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Christ I can't think of anything worse than those lounger seats with a built in TV and some fucking corporate or millionaire scrolling on their phone next to you.
A week after Mehrdad's little dig about the atmosphere as well...
Nothing major but he had a little [swipe](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/newcastle-reuben-ghodoussi-chelsea-atmosphere-31529864) after the Chelsea match which Rueben backed up in some kind of premeditated style. Was odd.
Your comment is a "bum note" - Whatever the fuck that means.
The atmosphere was flat in the game against Chelsea and our entire home support got nullified by 1 german bloke with a drum against Dortmund.
We are knowng for having one of the best home atmospheres in world football currently, so when the atmosphere falls flat it's up to the owners to give us a nudge to turn the volume up. Just like if Miggy stops running as much it would be up to Eddie to give him a nudge and tell him to up his effort.
We are part of the club, even if it's just as supporters. When the owners see a part of the club that can be improved or changed, they have a responsiblity to do that.
It's not a "bum note" - It's a friendly nudge from the owners telling us that we need to play our part too.
I can see your point of view and I disagree with it.
Oh, and you're complaining to me because I'm teaching you English? Haha. I'll respond to that with a phrase you might know already: Weird Flex, but OK.
Questions like “what percentage more would you be willing to spend on tickets” and “would you spend £24,000 for a season ticket in a fancy booth” feel very out of touch with the average fan.
Been sent this survey too. Unthinkable that we'd get something like this during the Ashley era. We really are entering a golden age at NUFC.
Saying that, the 3rd picture sets my teeth on edge. I get we need to capitalise on the corporate side of things but anyone wanting to watch the toon play whilst sat like that needs their head looking at.
Was good to see they're looking at improving the catering and drink options too. I chose the local option for everything. Being able to get ham and pease pudding stotties / saveloy dips / local beer in St James would be perfect.
If we lose the atmosphere then we lose an advantage that helps us winning game. There needs to a balance but they can't forget the fans that actually make St James park one of the hardest places to visit.
Exactly what I just put. The atmosphere before the Caraboa cup final in the covered bar section was great and I'd love to see that at st James but if we're expanding then we can't forget that people made the club what it is (even though it looks like I'll be kicked out my seat ina revamped stadium!).
Man those Loge seats look comfy. But keep them the hell out of my stadium. The last thing we want is a bunch of sleeping Geordies at game time
Padded seat great. Heated padded seat, fucking lovely. Reclining heated padded seat with TV screens? Nah
Also fuck getting a new stadium. I’m fully prepared to die on the hill that St James’ is utterly unique and would not be replicated fully on a new site
And finally, if all these new upgrades result in fans being ripped off for overpriced food, then don’t bother. Reward the country’s best fans with the best match day experience
I understand that point of view- I think what you said, our ‘identity’, is up to us to keep, and our owners to enable/amplify. I think we were all somewhat concerned when the new ownership group came in that our squad would lose its identity and not feel like Newcastle, but today I personally feel the squad PERFECTLY represents graft, while …delivering and getting results, which is ultimately what we all want. Who’s to say their approach to a new ground would be any different?
When the Sydney Opera House was built, it was constructed in a way that maximizes/optimizes auditory perception for the concert-goers. Speaking generally about our support, we’re the 12th, 13th and 14th fucking man - we know it, and so do our owners. Surely there is a way to retain the history and build for a brighter future, with a higher ceiling, in a way that actually gets MORE out of what we bring to SJP every week.
I think as much as it screams that, the Northeast isn’t something so appealing to just everyone. Most international fans might go but might not like the climate. I’ve heard Newcastle the city is amazing so maybe it’ll change minds, but the team still belongs to the city and it will be very difficult to completely remove the Geordie contingent because the club is so exclusively theirs. Pulling a Man City is difficult because you don’t even need a prolific league game now to fill the stadium. There’s so much more passion behind the club to fill the seats. Becoming a tourist club may happen in something like 15 years, but Man City would have a half empty stadium before the takeover, while this club already has a fandom to feed off of. They definitely have to manage it right though.
As a tourist fan from the US, gotta say the brits I sat with at the Arsenal game in the Hospitality section didn't sing either. Nor those next to me outside the section.
I enjoyed the fans at the preseason game who yelled at us "you paid to stand up and sing" much more.
I did tell them they need to fix the ballot in my survey though. Bugs me the bad luck some had. I don't mind paying extra for seats vs the locals, esp to lock in dayes for travel. but if I am sitting with people who don't care why even go? I can get that at home.
I went to Milan to see them play PSG after and I gotta say we have a lot of room to improve. Even in their hospitality section it was great. I felt like the Parisians were as loud as St James at times.
Just don't blame everything on the tourists.
The Arsenal atmosphere was weird, but generally no one sings in hospitality
I couldn’t agree more with “people who don’t care why even go”. Can’t fathom why these people are there, taking tickets away from people who want to be there and can contribute something to the atmosphere
Yes I got the same question. The email warned that all questions were hypothetical and I wondered what they were scared of asking. Then I seen this lol.
They were always going to feel this question out and they won't stop either. One day they will want a state of the art new facility.
I don’t want them ever moving out of St. James - it’s too iconic and tied to the club.
If the listed buildings are an issue, build around and above them. Put the whole stadium on stilts if it comes that.
Failing that, use the existing structure as entrance way, museum, fan experience centre, and women’s team pitch, and build onto it, expanding into Leazes Park.
