manorpark

They own the plot at the bottom of Pilgrim St where the old Bank of England building was and much of the derelict land around it. Not sure if they own all the way up to the container park. The own The Stack. It is temporary until they finalise plans for the site. The Reubens own a very large area of the City Centre. That area is known as the "East Pilgrim Street (EPS) Development Area" and covers all of the City Centre from Carliol House down to 55 Degrees North, and from Pilgrim Street eastwards to the Central Motorway East (CME). This is the area shown here, within the red line . . . Nice. It could do with being regenerated. Everything east of Monument is a bit meh imo Yes, they had acquired most of this area by 2007, when the Economic Crisis started (the "Credit Crunch" as it was initially called) and this slowed things down to a dead stop, for quite a few years, hence the appearance of decline and decay in that particular area of the City Centre. This year a number of significant developments within EPS have been approved, and you would have seen a LOT of new construction and re-furbishment of some existing quality buildings happening this year. What will actually happen this year, due to the disruption to the construction industry caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic, remains to be seen.

They own the plot at the bottom of Pilgrim St where the old Bank of England building was and much of the derelict land around it. Not sure if they own all the way up to the container park. The own The Stack. It is temporary until they finalise plans for the site. The Reubens own a very large area of the City Centre. That area is known as the "East Pilgrim Street (EPS) Development Area" and covers all of the City Centre from Carliol House down to 55 Degrees North, and from Pilgrim Street eastwards to the Central Motorway East (CME). This is the area shown here, within the red line . . .

I thought it was 200 million including infrastructure improvements. £200m is the figure they gave to the Premier League, as part of the "fit and proper test" to get their purchase of the club approved. Lets put it this way . . . "they are very, very, unlikely to be planning to restrict themselves to that arbitrary figure". It was just given because they needed to give a figure, it is meaningless !!!

None of them will have the slightest clue who he is. Except maybe Mandy, if she was writing letters to Stifler, I suppose it's possible she might swap convivial texts with Wraith. NO CHANCE . . Mandy is a "one Stiffler" gal !!

Importantly - £200M is the figure we hear they have put into their submission to the Premier League. I don't think that figure means anything at all, other than it is "what they put in the necessary documentation". I mean, they are not going to TELL the Premier League that they are going to spend over the FFP limits . . are they !!!

Not sure what you mean by "not sold" ?? Everything is signed, sealed and delivered by both sides of the deal, and is legally binding, as legal experts have confirmed. It is fully and completely SOLD - All we are waiting on is the Premier Leagues approval of the (already) new owners !!!

That is exactly what the 1997 plans were . . . Newcastle United FC : New Stadium Plans. No. 1 - The 1997 Proposals . . . There have been many proposals over the years (and over the centuries!) for Newcastle United Football Club to either build a new stadium at St James' Park, or to build a new stadium elsewhere. These various proposals are clearly ideal "Newcastle as it might have been" articles, for inclusion on this thread. Just to be different, this time I thought I would start with the most recent set of unrealised plans, and work my way backwards. So, here is No. 1 . . . the 1997 proposals to build a new stadium a few hundred yards away from St James' Park, on "Castle Leazes Moor". To get a CLEAR idea of where this stadium was to be built. At the top of this aerial photo, Castle Leazes Moor and St James' Park, can both be seen . . http://www.freemenofnewcastle.com/images/MoorsNorthWestLarge.jpg Here are the clubs plans (seen from above) for the new stadium on Castle Leazes Moor on the left, with the (St James' Park cut-in-half) St James' Centre, shown on the right . . http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/manorpark_photos/NewcastleUnitedFC-1997NewGroundPlan.jpg A view of the proposed new stadium, at the 'South East' corner, nearest to Leazes Park lake . . http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/manorpark_photos/NewcastleUnitedFC-1997NewGroundP-6.jpg Another view of the proposed 'Castle Leazes Moor' stadium . . http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/manorpark_photos/NewcastleUnitedFC-1997NewGroundP-5.jpg This sketch shows the proposed 'Leazes Way' walkway through the enlarged Leazes Park, that would have lead from the new "St James Centre" (proposed indoor stadium on site of St James Park) to the new stadium on Castle Leazes Moor . . http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/manorpark_photos/NewcastleUnitedFC-1997NewGroundP-2.jpg Another sketch of the proposed stadium, from Leazes park . . http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/manorpark_photos/NewcastleUnitedFC-1997NewGroundP-1.jpg The "ST JAMES' CENTRE" . . . was an important part of the overall plan. This was to be an indoor stadium on the site of the current St James' Park. The South Stand and South West corner would remain as they were, the East and Milburn stands would be demolished, and the Sir John Hall stand and corners would be dismantled and re-erected closer to the remaining 'South Stand', to form the indoor stadium . . as shown, with the building over Strawberry Place linking to the 'new build' over St James' Park Metro Station . . http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/manorpark_photos/NewcastleUnitedFC-1997NewGroundP-4.jpg One of the envisaged advantages of the 'reduced size' St James' Park/Centre, to the immediate area, would be the extended Leazes Park, as shown here where it is overlooked by Leazes Terrace, at the point where the demolished 'East Stand' used to be . . http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/manorpark_photos/NewcastleUnitedFC-1997NewGroundP-3.jpg Now, the above plans and proposals, in the clubs own words at the time, from their "Newcastle United Football Club VISION STATEMENT" . . . http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/manorpark_photos/7thMarch2010.jpg http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/manorpark_photos/NewcastleUnited1997VISION.jpg http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/manorpark_photos/NewcastleUnited1997VISION001.jpg http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/manorpark_photos/NewcastleUnited1997VISION002.jpg http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/manorpark_photos/NewcastleUnited1997VISION003.jpg

Very much so, Newcastle as a City has a very proud record of fighting against racism, as is revealed in Brian Ward’s 2017 book "Martin Luther King in Newcastle upon Tyne" about the African American Freedom Struggle and Race Relations in the North East of England. This great book formed the foundation of Newcastle’s Freedom City 2017 celebrations – a city-wide event marking the 50th anniversary of Dr King’s visit and the region’s extensive connections with the African American freedom struggle. http://freedomcity2017.com/ https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/about-us/news-events/news/martin-luther-king-newcastle-visit-remembered-on-anniversary-of-his-birth/

Should have called him out on it, two train stations. How many rail stations are there in Newcastle? 21 stations, as far as I can work out, 19 of which are Metro Stations.

'Every penny generated' "I can not and will not"

That's why the Daily Star is still in circulation. True, so true.

With luck, we will soon have Rafa's know-how AND some decent money to spend and ambition (at the top of the club) to achieve success.

Commercial Union House (CU House) which extends over Pilgrim Street next to where the Odeon was, was indeed due to be removed this year. I think that is the building you mean, Stifleaay? However, one of the many COVID-19 delays might mean this may not happen until next year, or even later. The Pearl Assurance Building, while it is within the EPS area, is not going to be touched at all, there are no plans involving it.

Totally, I can see why they would want in, not why the 80% stakeholders would want them in. I’m genuinely more happy that they’re involved tbh. East Pilgrim Street is in need of being totally revamped - and I fucking hate Stack. Not got a problem with that but that doesn't explain why the majority owner (getting ahead of myself) would let them in. Was there not discussions between Staveley and the Reubens first? Perhaps they then brought in PIF who wanted more control/say/willing to put more money in? Hmm. It’s fun for a bit, I can’t get my head around people who queue to get in mind, when there’s literally hundreds of other drinking holes! Yeah but the money calls the shots and I just wondered why the money would keep the Ruebens in there.......and I wouldn't queue up for Stack as much as I like it, particularly in winter. The Reubens "EPS" plans have barely started yet, Stack is a temporary infil, but there is at least ten years of re-development work to happen in the EPS area of the City Centre. I reckon that will just be "for starters", with the Reubens and Saudis getting actively involved in the City Centre and around the rest of Newcastle.

The Reuben Brothers have many interests in Newcastle, they own a very large part of the City Centre (the "East Pilgrim Street" development area) and I think they wish to expand this further, so owning a stake in the football club of that City (which happens to also one of the UKs most famous clubs) is a no-brainer really. It will be great to have them owning part of the club.

I posted earlier in this thread. The place the ground was moving to in 1997 was "Castle Leazes", an area of the Town Moor, not Leazes Park. https://www.newcastle-online.org/forum/index.php?topic=36257.msg7165509#msg7165509

Rafa became part of this club's 'fabric' when he was here, you could see that and hear that in everything he did and said. To my mind he has NEVER actually left. He has only gone away on a sabbatical, while the things that should have been sorted out while he was here . . get sorted out, as they are about to be. "Normal service will be resumed" . . .

