Sheffield-based SCX has been appointed to supply the world's first retractable pitch at Tottenham Hotspur's new £800 million stadium.

The engineering specialist will design, engineer, build and install the innovative real turf football pitch, which will sit in three pitch-long steel trays weighing more than 3,000 tonnes each.

The surface will split into three sections to show each tray before retracting under the South Stand to reveal the artificial playing surface underneath. The pitch switching process is expected to take around 25 minutes.

The 12-week project to install the new pitch is expected to get underway in October. The new 61,000-seater stadium is set to open in 2018.


Matthew Collecott, Director of Operations & Finance at Tottenham Hotspur, said: "We are pleased to confirm SCX as our official Retractable Pitch Supplier. SCX has a proven track record in delivering innovative solutions and this bespoke pitch mechanism will allow our new stadium to host a range of major events in addition to Tottenham Hotspur matches, as we strive to create a venue that is a hive of activity all year round."

SCX Managing Director Simon Eastwood said: "We have a solid reputation for problem solving in bespoke circumstances that involve moving and lifting huge structures at sporting venues. All of the mechanical and control system engineering skills are in-house and genuinely world class."

The company's lead engineer, Danny Pickard, added: "Our expertise and heritage enables us to push the boundaries of moving structures and precision engineering.

"This latest pitch technology embodies everything we strive for and care about - delivering precisely what the client needs, with the engineering flair that has become a hallmark of SCX. We are so very proud to deliver this engineering world first."

(LM)