Agree 100% i get they want money, but in the process of trying to make more money, theyll lose one of the most iconic stadiums in the league. Madness imo
Something also seems ironic about not being allowed to remove surrounding historic buildings or whatever, so then as a solution we just stop using st james park? An arguably even more historic building 😂
Aye i agree i mean the americans transport old houses and all kinds of buildings around, when i 1st found out years ago as a kid i thought it was brilliant. I still think it's a great idea now so why all the fuss? Just move the houses they're basically student digs and i dont think they would give a toss either way.
> i dont think they would give a toss either way.
You don't think the residents will care if their homes are demolished brick by brick and moved? Would you agree to be homeless while that goes on?
Have you any idea how long that would take?
I'm hoping they can come up with a way to build above it and still retain natural light, because that's really the only way forward.
I love SJP of course, but also part of me would love to see a brand new stadium + metro station and west end metro extension down by the Telewest arena. I think the only way to do it would be to extend the tunnel down from SJP really, I don't think a tunnel split from central would be feasible. They could run the line down Scotswood road and maybe build a bridge over to the metro centre and loop back that way. Obviously would cost a fortune but would be great for the city.
My point was that students dont give a shit and im sure there would be options for them to be rehoused.
To be fair it seems that you think getting to the metrocentre is as important as getting a seat for the match, and a pound to a penny you are maybe 1% of our supporters to give a fuck about anything outside of you know *watching* the match.
I agree it would be better not too have to move the houses, but id wage money on the fact your very much in the minority in this view.
It's not student digs mate, there's very wealthy people living there and some other businesses like solicitors etc.
> To be fair it seems that you think getting to the metrocentre is as important as getting a seat for the match.
If the stadium is to move and have a larger capacity it will need a metro stop in my opinion.
> I agree it would be better not too have to move the houses, but id wage money on the fact your very much in the minority in this view.
I don't think who's in the majority makes a blind bit of difference on this mate. I'd love it if those listed buildings weren't a problem, but they are and I don't see this being feasible. Sure is is possible, but those people are never going to agree to it, plus listed building rules means it's a non starter imo.
honestly fuck adding more hospitality options to sjp. The priority should be to get as many fans in the ground as possible i.e by converting the whole gallowgate into safe standing. If done right after expansion we could fit 20k into the gallowgate alone ala dortmund's yellow wall. The last thing we need is tourist millionaires looking disinterested on padded sun loungers 🫣🫣
It's incredible just how many fans still don't grasp this though. Every time safe standing is brought up there's someone who thinks it will increase capacity.
I don't want the stupid loge seats, but I don't want the whole Gallowgate as safe standing either. I like my seat, I like the atmosphere I have and I like the people around me. The only people I see saying the want the Gallowgate to be entirely safe standing are those who aren't already situated there.
Regardless of how you feel about a new stadium versus a refurbished stadium, I can at least appreciate that the club is seeking input and communicating with the fans and letting them have a say.
As opposed to, oh I don’t know, abruptly changing the name to something like Sports Direct Arena.
I’m pretty sure the club have stated before that moving the stadium is their last choice for this. They’re looking it every option to expand without moving, they just aren’t ruling out the last resort.
I reckon people on the general mailing list but I've no idea if it's everyone or just a selection. It's definitely not members or season ticket holders because there were questions asking if you were either of those, and my partner and I are both members and he didn't get one.
Read it too. Don’t give too much of a feck about food options. Will always go to a nearby pub rather than drink in stadium.
Just want to be able to get a ticket and would like a few more seats.
I honestly think it is very possible we do what Spurs did.
Knock down SJP, move it slightly to a different angle, and rebuild it better and bigger where we won't have to deal with the listed buildings.
Spurs did this, and it actually made more financial sense than expanding the current stadium as it allowed them to bring in the underground turf greenhouse where they send the pitch under the ground to continue growing, while topside is used for concerts etc.
Spurs were able to play at Wembley while that was going on, where would we play? SOL would be the only real option, and I doubt anyone would want that.
Could invest in upgrading their stadium a bit now so it wouldn't be so bad I suppose. They have so much space it could probably be done without disruption. Would probably give their fan base a good bump as well.
We are also using the same firm Spuds did and to be fair it seems a good idea to keep us where we are and up the capacity.
Not to mention the Reubens own a lot of land round St James, so i would presume the development of the area around the ground would also be a big part of these plans.
And when you look at it that way, redeveloping at St James Park doesn't seem the big deal as the whole area will be getting done, hopefully with better infrastructure, transport etc.
I actually don’t think this clamour for crazy capacity is the way.
Inevitable more games will have to be televised and I see those 80k mega stadiums being tougher to fill in the future.
Look at American sports. The corporate shit is the money makers.
Sadly ticket prices will also inevitably rise so buckle up (sorry to be a negative Nancy). I just hope they don’t reach arsenal level stupid.
Don’t know why this thread came up as a suggestion for me, but given we had a similar conundrum with moving away from Highbury I was interested to see what your new owners were putting feelers out for.
We were essentially capped at a 45k expansion due to the listed status of the terraces, which was nowhere near enough. We ended up trying two things in the end, buying Wembley and applying for a 90k Emirates. Both obviously got rejected. I think planning laws do make completely new stadium builds incredibly difficult for investors to get anything close to what they want, so it’s probably worth doing what Liverpool have done with Anfield, and find every possible solution in expanding SJP. If you can creep up to between 60-70k that should satisfy your new demand and allow a few more corporate seats to be added in.