Since 2007 the Reuben Brothers have owned all the buildings in a very large area of the City Centre. The area in question has (since the 2007 project started) become known as "EPS" (East Pilgrim Street) and when it is finished it will result in a new VERY high quality area of the City Centre, from Carliol House down to Swan House (55 Degrees North Flats) and as far East as the CME (Central Motorway East). Within EPS most of the older pre-existing buildings of a decent quality will be retained, refurbished, extended (where necessary) and new uses will be found for them. In other cases (as shown in the above-linked newspaper article) a building can be demolished and replaced. Demolition has already happened in the case of the following buildings . . The Bank of England, Norham House, Watson House, and Odeon Cinema. No replacement buildings have yet been built, as the whole EPS development was slowed down by the economic crash of 2007, though some temporary buildings ("The Stack" containers) are on the Norham House/Watson House/Odeon corner site, for the next few years. Planning has been approved for many parts of EPS, one being the area shown in the above-linked newspaper article, and (Coronavirus allowing!!) large amounts of construction are/were due to start soon this year. We have been closely following the Reuben Brothers EPS development since 2008 (one year after it started) over on the "Newcastle Forum of SkyscraperCity", on (what is now) a VERY long thread, with 2,235 posts on it !!! Here is a LINK to the EPS Thread on there, you may be best to 'join' the site to see it at its best . . . https://www.skyscrapercity.com/threads/eps-east-pilgrim-street-newcastle-various-u-c.530131/unread

Gradual improvement.

They are "almost established" as a genuine Third Division Club. Shortly, no-one will be saying that they shouldn't be down there, as they will have fully become a club of that level. Financially, these days I do not see how they could ever afford to get any higher ever again than the very occasional (short) stay near the bottom of the 2nd Division, then back down again. Basically, after this season as they face another empty season in the third division, we can say (as my Sat-Nav does) . . "You have reached your destination"

