Tottenham Finally Confirm April Stadium Opening

Tottenham’s first competitive fixture at their new stadium will be in the first week of April, against either Brighton or Crystal Palace.

Spurs’ move to their new White Hart Lane stadium has been delayed for most of the season due to hold-ups in the final construction period.

They were originally scheduled to move in in September but they are set to finally play their first game in their new home next month.

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However, they are not yet sure who their first opponents will be as it hinges on Brighton’s FA Cup campaign. If the Seagulls beat Millwall in the FA Cup on March 17, Crystal Palace will be Spurs’ visitors on April 3, but if the Seagulls are knocked out, they will help open the new ground on April 6 or 7.

Spurs confirmed the news on Friday after boss Mauricio Pochettino had earlier said he expects to play the Champions League quarter-final home leg at the venue on 9/10 or 16/17 April, following the draw on March 15.

Spurs said in a statement that two test events “with increasing levels of attendance” must be staged for the stadium to be granted “a formal safety certificate”, with an Under-18s game against Southampton on March 24 and a legends match six days later likely to be games to fit that brief.

The new stadium, which has reportedly cost in excess of £750million, will have a capacity of 62,062 and is located on the site of their old White Hart Lane home with Pochettino’s side being forced to play a second-successive season at Wembley so far in 2018-19 while the new facility is being finished.