The top of the actual Premier League may look significantly different at the moment, but when it comes to popularity among the public, Liverpool and Leicester are at the head of the pack. According to the latest figures from YouGov’s ‘Ratings’, 35 percent of people have a favourable opinion of The Reds, while 30 percent say the same for Leicester City. While Manchester United make it into third spot with 28 percent, it is probably unsurprising that one of the most successful clubs of the modern era – and therefore one of the most disliked – is also at the top of the ‘least popular’ table. This is due to 36 percent of people saying they hold an unfavourable view of the Old Trafford side. Liverpool is found in sixth here, getting the thumbs down from 26 percent of the survey respondents.
They’re finally going home, more than seven months late; Tottenham Hotspur will play their first game at the new White Hart Lane (or whatever it is named) on April 3rd against Crystal Palace. What a journey, what a stadium! Having played at Wembley for what seems like an eternity, the team will play at arguably the best stadium in Europe.
While not having the largest capacity (that remains Old Trafford in the EPL) the stadium certainly has a lot to boast about including some weird and wonderful features:
1. A cheese room – According to the Guardian, the exclusive ‘H Club’ will allow fans to “select their own specially sourced half-time cheeses.”
2. The Tunnel Club – Said members of the “H Club” will also be able to watch the players in the tunnel prior to kick-off. The players won’t be able to see the fans (or their cheese) though.
3. A microbrewery- The world’s first stadium micro-brewery has a beer delivery system pouring up to 10,000 pints a minute in large part down to the “five-second pint.”
Be prepared to be amazed (you will watch this more than once):
4. An in-house bakery – The new stadium will “produce artisan bread and pastries for every food outlet in the stadium, ranging from general admission areas to boxes.”
5. A retractable pitch – Spurs will play football and football at the stadium 😉 More on that later.
6. Heated seats – Really?
7. Seats with USB ports – Fans in premium seats will be able to charge their phones during the game.
8. The longest bar in the United Kingdom – At almost 87 meters (285 foot) long just how many ‘5 second pints’ do you think they can serve at halftime?
So back to the retractable pitch. Spurs signed a deal with the NFL which means two games a year will be played at the stadium for the next ten years. The retractable pitch allows the pitch to roll in over the NFL football turf. There are even rumors that the Superbowl will one day be played there.
As these stats show, there is a lot to be excited about if you are a Spurs fan:
