I really enjoyed reading through the posts at the beginning of this thread by LemonadeMoney, (hats off for pulling them together) reminded me of all those years of frustration, hope, despair, hope, frustration, that went with each and every managerial firing and hiring and of course several player signings too. Scholar was in charge during my early supporting years so I didn't really pay too much attention to his behavior. I disliked and still find Sugar an odious character and the managerial merry-go-round created the inconsistency we've suffered from Burkinshaw until the appointment of Poch IMHO.
I didn't like Levy for the best part of a decade because I considered him ENIC's corporation front man who was all talk and little substance. I started looking at him a little differently around 2010/11 with the overall plans emanating from WHL and then especially when the Training Academy was completed.
Make no mistake, the Stadium expansion was and is the key to his overall strategy but the Academy was a key building block too. I'm sure I'm not alone in understanding how your working environment can influence your performance and enjoyment each day. That place is where the players spend the majority of their working life and it is and will be a factor in attracting and retaining players.
For the Stadium storyline, I'm a firm believer that moving to Stratford was always a ruse designed to get the compulsory purchase orders and transport link concessions. I believe the money spent on that bid was sunk with the understanding the concessions (through fear of losing us from the borough) once finally given would be vastly more beneficial. So on to the actual stadium.
It's going to be OUR amazing home and I like that some real thought has gone into retaining links to our history at WHL. I see Levy is bringing the full US experience to NWHL with the public square trying to give a tailgate experience. When I used to visit WHL it was always get in 5 mins before kick off and straight to the car after the match (left a match early once in my life with a mate after Chelscum put 4 past us in the 2002 FA Cup as it was his birthday and he was leaving...)! Now there will be an alternative, get there a couple of hours earlier, have a bite to eat with plenty of choices. Maybe have a kick about outside or see what else they are putting on out there in entertainment terms (weather permitting). Or stay for a bite and beer after the match there.
I for one will be travelling over for at least a long weekend with intention of doing the full tour, (skywalk may get a pass on account of my vertigo
) Match, food, Beavertown, etc. Who knows, may even go for a premium experience bringing my 11yr old son for the first time in his life. Point here being lots of choices and I will sink a bit into their coffers on this trip...
So back to Levy's 10 point Plan...
1. Understand the business of running a club
2. Take over running the club and develop long term strategy
3. Balance books whilst funding improvements
4. Improve Facilities
5. Improve Stadium
6. Attract and develop top talent
7. Challenge for top honors
8. Loosen the purse strings
9. Win Trophies and Titles
10. legacy Built
In interviews with people involved in the project you hear about Levy's day to day involvement so he is clearly passionate about the Stadium. If it's all about the money he could have a manager take care of that. I expect this place to blow us and the entire world away once unveiled.
I cannot see him selling up or moving on and I am grateful he either astutely chose or lucked out with Poch. Given what I've seen from him I would say it was the former...
I also came across this time capsule and thought I'd share it given the topic: Official Spurs Stadium Plan updates: Dec 2011-Mar 2015 (old KSS design)
http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/the-stadium/new-stadium-plans/?source%252525252525253dwebgains%2525252525252526siteid%252525252525253d73669