West Ham chairman David Sullivan has mockingly predicted that Tottenham’s attempts to sell cheap tickets at their new stadium will be limited to 200 kids in a “tiny little corner” that Daniel Levy calls “the family stand”.
The Hammers chief admitted that he is an admirer of his fellow Premier League chairman Levy but is not convinced that the new White Hart Lane will be affordable to young supporters.
Spurs are due to move to their 61,000-capacity new ground for the start of next season after a year at their temporary Wembley home.
Sullivan recognised in an interview with the Guardian that West Ham have had a difficult 18 months at the London Stadium, which they secured on a long-term rent at a bargain price, but pointed out that his club had made tickets within the price range of young fans.
“I think Daniel Levy has done a fantastic job at Tottenham,” Sullivan said. “But his cheapest season ticket price will be three times ours. There might be a tiny little corner with 200 kids he calls the family stand. Maybe we should have gone a different route and borrowed it all. We would have bankrupted the club.”
OPINION
As his interview with the Guardian demonstrates, Sullivan is a great storyteller who mixes candid comments with brutally barbed ones. Little love is lost between the boards of West Ham and Tottenham after the east Londoners won the battle to secure the former Olympic Stadium at a knockdown price. Spurs felt they were led down the garden path by ex-London mayor Boris Johnson and set about building a spanking new stadium adjacent to the old White Hart Lane. Judging by the latest pictures, it is coming along nicely and the club are still on course to move into their new home in August. Sullivan’s comments are tinged with jealousy as he knows Spurs are a far bigger club. Expect that envy to mount when the revenue streams are revealed at the new White Hart Lane.