HERE is the THIRD of my Skyscraper City posts on this subject, covering ALL THE OTHER different "plans and proposals" for St James' Park, over the years . . . Newcastle United FC : New Stadium Plans. No. 3 - Various Proposals 1921 to 1997 . . . This is the THIRD in the series on Newcastle United's "Newcastle as it might have been" proposals. The first two in the series covered (in detail) the 1997 proposals (Part One) and the 1972 Proposals (Part Two). This third (and final) part, covers "all the other plans" that were proposed (but did NOT happen) starting in 1921 (29 years after Newcastle "United" first played at St James' Park) right up until 1997. So, off we go . . . 1 - 1921. Some reports state these plans come from '1929', but the majority state 1921. The first item (below) is a newspaper article from the Evening Chronicle of September 8th 1982, and actually (also) contains some details of some 'later' plans for the ground, from 1967. These plans are covered in detail later in this post . . http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/manorpark_photos/StJamesPark1921and1967Plans.jpg http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/manorpark_photos/StJamesPark1921Plans-1.jpg 2 - 1964. T Dan Smith and Newcastle City Council, were the instigators of this next set of proposals. His vision was of a "multi-sports complex', with Newcastle United Football Club at its centre. The club never really bought into this idea, and the below designs (though sometimes said to be the multi-sports' plans) were produced at the clubs behest in 1964, ignoring the councils 'multi-sports' ideas . . http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/manorpark_photos/StJamesPark1964Plans-1.jpg 3 - 1967. Only a few years later in 1967, the 'multi-sports' idea again raised its head. A £2.6M scheme was devised that would have provided a football ground with a capacity of 63,000 spectators. The cost (though to be shared between the club, the City and the University) was seen by the club as too high, and amid disputes and talk of the club re-locating to Gosforth Park, the whole thing fell through . . http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/manorpark_photos/StJamesPark1967Plan.jpg http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/manorpark_photos/StJamesPark1967Plan1-1.jpg http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/manorpark_photos/StJamesPark1967Plan2.jpg 4 - 1972. Full details of the "1972" proposals, were given in PART TWO of this series. See the below post . . POST 280 - https://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=53665235&postcount=280 5 - 1976. The 1972 proposals (as shown on the above post 280) eventually came to nothing, apart from the construction of the 'East Stand' in 1973. In 1976 it was again proposed to 'extend the East Stand' around the corner into the (then) Leazes End. The old Leazes End roof and the back part of the standing area ('kop') were demolished to facilitate the below plans. Despite the demolition, none of the below extension was ever built . . http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/manorpark_photos/StJamesPark1976Plans.jpg 6 - 1989. These are the first set of plans prepared by John Hall, as part of his plans to 'take over' the club. He produced three different options in 1989 . . http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/manorpark_photos/StJamesParkPlans1989Plans.jpg http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/manorpark_photos/StJamesParkPlans1989Plans1.jpg http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/manorpark_photos/StJamesParkPlans1989Plans2.jpg http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/manorpark_photos/StJamesParkPlans1989Plans3.jpg The next diagram (below) appears to be 'a slightly different version' of the cross-section in Option Three (as shown above) but now sporting the Magpie Group Logo (top centre) . . http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/manorpark_photos/StJamesPark1989PlansMagpieGroupvers.jpg 7 - 1990. In the face of John Halls re-development plans, the old Gordon McKeag led board (still very much in control of the club at that point) came up with their own SJP re-development proposals. Their plans (shown below) had an estimated cost of £16.5M and a planned capacity of 40,000 - yet they knew that they couldn't afford it! The planned 'Share Issue' had flopped, but they still published their plans . . http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/manorpark_photos/StJamesPark1990McKeagPlans001.jpg 8 - 1991. While John Hall (Magpie Group) and Gordon McKeag (the old Board) vied with eachother to produce re-development plans for the ground, the City Council suddenly got involved again, with some VERY expensive and dramatic proposals, costing in the region of £100M and eating into part of Leazes Park. City Architect, Trevor Skemptons design was in fact a 'giant amphitheatre', incorporating a shopping mall, office complex, car parking and a theatre. A huge 'hydraulic' sliding screen would separate the football ground area from the theatre area at the Leazes End (projecting outwards into Leazes Park) producing a flexible football ground capacity of between 30,000 and 80,000 and 'indoor' concerts, stage plays and sports like 'boxing' would have an audience of as low as 20,000. A spectacular and expensive (but perhaps impractical) addition to the list of proposed SJP developments . . http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/manorpark_photos/StJamesPark1991CityArch100MPlans.jpg http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/manorpark_photos/StJamesPark1991CityArch100MPlans1.jpg 9 - 1996. Designed by architect Michael Gilfillan, this proposal shows a design for a new ground for NUFC away from St James' Park, and (more importantly) on the 'Gateshead' side of the river. These plans are likely to have been part of the overall tactics by the club to get the City Council on their side for their imminent (1997) proposals to build a new stadium on Castle Leazes Moor . . http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/manorpark_photos/StJamesPark1996Plans.jpg 10 - 1997. Full details of the "1997" proposals, were given in PART ONE of this series. See the below two posts . . POST 218 - https://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=53090947&postcount=218 POST 272 - https://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=53470089&postcount=272 So, there we have it . . . TEN different sets of Newcastle United Stadium Plans, that NEVER happened! I wonder if the above is now the "definitive" collection of ALL of the 'abandoned proposals' for major revamps of SJP or moves to new grounds, that NUFC have ever made over the years? It may well be . . . UNLESS you know different??

Here are the earlier plans for St James' Park, from 1972 . . . Newcastle United FC : New Stadium Plans. No. 2 - The 1972 Proposals . . . NB - Part 1, 1997, can be seen HERE : https://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=53090947&postcount=218 and also HERE : https://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=53470089&postcount=272 In 1972 we were presented with a detailed and comprehensive set of proposals to demolish the entire ground, and rebuild a 'uniform stand' (seats upstairs with standing in front) all the way around the ground. Effectively, what was being proposed in 1972, was to build (what became the following year) the new East Stand all the way around St James Park, looking the same architecturally from outside as well as in, with some possible differences in the 'West Stand' area. Here is the full set of "as it might have been" proposals, from 1972 . . . http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/manorpark_photos/1972PlansforStJamesPark-1.jpg http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/manorpark_photos/1972PlansforStJamesPark001.jpg http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/manorpark_photos/1972PlansforStJamesPark002.jpg http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/manorpark_photos/1972PlansforStJamesPark003.jpg http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/manorpark_photos/1972PlansforStJamesPark004.jpg http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/manorpark_photos/1972PlansforStJamesPark005.jpg http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/manorpark_photos/1972PlansforStJamesPark007.jpg http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/manorpark_photos/1972PlansforStJamesPark008.jpg http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/manorpark_photos/1972PlansforStJamesPark009.jpg http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/manorpark_photos/1972PlansforStJamesPark010.jpg http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/manorpark_photos/1972PlansforStJamesPark011.jpg http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/manorpark_photos/1972PlansforStJamesPark012.jpg Then, when we all assembled for the start of the 72/73 season on 12th August 1972, this was the front cover of our "new style" Match Programme . . http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/manorpark_photos/Season72-73EastStandopens.jpg Inside the programme, the state of play with the development was explained . . http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/manorpark_photos/Season72-73EastStandopens001.jpg AS history shows, it was only the 'East Stand' of these proposals, that was ever built, and it didn't even cover the full length of the old Popular Side. The rest of these proposals were quietly dropped, which was later said to be because of lack of money.

