Loading episode…
Loading episode…

Soccer
Listen now
Listen in the appEpisode context
Listen here or keep browsing the show and related sport coverage from here.
What are the numbers behind Tottenham Hotspur’s extraordinary stadium, and could the technology that makes it such a commercial success have an unexpected downside?
We are joined by Patrick from By the Numbers' instagram account to dig into the business, science and technology behind modern football.
We look at Spurs’ incredible retractable pitch, how it disappears beneath the South Stand in around 30 minutes, and how the stadium has helped transform Tottenham’s commercial potential.
But there’s another side to the numbers. With Spurs suffering a succession of serious injuries, could the unusual construction of the pitch be playing a part, or is the evidence simply not there? And just how much does an injured Premier League player actually cost a football club?
Football, by the numbers.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Next listen
S4E03 | Pre Season, Players In Coming & The Pull Of De Zerbi
Listen guide
"S4E05 | Tottenham’s Retractable Pitch: Genius or a Problem?" is an episode of The Lab (Tottenham Hotspur Podcast). Runtime 40 min. Published August 10, 2026. Hit play above to stream it here, or open the free Spot Sports app for background play and offline downloads.