Tottenham announce new stadium is finally ready to open with first match against Brighton

Spurs will play their final five Premier League matches of the season plus any Champions League games at their £1billion ground

Posted Saturday, March 09, 2019 by Thesun.co.uk

Tottenham announce new stadium is finally ready to open with first match against Brighton
Tottenham will stage their first match in their new stadium against Brighton on April 7

TOTTENHAM have confirmed their new ground is finally ready to open - and will play their first match there against Brighton next month.

Spurs today informed the Premier League that the £1billion stadium is at last able to stage games, six months after it was originally due to be completed.

They also held a test for the Hawk-Eye VAR technology to prove to Uefa they were able to hold European matches there this season.

It means Mauricio Pochettino's side will play their last five league matches of the season at the 62,000-capacity venue, plus their Champions League quarter-final.

The plan is the first match will be against Brighton on April 7, if the Seagulls fail to make it through to the FA Cup semi-final.

If they see off Millwall in the last eight tie next week, it will mean the opening home match will be against Crystal Palace on April 3.

Tottenham announce new stadium is finally ready to open with first match against Brighton
Mauricio Pochettino's side will play their last five Premier League games and their Champions League quarter-final at their new home

But if the Brighton match goes ahead as scheduled, the Premier League clash with Palace will then be held on either April 23/24.

And the announcement also means Spurs have played their last ever domestic home match at Wembley after 18-months using the national stadium as their temporary home.

Before final permission is granted, Spurs will have to stage two test events at the ground in order to gain safety certificates from the authorities.

The first of those will be on Sunday 24 March, when the club's under-18s side take on Southampton with a crowd limited to 30,000.

Then on March 30 a Tottenham Legends match will be staged, with 45,000 allowed to attend.

If all goes to plan with those two test events, the safety certificates will be issued and Spurs will finally be in a position to move into their new home.

Chairman Daniel Levy said: "We are delighted that we shall be able to welcome supporters to the stadium and our players of the past and the future to take on the pitch on what will be momentous occasions for our Club.

"Please do come and see your new stadium and share these moments.

"Thank you all once again. Your support has been much appreciated during a challenging but exciting time."