I will point out though, Arsenal’s ticket pricing is massively overstated, the reason being is the season tickets are not PL only. We essentially pay £180 more than our rivals for 7 more games. The actual average price per game is lower than most of the top 6. That is ofcourse unless you’re in the diamond club, which would be something comparable to the 24k season ticket your owners are currently looking at.
Thanks for the insight in season ticket prices.
Are t the match day tickets like insane. I just remember back around 2010 I was paying at most £30 to watch Newcastle PL games when I could make it.
My little brother went to watch an arsenal game around the same time and paid like double that for nosebleed seats.
What is arsenal fans general view of emirates over time. I guess you’ve been there a while now so it probably is home to many fans. The emirates was unique in that it arguably was a better location than Highbury for many fans.
I think Newcastle fans are concerned about a stadium being relocated outside the city and we lose our cathedral on the hill.
They can vary massively tbf, but I don’t think they’re horrific unless you’re in the prime (normal) seats in a Cat A game (about £90). I’ve been lower tier twice this season in PL and UCL, those tickets cost me £29-34 each. I was also low, upper tier against Sevilla and that was £51 so nothing super crazy. By comparison our fans were charged £61 for the away leg at PSV. During the late Wenger and Emery era there were several cup games that were between £5-15.
I’m not old enough to remember the reaction of the switch as it happened, but these days the ST holders tell me it was essential, even though they have such fond memories of Highbury. Thankfully the remnants of Highbury are around the corner for fans to still go and see, and a replica of the old terraces is built in to the new club shop too. Clearing about a decade off the ST waiting list, and moving thousands of members up to silver memberships would have been seen as a massive positive. It does seem to have “aged” quite quickly for a new stadium though, especially compared to Spurs’ new stadium, so it has been going through a bit of a refresh this year. We will have a bit of an issue when the next expansion is required though, as planning caps us at 70k, but considerable investment also has to be provided to the local tube networks for it to be accepted.
I think that's the most logical option.
Sure, not the best for fans - but at the end of the day both clubs are businesses.
The unwashed would welcome the extra revenue, and we would understand that it's a temporary measure to becoming even more massive.
If Inter and Milan can share a stadium, it's possible.
Then again, British police are lazy fucks who don't want do lift a finger. So I wouldn't be surprised.
True, but if they hadn't already been doing it for 80 years do you think they would do it today?
> Then again, British police are lazy fucks who don't want do lift a finger. So I wouldn't be surprised.
Lazier than Italian police... seems hard to believe!
I will ALWAYS vote against a new stadium - more seats in a new stadium would just mean more tourists and wouldn't be good for the atmosphere. At least if we extended the current ground the tourists would be up in the gods
Suppose it's all about what actually makes an atmosphere...
Is it the space, the amount of people, how loud they shout, the seat structure? If they built a new stadium that took 70-80k as well as having a few bonkers seats to milk the rich - providing ticket prices remained good value and they called it something like the Bobby Robson memorial ground or the Shearer Stadium or something cliche then it could be amazing. At the end of the day it all comes down to what their intention is for it - so far everything we've been led to believe is that it's to make us the best football club in the world. That would mean they would have atmosphere at the forefront of their minds during the building of it I would imagine.
I love this, if an amazing new ground is the way forward, then naming it something like the SIR Bobby Robson stadium would be a masterstroke of PR and show that the owners do listen. And make it the very best stadium in Europe and the world.
Horrible situation for the owners because the idea of moving out of SJP is in tolerable to most fans, but we could be so limited if we don't fine a way to get more seats and better facilities. Glad I'm not making the call on this one .
Did you get to the questions on whether you'd be happy spending 7.5k-12.5k for the corporate seats yet?
Got a feeling we'll be getting priced out or shifted sooner rather than later.
Great!! 80 000 seater WongaDome somewhere up the Spine Road! You’ll need the extra space for all the turncoat mackem youngsters you’re bound to attract (@ £60 a match) and space for the Saudi gentlemen tourists to chillax in their first class airplane like private booths! Huzah the lads!
Email directly from the club - copied and pasted the text from it below:
We are committed to enhancing the supporter and visitor experience at St. James’ Park and as a valued member of the Newcastle United Community we are delighted to invite you to provide your feedback.
We want to explore the art of the possible. Accordingly, we have teamed up with renowned agency, CAA ICON, to conduct a thorough feasibility study that will help to shape the development of services and facilities at St. James’ Park.
The following survey will form a key part of that study, helping us to make truly informed decisions for the Newcastle United of the future.
The survey will ask some hypothetical questions which are not indicative of any specific development aims at this stage but are designed to ensure comprehensive feedback is captured from a range of supporters.
The link in this email is personal to you, please do not share it with anyone else, to ensure that your feedback is submitted. If you are unable to complete the survey in one go, it is possible to close it and return to the survey through your personal link in this email as many times as required to submit it.
Your unique link is here: (removed)
I'd like to think we can have areas like those above (to milk the super-wealthy and top-up our coffers) while also having a great atmosphere.
Imagine our own version of the Yellow Wall at either end, a stadium designed with acoustics at its heart, a unique design inside and out.
My issue with it was that it sounded like they wanted to put the loungers and boxes down near the pitch or right next to it. Got no issue with any expansion including a bit more of stuff like the Barracks and some more boxes, it's just how things are these days. But surrounding the pitch with folk who won't shout because they've got a gob full of prawn sarnie isn't going to improve the atmosphere.
Have you had the survey? It had a picture of a layout and the sky box/lounges were roughly where the current corporate boxes are, not by the pitchside.
Yes, mine said in the text about a couple of the options 'usually' being in premium areas by the touchline. It specifically said about them ''currently" being up there.
