year, different offensive coordinator, yet still, it feels like Déjà vu all over again. The Eagles had little margin for error Sunday vs. the Rams because of injuries. They played hard despite being shorthanded, but in the end, couldn’t put the Rams away, mainly because of poor execution on offense. Why hasn’t Sean Mannion's scheme clicked? How culpable are head coach Nick Sirianni and quarterback Jalen Hurts in the offensive rut the Eagles find themselves in? The Inquirer's Jeff McLane and David Murphy analyze the fallout from the 24-20 loss to L.A. Listen here.
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