The new 1997 Stadium proposals were for the "Castle Leazes" area of the Town Moor NOT for Leazes Park !!! Newcastle United FC : New Stadium Plans. No. 1 - The 1997 Proposals . . . There have been many proposals over the years (and over the centuries!) for Newcastle United Football Club to either build a new stadium at St James' Park, or to build a new stadium elsewhere. These various proposals are clearly ideal "Newcastle as it might have been" articles, for inclusion on this thread. Just to be different, this time I thought I would start with the most recent set of unrealised plans, and work my way backwards. So, here is No. 1 . . . the 1997 proposals to build a new stadium a few hundred yards away from St James' Park, on "Castle Leazes Moor". To get a CLEAR idea of where this stadium was to be built. At the top of this aerial photo, Castle Leazes Moor and St James' Park, can both be seen . . http://www.freemenofnewcastle.com/images/MoorsNorthWestLarge.jpg Here are the clubs plans (seen from above) for the new stadium on Castle Leazes Moor on the left, with the (St James' Park cut-in-half) St James' Centre, shown on the right . . http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/manorpark_photos/NewcastleUnitedFC-1997NewGroundPlan.jpg A view of the proposed new stadium, at the 'South East' corner, nearest to Leazes Park lake . . http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/manorpark_photos/NewcastleUnitedFC-1997NewGroundP-6.jpg Another view of the proposed 'Castle Leazes Moor' stadium . . http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/manorpark_photos/NewcastleUnitedFC-1997NewGroundP-5.jpg This sketch shows the proposed 'Leazes Way' walkway through the enlarged Leazes Park, that would have lead from the new "St James Centre" (proposed indoor stadium on site of St James Park) to the new stadium on Castle Leazes Moor . . http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/manorpark_photos/NewcastleUnitedFC-1997NewGroundP-2.jpg Another sketch of the proposed stadium, from Leazes park . . http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/manorpark_photos/NewcastleUnitedFC-1997NewGroundP-1.jpg The "ST JAMES' CENTRE" . . . was an important part of the overall plan. This was to be an indoor stadium on the site of the current St James' Park. The South Stand and South West corner would remain as they were, the East and Milburn stands would be demolished, and the Sir John Hall stand and corners would be dismantled and re-erected closer to the remaining 'South Stand', to form the indoor stadium . . as shown, with the building over Strawberry Place linking to the 'new build' over St James' Park Metro Station . . http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/manorpark_photos/NewcastleUnitedFC-1997NewGroundP-4.jpg One of the envisaged advantages of the 'reduced size' St James' Park/Centre, to the immediate area, would be the extended Leazes Park, as shown here where it is overlooked by Leazes Terrace, at the point where the demolished 'East Stand' used to be . . http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/manorpark_photos/NewcastleUnitedFC-1997NewGroundP-3.jpg Now, the above plans and proposals, in the clubs own words at the time, from their "Newcastle United Football Club VISION STATEMENT" . . . http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/manorpark_photos/7thMarch2010.jpg http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/manorpark_photos/NewcastleUnited1997VISION.jpg http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/manorpark_photos/NewcastleUnited1997VISION001.jpg http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/manorpark_photos/NewcastleUnited1997VISION002.jpg http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/manorpark_photos/NewcastleUnited1997VISION003.jpg

Completely agree with all of that, well said.

This period of "no news" is the very best thing that could be happening. It means one of two things . . . (1) Work on the Takeover is proceeding through its various stages, as during that period of negotiation neither party would be saying anything at all . . like now ! or (2) Nothing at all is happening, as it was all "made up". Either way, this quiet period will END, and then (and only then) will anything that means anything (ie not media know-nothing speculation) be said, and we will then KNOW the answer. Until then, we should all just relax and wait !!!