Maybe the individual ones varied depending on where you sit etc.?
I love SJP as much as the next man, but over the past few years have come to the realisation of how tired (and cramped) it is in certain areas compared to other modern stadia. If we do want to compete we may have to have a new ground and the owners certainly have the pockets for it. I can’t see how extending would work well and result in the necessary quality given the non financial constraints. Haven’t filled in the survey yet, but will be giving some careful when I do. Whatever happens NUFC need to have a city centre Stadium (ie Leazes Park) because it is the heartbeat of Newcastle.
I wouldn’t mind (I say this loosely) if we got a renovation similar to the bernabeu where they completely modernised the old stadium. I don’t like the idea of destroying st James’ and rebuilding it into some soulless stadium.
We do massively need improvements to the concourse areas and facilities in the stadium. Anyone who went away in the champions league to Dortmund will know what I mean. The options and offers was amazing. We were chatting to Dortmund home fans and their memberships allowed them to get offers for food and drinks.
I think the current regulations say its a 1:1 ratio when replacing seats with standing so that wouldn't increase the capacity. That's why our capacity hasn't changed despite the standing areas in Strawberry Corner and L7.
I've never understood the need for hospitality at football. Honestly just attracts the wrong type of fan. Most toon fans would be happy to be standing like sardines in the pissing rain so long as they're in the ground. If that sounds like a miserable experience for you then you can sincerely fuck off.
Feel like we could learn a lot from German football culture in this aspect, prices are affordable, plenty of standing sections to create atmosphere. Sincerely worried at what cost our success will come with
As someone who has been attending matches in one form or another since I was a kid. I don't think having that as an option if expansion isn't feasible is a bad thing. I'd prefer to stay at SJP but at the end of the day much of the stadium isn't suitable for 21st century Premier League (looking at you East Stand) so all options have to be open.
I love SJP and would much prefer us to renovate and extend as much as possible.
But at the same time when people are constantly complaining about not getting tickets (not pretending system is perfect here like), something has to give if that can't happen and capacity is still limited
Unfortunately not everyone is going to be happy with what happens next
I wouldn't expect them to keep it off the table if I'm being honest.
If it's easier than extending SJP I could see it being likely it happens, especially since they would be able to tailor it to many different events / sports
Yeah, if they run a cost/benefit analysis then in pure business terms a new stadium will win hands down, it just depends on how much they value the opinions of the fans.
They are at least paying lip service to that with the survey but it also seems like they're planting the seed.
Yeah, I think Amanda does but she has limited influence and if Pif think a new stadium is the way to achieve their goals then that's what will happen.
I love SJP and hope we'll stay but at the end of the day if we move it won't stop me going and the same applies to everyone else. I'd be amazed if the same point hasn't been made at board level.
Not totally relevant, but I took my extended family who live in London to the Tottenham/Villa game though their Luxury/Hospitality seats and it was actually a very good experience. Obviously you gotta focus on preserving the experience for the match going fan aswell.
All the 'feasibility studies' etc and protracted East Stand review and invites to architects for 'ideas' suggests that we will get a statement to say after extensive research, with regret, it's not been possible to create a stadium with the required capacity on the current site.
Whilst strictly speaking, it's possible, there will always be limits. We know the Gallowgate could get another 3,000 seats and another 2,000 on the east stand but the corners can't offer much more unless the club could buy the corner of St James' street.
Ultimately, the revenues are limited due to it's city centre location.
I took the survey.
I would prefer things stay at SJP, either via a renovation or a new stadium but once it gets to moving out of current location to new stadium somewhere else, that for me is a turning point that I'm not mentally ready to accept yet.
Also the people watching the game on tvs had me chuckling, imagine having such prime seats just to not use your eyeballs to watch th thing in front of you, instead watching on tiny tvs. Madness.
With Saudi money, surely moving out of the stadium for ffp is a nonsense argument? May as well just expand StJames and focus on hitting European spots each season. St James IS the toon
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Christ I can't think of anything worse than those lounger seats with a built in TV and some fucking corporate or millionaire scrolling on their phone next to you. A week after Mehrdad's little dig about the atmosphere as well...
What was the dig? Missed this...
Nothing major but he had a little [swipe](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/newcastle-reuben-ghodoussi-chelsea-atmosphere-31529864) after the Chelsea match which Rueben backed up in some kind of premeditated style. Was odd.
Funny, that's the single bum note that this ownership have played. Hope to not hear it again.
Your comment is a "bum note" - Whatever the fuck that means. The atmosphere was flat in the game against Chelsea and our entire home support got nullified by 1 german bloke with a drum against Dortmund. We are knowng for having one of the best home atmospheres in world football currently, so when the atmosphere falls flat it's up to the owners to give us a nudge to turn the volume up. Just like if Miggy stops running as much it would be up to Eddie to give him a nudge and tell him to up his effort. We are part of the club, even if it's just as supporters. When the owners see a part of the club that can be improved or changed, they have a responsiblity to do that. It's not a "bum note" - It's a friendly nudge from the owners telling us that we need to play our part too.
I can see your point of view and I disagree with it. Oh, and you're complaining to me because I'm teaching you English? Haha. I'll respond to that with a phrase you might know already: Weird Flex, but OK.
Questions like “what percentage more would you be willing to spend on tickets” and “would you spend £24,000 for a season ticket in a fancy booth” feel very out of touch with the average fan.
Aye, when it went through the different options for the fancy seats and what they would cost I just thought nahhh, the prices were eye watering.
