The story from THFC back in August of 2018 was that ‘recent testing and commissioning has now shown issues with the critical safety systems.’
The test events were duly abandoned and the Liverpool game was switched to Wembley.
We then had to a suffer swathes of Levyologists explain to us in deeply measured tones how big construction projects always overrun and always go over budget and how if we didn’t like this brave new world, well we could always shut our eyes ever so tightly and imagine a return to the ‘dark old days’ of of Scholar and Sugar (during grim era we won trophies and had a comparatively small debts – but hey).
We then had that curious business of an article on Buildingco.uk being pulled within an hour of publication.
The piece essentially said that Mace were going to be liable for compensation running into millions.
This was never refuted by anyone, just pulled. As was an aggregated version in the Evening Standard.
A source close to the club has told the Harry Hotspur blog that the club’s statement was more than a little economical with the truth.
There was and still is a wiring issue.
But a very much self inflicted one.
Levy and his son agreed an initial deal for the stadium’s audio fit out with a company called D&B Audiotechnik.
The NFL became aware of this and strongly suggested that the contract be given to one of their sponsors JBL as they were familiar with project requirements.
So Levy & son decided to bypass the UK agents from JBL and buy direct from the manufacturing company, owned by Samsung.
On the face of it, the Levy’s pulled off quite a coup. The cost of this kit was massively subsidised and included a 10 year free support deal.
Slight problem.
Essentially, audio kits aren’t just about playing music, or half time interviews, etc. They must be linked to an alarm system. This element of Health and Safety is paramount when you’re talking about 60,000+ people in a confined space.
Think that last paragraph is amusing?
I suggest you try to understand the importance of EN54 and realise that isn’t some crazy piece of EU banana straightening legislation.
‘Oh so what you’re saying is Levy was going to turn the New Destination into another potential Grenfell?’
The kit the Levy’s bought and had installed had no fire rated cables, so if there were to be a fire at the stadium – the cables would melt.
Additionally the kit the Levy’s bought and had installed didn’t have a battery back up in the event of a power cut.
Oh, and there’s no voice activated evacuation system which guides people to an appropriate (and safe) exit.
No system to guide people away from danger.
Keep in mind that safety needs in 2018 are more complex than ever before and countering terrorism also has to be factored in.
The kit the Levy’s bought and had installed was essentially a very fancy PA system. Which simply didn’t pass muster.
You remove one processor – the entire system is kaput. The kit the Levy’s bought was also a single cable system. There must be a double rated system.
Still smirking?
More importantly – how the hell did this ever get to happen?! Well, first of all we need…
✔️The magical Levy DNA which fixates on price
✔️An imbecilic installation company
✔️Poor industry-wide compliance
✔️An imbecilic local authority
This blog has been advised of two stadiums in the UK that are currently operating without compliant audio systems and will contact their local councils on Monday morning.
It is not fully understood how this bad system was discovered at Spurs, but thank goodness it was.
One would have to go some distance in order to find a more complex, messier set of issues to rectify.
The club has had to completely replace the system, add new racks for speakers; the main work involves digging out and replacing cables- which is really time consuming as a lot of them are already connected into other systems – stadium wide.
Conclusion
The short answer is that this is what happens when unsupervised people are allowed operate beyond their skillsets. I would say above their pay grade, but that wouldn’t really apply here, given the vast salaries being sloshed about.
This also explains why the venue still can’t open its doors yet despite all the videos and photos being released appearing to show relatively cosmetic stuff requiring attention.
The entire project has been handicapped from within, and Mace etc look to be exonerated.
The chaos is never ending with these people. If they could run a bath, the odds are they’d electrocute themselves before the fire broke out.
In order to save a few quid, the consequences have cost millions. Penny wise – pound foolish.
Goodwill amongst the fans is at an all-time low.
The players are fatigued – because the genius mismanaging the club was too busy trying to fight fires he started – and left us as the only club in Europe’s top 5 leagues not to buy a single player.
There is still no firm indication as to when this idiotic Shopping Centre will be opened.