“We’ve got Manchester United here on the Saturday, and just 7 days later, the stadium is hosting a major boxing event,” explains Jon Babbs, Stadium Director at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and host of this year’s Summit. “That means when ESSMA members arrive, they’ll actually get to see the transformation in progress. It’s something most people never get to witness – and it’s a huge part of what makes this place tick.”
A stadium that never sleeps
For Jon, the real magic of Tottenham Hotspur Stadium lies in its year-round rhythm. Unlike many venues that wind down after football season, Spurs’ home stays in constant motion. “We’re staging close to 60 events a year – football, concerts, rugby, boxing, you name it,” he says. “The sliding pitch technology means we can switch from Premier League action to a live gig or fight night without compromising the turf.”
This relentless pace isn’t just about revenue streams. It’s about creating a living, breathing venue that’s in use nearly every week of the year – something few stadiums can truly match.
More than steel and glass
But Jon’s favourite spot in the stadium isn’t the control room, or even the pitch. It’s the South Stand marketplace, home to the stadium’s famous bar stretching from corner flag to corner flag. “It’s the heartbeat of our home support,” he says. “Thousands of fans gather there, families and friends meeting up, celebrating – or sometimes commiserating – together. It’s a real meeting place. Add in the fact we brew our own beer right next door, and it becomes a proper community space.”
That human connection, he says, is what makes the job so rewarding. “I’ve got a team of about 110 people, all of us completely invested in delivering world-class events. We spend more time here than with our families, so you need that passion. And when you walk away at the end of the day, you remind yourself how many people would give anything to do this job. That keeps you grounded.”
Why the Summit matters
Jon will take the stage during the Summit to share insights from Tottenham’s operations, but he’s just as excited about opening the doors to fellow professionals. “We’re proud to host, and even prouder to show how we make it all happen. ESSMA is about sharing what works, and I think participants will get a unique perspective by being here, right in the middle of the action.”
For stadium managers across Europe, the ESSMA Summit is the rare chance to see behind the curtain of one of the world’s most advanced multi-use venues, meet peers facing the same challenges, and gain forward-looking inspiration paired with in-depth expertise to tackle the complex future of stadium management.
As Jon puts it simply: “Come along, and let us look after you. That’s what we do best.”