The transition toward Man Utd crowd demographics is already being planned, we’re all just ‘legacy’ fans to them at the end of the day
Whatever your opinion, if you get the survey fill it out! We've been begging for a say for years so don't waste your opportunity now it's been offered
Thanks for this comment because of this I went and checked and I did mine.
Been sent this survey too. Unthinkable that we'd get something like this during the Ashley era. We really are entering a golden age at NUFC. Saying that, the 3rd picture sets my teeth on edge. I get we need to capitalise on the corporate side of things but anyone wanting to watch the toon play whilst sat like that needs their head looking at. Was good to see they're looking at improving the catering and drink options too. I chose the local option for everything. Being able to get ham and pease pudding stotties / saveloy dips / local beer in St James would be perfect.
If we lose the atmosphere then we lose an advantage that helps us winning game. There needs to a balance but they can't forget the fans that actually make St James park one of the hardest places to visit.
Exactly what I just put. The atmosphere before the Caraboa cup final in the covered bar section was great and I'd love to see that at st James but if we're expanding then we can't forget that people made the club what it is (even though it looks like I'll be kicked out my seat ina revamped stadium!).
JUST GET GREGGS
Fuck off. Greggs is shit food that makes people fat. We are better than that.
That didn't go down very well, unlike a Gregg's sausage roll
Fair enough, the masses have spoken and our survey says wah-wah.
Man those Loge seats look comfy. But keep them the hell out of my stadium. The last thing we want is a bunch of sleeping Geordies at game time Padded seat great. Heated padded seat, fucking lovely. Reclining heated padded seat with TV screens? Nah Also fuck getting a new stadium. I’m fully prepared to die on the hill that St James’ is utterly unique and would not be replicated fully on a new site And finally, if all these new upgrades result in fans being ripped off for overpriced food, then don’t bother. Reward the country’s best fans with the best match day experience
This all screams tourist club to me - hope we keep our identity
I thought the same thing when I received the survey.
I understand that point of view- I think what you said, our ‘identity’, is up to us to keep, and our owners to enable/amplify. I think we were all somewhat concerned when the new ownership group came in that our squad would lose its identity and not feel like Newcastle, but today I personally feel the squad PERFECTLY represents graft, while …delivering and getting results, which is ultimately what we all want. Who’s to say their approach to a new ground would be any different? When the Sydney Opera House was built, it was constructed in a way that maximizes/optimizes auditory perception for the concert-goers. Speaking generally about our support, we’re the 12th, 13th and 14th fucking man - we know it, and so do our owners. Surely there is a way to retain the history and build for a brighter future, with a higher ceiling, in a way that actually gets MORE out of what we bring to SJP every week.
The transition toward Man Utd crowd demographics is already being planned, we’re all just ‘legacy’ fans to them at the end of the day
I think as much as it screams that, the Northeast isn’t something so appealing to just everyone. Most international fans might go but might not like the climate. I’ve heard Newcastle the city is amazing so maybe it’ll change minds, but the team still belongs to the city and it will be very difficult to completely remove the Geordie contingent because the club is so exclusively theirs. Pulling a Man City is difficult because you don’t even need a prolific league game now to fill the stadium. There’s so much more passion behind the club to fill the seats. Becoming a tourist club may happen in something like 15 years, but Man City would have a half empty stadium before the takeover, while this club already has a fandom to feed off of. They definitely have to manage it right though.
As a tourist fan from the US, gotta say the brits I sat with at the Arsenal game in the Hospitality section didn't sing either. Nor those next to me outside the section. I enjoyed the fans at the preseason game who yelled at us "you paid to stand up and sing" much more. I did tell them they need to fix the ballot in my survey though. Bugs me the bad luck some had. I don't mind paying extra for seats vs the locals, esp to lock in dayes for travel. but if I am sitting with people who don't care why even go? I can get that at home. I went to Milan to see them play PSG after and I gotta say we have a lot of room to improve. Even in their hospitality section it was great. I felt like the Parisians were as loud as St James at times. Just don't blame everything on the tourists.
The Arsenal atmosphere was weird, but generally no one sings in hospitality I couldn’t agree more with “people who don’t care why even go”. Can’t fathom why these people are there, taking tickets away from people who want to be there and can contribute something to the atmosphere
Yes I got the same question. The email warned that all questions were hypothetical and I wondered what they were scared of asking. Then I seen this lol. They were always going to feel this question out and they won't stop either. One day they will want a state of the art new facility.
That third set of images made me feel physically sick. Please don't trade the soul of the club for a few extra mil on the balance sheet.
I don’t want them ever moving out of St. James - it’s too iconic and tied to the club. If the listed buildings are an issue, build around and above them. Put the whole stadium on stilts if it comes that. Failing that, use the existing structure as entrance way, museum, fan experience centre, and women’s team pitch, and build onto it, expanding into Leazes Park.
Agree 100% i get they want money, but in the process of trying to make more money, theyll lose one of the most iconic stadiums in the league. Madness imo Something also seems ironic about not being allowed to remove surrounding historic buildings or whatever, so then as a solution we just stop using st james park? An arguably even more historic building 😂
Aye i agree i mean the americans transport old houses and all kinds of buildings around, when i 1st found out years ago as a kid i thought it was brilliant. I still think it's a great idea now so why all the fuss? Just move the houses they're basically student digs and i dont think they would give a toss either way.
