Engineering specialist SCX has taken the first steps in the installation of a dividing retractable pitch at Tottenham Hotspur’s new stadium.
The innovative design involves a grass pitch sitting directly above an artificial surface.
The fully retractable grass surface will be used for football matches whilst the artificial pitch underneath will be used for NFL matches, music concerts and a range of other events.
Sheffield-based SCX has designed, engineered, built, and is now installing the real turf football pitch, which was stored in South Yorkshire before being transported to the capital.
The playing surface sits in three pitch-long steel trays, weighing more than 3,000 tonnes each. The pitch will split into three sections before retracting under the South Stand, revealing the artificial playing surface underneath.
The process of switching from one surface to another is expected to take approximately 25 minutes.
Once the grass pitch is returned, the joins are invisible and undetectable, allowing for a Premier League quality playing surface every matchday.
Each of the three pitch-long trays is made up of 33 smaller trays, 99 in total for the entire playing surface.
Danny Pickard, SCX’s lead engineer, said: “Our expertise and heritage enables us to push the boundaries of moving structures and precision engineering.”
This is not the first time SCX has been involved with high-profile sports stadiums. It is currently also working on a three-year project to construct a retractable roof for No.1 Court at the All England Lawn Tennis Club.
