Tottenham Hotspur reduces virtualization licensing fees by 85% with HPE Morpheus VM Essentials

VMware Replacement Leads to Significant Savings

Tottenham Hotspur, a Premier League soccer team, has reduced its virtualization licensing fees by over 85% by migrating from VMware to Hewlett-Packard Enterprise’s (HPE’s) Morpheus VM Essentials (VME) virtualization software. The specific VMware products previously used and the exact cost savings were not disclosed by the organization.

HPE Solutions Underpin New Infrastructure

The soccer club confirmed that its stadium’s server, storage, and networking infrastructure now runs on HPE solutions delivered through HPE’s GreenLake hybrid cloud management platform. This setup is supported by VME and HPE’s OpsRamp software, with HPE managing the hybrid cloud service.

Broader Infrastructure Redesign

This virtualization shift is part of a larger redesign of Tottenham Hotspur’s stadium data center and network infrastructure. The stadium's data center features six aisles utilizing HPE ProLiant Compute Gen12 server hardware and Alletra Storage MP. HPE stated that Tottenham is using Morpheus and OpsRamp software to manage a complex, multi-site environment, modernize virtualization, and reduce operational overhead.

Industry Context and Motivation

Rob Pickering, Tottenham’s CTO, indicated that the timing aligned with their replacement cycles. He noted that hypervisors, traditionally unsexy purchases, have seen changes from VMware, which he believes run counter to both system integrators and customers. This sentiment reflects broader industry discussions following Broadcom's acquisition of VMware and subsequent changes to its product offerings and licensing models.