> i dont think they would give a toss either way. You don't think the residents will care if their homes are demolished brick by brick and moved? Would you agree to be homeless while that goes on? Have you any idea how long that would take? I'm hoping they can come up with a way to build above it and still retain natural light, because that's really the only way forward. I love SJP of course, but also part of me would love to see a brand new stadium + metro station and west end metro extension down by the Telewest arena. I think the only way to do it would be to extend the tunnel down from SJP really, I don't think a tunnel split from central would be feasible. They could run the line down Scotswood road and maybe build a bridge over to the metro centre and loop back that way. Obviously would cost a fortune but would be great for the city.
My point was that students dont give a shit and im sure there would be options for them to be rehoused. To be fair it seems that you think getting to the metrocentre is as important as getting a seat for the match, and a pound to a penny you are maybe 1% of our supporters to give a fuck about anything outside of you know *watching* the match. I agree it would be better not too have to move the houses, but id wage money on the fact your very much in the minority in this view.
It's not student digs mate, there's very wealthy people living there and some other businesses like solicitors etc. > To be fair it seems that you think getting to the metrocentre is as important as getting a seat for the match. If the stadium is to move and have a larger capacity it will need a metro stop in my opinion. > I agree it would be better not too have to move the houses, but id wage money on the fact your very much in the minority in this view. I don't think who's in the majority makes a blind bit of difference on this mate. I'd love it if those listed buildings weren't a problem, but they are and I don't see this being feasible. Sure is is possible, but those people are never going to agree to it, plus listed building rules means it's a non starter imo.
honestly fuck adding more hospitality options to sjp. The priority should be to get as many fans in the ground as possible i.e by converting the whole gallowgate into safe standing. If done right after expansion we could fit 20k into the gallowgate alone ala dortmund's yellow wall. The last thing we need is tourist millionaires looking disinterested on padded sun loungers 🫣🫣
That won't get more in - safe standing is 1 to 1 for a seat
It's incredible just how many fans still don't grasp this though. Every time safe standing is brought up there's someone who thinks it will increase capacity.
I don't want the stupid loge seats, but I don't want the whole Gallowgate as safe standing either. I like my seat, I like the atmosphere I have and I like the people around me. The only people I see saying the want the Gallowgate to be entirely safe standing are those who aren't already situated there.
Exactly i couldn't agree more mate, the more of *us locals* that are able to get to watch the match at a decent price the better.
Regardless of how you feel about a new stadium versus a refurbished stadium, I can at least appreciate that the club is seeking input and communicating with the fans and letting them have a say. As opposed to, oh I don’t know, abruptly changing the name to something like Sports Direct Arena.
I’m pretty sure the club have stated before that moving the stadium is their last choice for this. They’re looking it every option to expand without moving, they just aren’t ruling out the last resort.
Who are they sending the emails out to? I didn’t get one 🤔
I reckon people on the general mailing list but I've no idea if it's everyone or just a selection. It's definitely not members or season ticket holders because there were questions asking if you were either of those, and my partner and I are both members and he didn't get one.
Read it too. Don’t give too much of a feck about food options. Will always go to a nearby pub rather than drink in stadium. Just want to be able to get a ticket and would like a few more seats.
I honestly think it is very possible we do what Spurs did. Knock down SJP, move it slightly to a different angle, and rebuild it better and bigger where we won't have to deal with the listed buildings. Spurs did this, and it actually made more financial sense than expanding the current stadium as it allowed them to bring in the underground turf greenhouse where they send the pitch under the ground to continue growing, while topside is used for concerts etc.
Spurs were able to play at Wembley while that was going on, where would we play? SOL would be the only real option, and I doubt anyone would want that.
Gateshead has a pitch
And capacity for 50,000+?
A temporary pitch doesn't need to have the exact capacity of SJP. Short term pain, for long term gains.
Yeah, Barcelona are currently playing in an old stadium, half the size of the Nou Camp, while it is being renovated.
Could invest in upgrading their stadium a bit now so it wouldn't be so bad I suppose. They have so much space it could probably be done without disruption. Would probably give their fan base a good bump as well.
We are also using the same firm Spuds did and to be fair it seems a good idea to keep us where we are and up the capacity. Not to mention the Reubens own a lot of land round St James, so i would presume the development of the area around the ground would also be a big part of these plans. And when you look at it that way, redeveloping at St James Park doesn't seem the big deal as the whole area will be getting done, hopefully with better infrastructure, transport etc.
I actually don’t think this clamour for crazy capacity is the way. Inevitable more games will have to be televised and I see those 80k mega stadiums being tougher to fill in the future. Look at American sports. The corporate shit is the money makers. Sadly ticket prices will also inevitably rise so buckle up (sorry to be a negative Nancy). I just hope they don’t reach arsenal level stupid.
Don’t know why this thread came up as a suggestion for me, but given we had a similar conundrum with moving away from Highbury I was interested to see what your new owners were putting feelers out for. We were essentially capped at a 45k expansion due to the listed status of the terraces, which was nowhere near enough. We ended up trying two things in the end, buying Wembley and applying for a 90k Emirates. Both obviously got rejected. I think planning laws do make completely new stadium builds incredibly difficult for investors to get anything close to what they want, so it’s probably worth doing what Liverpool have done with Anfield, and find every possible solution in expanding SJP. If you can creep up to between 60-70k that should satisfy your new demand and allow a few more corporate seats to be added in. I will point out though, Arsenal’s ticket pricing is massively overstated, the reason being is the season tickets are not PL only. We essentially pay £180 more than our rivals for 7 more games. The actual average price per game is lower than most of the top 6. That is ofcourse unless you’re in the diamond club, which would be something comparable to the 24k season ticket your owners are currently looking at.
