Catfish and the Bottlemen’s recent announcement of their stadium tour has sparked a wave of mockery and skepticism from the public, with many questioning whether the band can fill the massive venues they’ve chosen.
The announcement, which includes dates at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London in August 2025, has drawn an especially biting comparison between the band’s name and Tottenham Hotspur’s infamous reputation for “bottling” crucial moments.
The parallels between the band’s name and the London football club’s perceived tendency to falter at key moments were not lost on social media users. The phrase “bottle jobs” has been used by football fans for years to describe Tottenham’s failure to secure victories in critical matches, and the irony of Catfish and the Bottlemen performing at the club’s stadium was too rich for many to ignore. The result was a deluge of jokes and memes that quickly spread across Twitter/X.
“THE BOTTLEMEN PLAYING AT SPURS,” one user posted, accompanied by a GIF of Homer Simpson laughing uncontrollably. Another user humorously referred to the North London Derby between Arsenal and Tottenham, slated for September 15, as a key date for the “Bottlemen,” blurring the lines between the band and the football team. “Catfish and The Bottlemen at the Tottenham stadium HAD to be on purpose—it’s too perfect,” another joked, highlighting the seeming inevitability of the comparison.
The skepticism surrounding the band’s ability to fill such large stadiums was another major theme in the online reactions. Some users expressed doubt that Catfish and the Bottlemen could come close to selling out the 60,000+ capacity venues, especially given that the band hasn’t released new music in some time. “Wish I was as confident as these lot thinking they can even get close to selling out a 60,000+ capacity stadium,” one person remarked. Another was even more blunt, suggesting that the band “aren’t Beyoncé” and might be better off sticking to smaller venues like pubs or the O2 Academy.
While Catfish and the Bottlemen have certainly enjoyed success in the past, including a headline slot at Leeds Festival, the leap to stadium-sized venues has raised eyebrows. The band’s decision to play at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has been described by some as overly ambitious, with one fan labeling it a “shambles.” The lack of new music to support the tour only adds to the doubts, with another fan commenting, “No new music and no chance they sell these out, shambles.” This sentiment was echoed by others who predicted that the tour would be “embarrassingly undersold.”
The choice of Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as a venue for the band’s London date has been particularly controversial. The stadium, while one of the most modern and impressive in the Premier League, is also associated with the club’s history of near-misses and unfulfilled potential. This has only fueled the comparisons, with one fan noting, “The jokes write themselves. Tottenham Hotspur stadium hosting the Bottlemen.” Another predicted that the band’s attempt to fill the venue would end in disappointment, stating, “This is going to be embarrassingly undersold.”
Despite the wave of skepticism and jokes, there is still a chance that Catfish and the Bottlemen could prove their doubters wrong. The band has a loyal fan base and has headlined major festivals in the past, so it’s possible that their return could generate enough excitement to draw large crowds. However, the pressure is certainly on for them to deliver, especially given the high expectations that come with performing at such iconic venues.
In the end, the success of Catfish and the Bottlemen’s stadium tour will depend on their ability to connect with their audience and perhaps release new music that resonates with fans. The comparisons to Tottenham Hotspur might be amusing, but the band will need to ensure that their performances are anything but disappointing if they want to avoid the same fate as the football club they’ve been so closely associated with.
As the band prepares for their tour, they might want to take the public’s reaction as a reminder of the challenges they face. The venues they’ve chosen are ambitious, and while the jokes about “bottling it” might be harsh, they also underscore the importance of living up to expectations. For Catfish and the Bottlemen, the next few months will be crucial in determining whether their stadium tour becomes a triumphant return or a misstep that leaves them facing the same criticisms as Tottenham Hotspur.
