2021 Champions Cup final - North London

Sheep Shagger

Tottenham's new stadium in north London has been chosen to host the 2021 European club finals.

Spurs' state-of-the-art, 62,000-seat arena has been selected to stage the Champions and Challenge Cup finals in two years, ahead of the London Stadium in Stratford — home to their Premier League rivals West Ham — and the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.

Sportsmail understands the valuation process concluded late last month with a decision to try a new location in a familiar city.

Tottenham's ground has been selected ahead of the London Stadium and Principality Stadium

Although Spurs only moved into their new home last month, the football club have been striving for some time to attract other sports to Tottenham High Road.

There is an agreement in place with the NFL for American football matches to take place there and Saracens recently announced a five-year deal to play one-off, marquee Premiership matches there each season.

That arrangement could lead to a scenario whereby the current English champions find themselves qualifying for a final at a venue which serves as their home-from-home.

Yet that would only be in line with Leinster staging knockout matches at the Aviva Stadium, which they use for several home fixtures each season.

This decision by tournament organisers EPCR means that their finals will return to England only two years after this month's showpieces in Newcastle, at St James' Park.

Saracens announced a five-year deal to play marque Premiership games there next season

However, it also comes on the back of the European competitions venturing into new territories — Lyon in 2016, Bilbao last May and Tyneside's sporting mecca this coming weekend.

It will be the sixth time that the main European cup final has been held in London, with the previous five matches all taking place at Twickenham.

Cardiff remains the market leader, with seven past finals having taken place at the national stadium — when it was known as the Millennium Stadium. Dublin and Edinburgh have each been the host city three times.

The allocation of the 2021 finals has been repeatedly delayed. Initially, it was supposed to be confirmed at the same time as the 2020 finals, but Marseille's successful bid for those games was revealed back in October last year.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/article-6998891/amp/Tottenhams-new-stadium-selected-stage-European-club-rugby-finals.html?__twitter_impression=true

Podge_irl

London is a really **** location for the final.

molloyjh

Podge_irl wrote: »

London is a really **** location for the final.

In some ways it is. In others it's great. Getting to most locations will cost a fortune due to limited transport options. Getting to London is nowhere near as bad or expensive due to the volume of options in and out.

Podge_irl

molloyjh wrote: »

In some ways it is. In others it's great. Getting to most locations will cost a fortune due to limited transport options. Getting to London is nowhere near as bad or expensive due to the volume of options in and out.

Ah yeah, that is a benefit but the city just swallows it up. There is no sense of "event" to it.

armchaircoach

Podge_irl wrote: »

Ah yeah, that is a benefit but the city just swallows it up. There is no sense of "event" to it.

Totally agree, was there for the final in 2012 and didn't meet a single Londoner who knew or cared it was on.

Would be far better giving these games to smaller cities who would really throw themselves into the weekend.

Eod100

Only heard this through here tbh. Bit underwhelming

Sabre0001

Well at least I can book a weekend away in London and see friends. And if Munster make the final, great. If not, I could get a ticket in advance anyways or just enjoy London.

Not the most exciting of destination, but easy to get to. Still waiting on Italy to get one.

Dial Hard

armchaircoach wrote: »

Would be far better giving these games to smaller cities who would really throw themselves into the weekend.

The problem with that is that hotel rooms become an absolute nightmare. It's a bit of a balancing act for EPCR.

liosnagceann75

And there I was hoping it was to be Amsterdam. Don't know where I heard that rumour

I'd prefer London over a smaller city where flights and accommodation more than triples in price for the final weekend

Eod100

liosnagceann75 wrote: »

And there I was hoping it was to be Amsterdam. Don't know where I heard that rumour

Maybe it's the Heineken connection. Berlin would be interesting too but probably far fetched. Like to see it going to Italy at some stage!