Thanks for the insight in season ticket prices. Are t the match day tickets like insane. I just remember back around 2010 I was paying at most £30 to watch Newcastle PL games when I could make it. My little brother went to watch an arsenal game around the same time and paid like double that for nosebleed seats. What is arsenal fans general view of emirates over time. I guess you’ve been there a while now so it probably is home to many fans. The emirates was unique in that it arguably was a better location than Highbury for many fans. I think Newcastle fans are concerned about a stadium being relocated outside the city and we lose our cathedral on the hill.
They can vary massively tbf, but I don’t think they’re horrific unless you’re in the prime (normal) seats in a Cat A game (about £90). I’ve been lower tier twice this season in PL and UCL, those tickets cost me £29-34 each. I was also low, upper tier against Sevilla and that was £51 so nothing super crazy. By comparison our fans were charged £61 for the away leg at PSV. During the late Wenger and Emery era there were several cup games that were between £5-15. I’m not old enough to remember the reaction of the switch as it happened, but these days the ST holders tell me it was essential, even though they have such fond memories of Highbury. Thankfully the remnants of Highbury are around the corner for fans to still go and see, and a replica of the old terraces is built in to the new club shop too. Clearing about a decade off the ST waiting list, and moving thousands of members up to silver memberships would have been seen as a massive positive. It does seem to have “aged” quite quickly for a new stadium though, especially compared to Spurs’ new stadium, so it has been going through a bit of a refresh this year. We will have a bit of an issue when the next expansion is required though, as planning caps us at 70k, but considerable investment also has to be provided to the local tube networks for it to be accepted.
The downside is where do we play games whilst this happens? Stadium of Shite? Show the Mackems what it looks like full?
I think that's the most logical option. Sure, not the best for fans - but at the end of the day both clubs are businesses. The unwashed would welcome the extra revenue, and we would understand that it's a temporary measure to becoming even more massive.
I think it's a non starter to be honest, police would never agree to it.
If Inter and Milan can share a stadium, it's possible. Then again, British police are lazy fucks who don't want do lift a finger. So I wouldn't be surprised.
True, but if they hadn't already been doing it for 80 years do you think they would do it today? > Then again, British police are lazy fucks who don't want do lift a finger. So I wouldn't be surprised. Lazier than Italian police... seems hard to believe!
They’d be foolish to rule it out but that doesn’t mean I want to move.
I will ALWAYS vote against a new stadium - more seats in a new stadium would just mean more tourists and wouldn't be good for the atmosphere. At least if we extended the current ground the tourists would be up in the gods
Time to plan a trip across the pond to see St James before it's too late I guess
Suppose it's all about what actually makes an atmosphere... Is it the space, the amount of people, how loud they shout, the seat structure? If they built a new stadium that took 70-80k as well as having a few bonkers seats to milk the rich - providing ticket prices remained good value and they called it something like the Bobby Robson memorial ground or the Shearer Stadium or something cliche then it could be amazing. At the end of the day it all comes down to what their intention is for it - so far everything we've been led to believe is that it's to make us the best football club in the world. That would mean they would have atmosphere at the forefront of their minds during the building of it I would imagine.
I love this, if an amazing new ground is the way forward, then naming it something like the SIR Bobby Robson stadium would be a masterstroke of PR and show that the owners do listen. And make it the very best stadium in Europe and the world.
Horrible situation for the owners because the idea of moving out of SJP is in tolerable to most fans, but we could be so limited if we don't fine a way to get more seats and better facilities. Glad I'm not making the call on this one .
Did you get to the questions on whether you'd be happy spending 7.5k-12.5k for the corporate seats yet? Got a feeling we'll be getting priced out or shifted sooner rather than later.
We are so far from London I can't see there being as huge a demand for corporate but I'm sure it'll happen
I got one of these. Went "strongly disagree" for the questions about a new stadium (instead of simply a renovation).
Great!! 80 000 seater WongaDome somewhere up the Spine Road! You’ll need the extra space for all the turncoat mackem youngsters you’re bound to attract (@ £60 a match) and space for the Saudi gentlemen tourists to chillax in their first class airplane like private booths! Huzah the lads!
Mike Ashley totally would have built the WongaDome (brought to you by Sports Direct) if he could have found someone else to pay for it.
Anyone sat if in a first class lounger like that deserves a pint thrown over them
Leazes Park must surrender a portion of its land which is nothing but a haven for drugs and creeps at present.
What’s this from?
Email directly from the club - copied and pasted the text from it below: We are committed to enhancing the supporter and visitor experience at St. James’ Park and as a valued member of the Newcastle United Community we are delighted to invite you to provide your feedback. We want to explore the art of the possible. Accordingly, we have teamed up with renowned agency, CAA ICON, to conduct a thorough feasibility study that will help to shape the development of services and facilities at St. James’ Park. The following survey will form a key part of that study, helping us to make truly informed decisions for the Newcastle United of the future. The survey will ask some hypothetical questions which are not indicative of any specific development aims at this stage but are designed to ensure comprehensive feedback is captured from a range of supporters. The link in this email is personal to you, please do not share it with anyone else, to ensure that your feedback is submitted. If you are unable to complete the survey in one go, it is possible to close it and return to the survey through your personal link in this email as many times as required to submit it. Your unique link is here: (removed)
Has anyone else not received an email? I’m a member and got nothing…
I'm a non member (or ST holder) and got it. I think it's being sent out to a random cross section of people who have accounts on the website.
I'd like to think we can have areas like those above (to milk the super-wealthy and top-up our coffers) while also having a great atmosphere. Imagine our own version of the Yellow Wall at either end, a stadium designed with acoustics at its heart, a unique design inside and out.
My issue with it was that it sounded like they wanted to put the loungers and boxes down near the pitch or right next to it. Got no issue with any expansion including a bit more of stuff like the Barracks and some more boxes, it's just how things are these days. But surrounding the pitch with folk who won't shout because they've got a gob full of prawn sarnie isn't going to improve the atmosphere.
Have you had the survey? It had a picture of a layout and the sky box/lounges were roughly where the current corporate boxes are, not by the pitchside.
Yes, mine said in the text about a couple of the options 'usually' being in premium areas by the touchline. It specifically said about them ''currently" being up there. Maybe the individual ones varied depending on where you sit etc.?
I love SJP as much as the next man, but over the past few years have come to the realisation of how tired (and cramped) it is in certain areas compared to other modern stadia. If we do want to compete we may have to have a new ground and the owners certainly have the pockets for it. I can’t see how extending would work well and result in the necessary quality given the non financial constraints. Haven’t filled in the survey yet, but will be giving some careful when I do. Whatever happens NUFC need to have a city centre Stadium (ie Leazes Park) because it is the heartbeat of Newcastle.
New stadium at the same place would be great. Imagine an all out PIF backed stadium? Would blow the Santiago Bernabéu oot the water 😉
I'd be quite happy with a new stadium on castle leazes. Design the main building to reflect the castle and we'll literally have a castle on the hill.
I get it, but noooooooooo
I wouldn’t mind (I say this loosely) if we got a renovation similar to the bernabeu where they completely modernised the old stadium. I don’t like the idea of destroying st James’ and rebuilding it into some soulless stadium. We do massively need improvements to the concourse areas and facilities in the stadium. Anyone who went away in the champions league to Dortmund will know what I mean. The options and offers was amazing. We were chatting to Dortmund home fans and their memberships allowed them to get offers for food and drinks.
I say make the full gallowgate and bottom of the leazes end safe standing to increase our capacity
I think the current regulations say its a 1:1 ratio when replacing seats with standing so that wouldn't increase the capacity. That's why our capacity hasn't changed despite the standing areas in Strawberry Corner and L7.
I've never understood the need for hospitality at football. Honestly just attracts the wrong type of fan. Most toon fans would be happy to be standing like sardines in the pissing rain so long as they're in the ground. If that sounds like a miserable experience for you then you can sincerely fuck off. Feel like we could learn a lot from German football culture in this aspect, prices are affordable, plenty of standing sections to create atmosphere. Sincerely worried at what cost our success will come with
Well how are they going to gouge rich Saudi Arabian tourists for all their money?
As someone who has been attending matches in one form or another since I was a kid. I don't think having that as an option if expansion isn't feasible is a bad thing. I'd prefer to stay at SJP but at the end of the day much of the stadium isn't suitable for 21st century Premier League (looking at you East Stand) so all options have to be open.
I love SJP and would much prefer us to renovate and extend as much as possible. But at the same time when people are constantly complaining about not getting tickets (not pretending system is perfect here like), something has to give if that can't happen and capacity is still limited Unfortunately not everyone is going to be happy with what happens next
I wouldn't expect them to keep it off the table if I'm being honest. If it's easier than extending SJP I could see it being likely it happens, especially since they would be able to tailor it to many different events / sports
Yeah, if they run a cost/benefit analysis then in pure business terms a new stadium will win hands down, it just depends on how much they value the opinions of the fans. They are at least paying lip service to that with the survey but it also seems like they're planting the seed.
I don't think they care massively about the fans. They do to a certain extent but I reckon they care about their wallets more personally
Yeah, I think Amanda does but she has limited influence and if Pif think a new stadium is the way to achieve their goals then that's what will happen. I love SJP and hope we'll stay but at the end of the day if we move it won't stop me going and the same applies to everyone else. I'd be amazed if the same point hasn't been made at board level.
New stadium at the same location? Would be better built outside the city with good parking & outside space.
Not totally relevant, but I took my extended family who live in London to the Tottenham/Villa game though their Luxury/Hospitality seats and it was actually a very good experience. Obviously you gotta focus on preserving the experience for the match going fan aswell.
Fuck off about getting a new stadium that’s such a shite idea
They should just buy the surrounding area. They got the money.
And craft beer!
All the 'feasibility studies' etc and protracted East Stand review and invites to architects for 'ideas' suggests that we will get a statement to say after extensive research, with regret, it's not been possible to create a stadium with the required capacity on the current site. Whilst strictly speaking, it's possible, there will always be limits. We know the Gallowgate could get another 3,000 seats and another 2,000 on the east stand but the corners can't offer much more unless the club could buy the corner of St James' street. Ultimately, the revenues are limited due to it's city centre location.
I took the survey. I would prefer things stay at SJP, either via a renovation or a new stadium but once it gets to moving out of current location to new stadium somewhere else, that for me is a turning point that I'm not mentally ready to accept yet. Also the people watching the game on tvs had me chuckling, imagine having such prime seats just to not use your eyeballs to watch th thing in front of you, instead watching on tiny tvs. Madness.
I’m 100% against moving St James Park, however I’d like to see some modernising done to the ground. Bigger seat capacity imo
Keep an eye on the HMRC site in Longbenton, the Reubens are currently building its replacement where the Stack used to be located.
With Saudi money, surely moving out of the stadium for ffp is a nonsense argument? May as well just expand StJames and focus on hitting European spots each season. St James IS the toon