Stifler

This. At the same time as our takeover was being blocked, the American owners in the Premier League tried to gain total control of football in England through project big picture, and then a few months later tried to breakaway to the ESL. Absolute fuck all gets mentioned about either of those both in the media, and by fans of those clubs. We are not far away from having a closed Premier League with only 18 teams. Want to bet that when they go ahead with it, they find reasons to deduct massive amounts of points from certain clubs in the final season that has relegation?

Piracy was actually resolved long before the takeover was complete. BeoutQ had stopped broadcasting months, if not years earlier. BeinQ was being broadcast in the country again, they even had direct BeinQ staff in Saudi Arabia for months leading up to the takeover. Diplomatic relations had resolved between the 2 countries, with the border even opening up, and compensation was agreed well in advance. It was everything to do with the CAT case. The Premier League lost their case to disbar evidence on the grounds of it’s sensitivity to the public.

Yeah.

I refuse to believe this. The Premier League lost the challenge on having evidence that they did not want used or publicised from being shown the Friday before. This also meant that they were likely to lose the CAT case regardless of the BeinQ piracy case, and that the takeover would have to be approved. They fast tracked the approval so that the evidence was not shown in court, and therefor not released to the public, then made a big song and dance about everything else that it was supposedly about.

The Premier League asked for certain evidence not to be used, because if it was, it would be shown to the public. it is widely accepted that this related to communication between the Premier League, and the cartel clubs saying they didn’t want the takeover to be approved, but also that the Premier League were way more involved in the project big picture, and the ESL talks than they made out to be.

Arsenal are wanting to expand to 80k.

That’s down to Spurs, and Levy not being able to see it from the common man’s perspective. Also the fact that they are doing shit is more down to him sacking every manager since getting to the Champions League final, and hiring managers who are known to have a limited shelf life.

Yeah. Everton’s takeover was obviously put on the line by the Premier League. Wolves fell for them saying they won’t apply it retrospectively, forgetting that if they do then this would both open up a can of worms in itself legally, and also that at least 1 red top would be skewed if they did.

Aye, I was looking at our average attendances recently, and I think there is only 2 seasons in our history where we are below the average attendance for the league we were playing in. I also think that was at the height of hooligan problem. All the other seasons we were above average. It’s not bad considering the ownerships we have had in the past, and aside from brief spells in the 50’s and 20’s, we’ve not been a successful team. You can only go back so far until you start hitting cut numbers in attendances due to cash going straight into people’s pockets, fans sneaking in without paying, and people on the turnstiles just letting in their friends. I know this applies to all clubs as well, and it means the average would also go up, but it just goes to show that demand largely has always been there. SJP increasing in capacity to 52k just changed things to another level. The fact is, Newcastle is, and always has been a football city.

In all fairness, Castle Leazes Hall is being demolished for a student village. The flats on Barrack Road are a disgrace for living standards in 2024. It would be much better that they were replaced with mixed use units (retail/hospitality on the ground floor, residential on the upper floors). Matchday, and events would bring much more footfall to that area, as well as a bigger influx in residents, and students. Even at the SOL, it is changing, with permanent facilities being constructed around the stadium, and ones that are not matchday dependant. I believe some of it is residential/student accommodation, with other outlets. There are 2 new pedestrian bridges being built, one going Sheepfolds, which has just been converted into a hospitality venue. Another will go directly to Sunderland centre, passing the new buildings they are building on the river bank.

I can understand your concerns about leaving SJP, legitimate concerns. Losing that historic bond, having a period of time where the atmosphere in a new ground would need to be generated etc. I can see all your reasons to be honest, and I’ll not argue against those. Even myself, there are lot of musts that we require before I’d be ok with a move. However I fail to see arguments of saying we don’t need such an increase in capacity. We honestly do. We have 100k members, we have at least 40k people on top of season ticket holders trying to get into each match. Some fans have already been shoved out for corporate, and with a 100 company waiting list for boxes, only more people will be moved on. We also do have to acknowledge PSR. Arsenal are on about increasing their capacity to 80k, with more corporate facilities. Birmingham City have just announced that they want to build a 62k capacity stadium. Liverpool have rebuilt 3 stands of their ground in recents years, and will no doubt do the final stand soon. Aston Villa will finalise their plans for Villa Park improvements, Man Utd will end up with their 90k-100k capacity toilet bowl, Everton are about to move into their new stadium, and Man City are currently expanding theirs. Football as a whole is becoming more popular, and more in demand, heck we have nothing clubs like Crystal Palace needing to expand to fit in supporters.

What we should do is free those people up as corner flags, then tell Matt Ritchie that he’s scored a goal.

Looks like Sam Fender is going to be playing at SJP again.

I was one of the ones who gave up my season ticket when Rafa left out of what I thought would be best for the club (people are free to different on that view). This season, the Leicester match is the first match that I’ll be able to attend because of the demand for tickets. I am resigned that I’ll now never be able to get a season ticket alongside a friend, or any kids I might have. If we are ran in the right way, demand will only increase. A new stadium with a much bigger capacity is likely the only way I’d be able to take future little Stiflers to the match, or get a season ticket for us together.

The council don’t own it, the Freeman of the city own it. The council are in charge of managing it, and they passed that on to a company to manage, and they did such a poor job of it, that they ended up pulling the contract from them. The council won’t be able to object to any planning application that they have no legal objection too. If they did, it would go to central government to make a decision on when it is appealed. Leazes Park being a protected park doesn’t automatically rule out development of it. My opinion is that the majority of it will be built on Castle Leazes (which isn’t protected), with a little encroachment on Leazes Park. Where SJP is will be turned into an extension of Leazes Park, with a wide walkway leading from Strawberry Place, to the stadium. The entrance of which will likely house the old SJP gates. The stack will be taken away, and a permanent fan park facility will be built, with better access to SJP Metro station.

24/7, with personnel dragging passers-by into the store and forcing them to spend their money. It will also sell alcohol so that Paul Mitchell can have a pint as his wife drags him around shopping.

The way they actually said it though made it seem like it was close, very close, I think outside of those quotations, they actually said that as well. They certainly gave the impression that it was. The written word doesn’t have the same delivery as the spoken word.

I really think we are talking Castle Leazes, with a little encroachment on Leazes Park here. If it wasn’t for the fact that Dolly would now be outside the SOL gaining signatures against it, then I think they would have told us last night that this is where it’s going to be. Right now though they need to be crossing the T’s, and dotting the I’s and make sure everyone, even politically the will to do it.

Yeah, the lot more seats bit give you an indication on capacity. Let’s assume a SJP renovation gives us the minimum of a 60k capacity. A lot more seats really does look like we would be aiming for at least an 80k capacity stadium.

I forgot to mention, on the event last night, they said that the Metrocentre store will be opening next week.

We need 7 clubs.

He was alright man. When he got into what he does etc, he seemed pretty good, but the light hearted stuff he said needs to be taken for what it was, light hearted stuff to ease people’s feelings.

Get to fuck. My voice isn’t as deep as I’d like it to be, but it’s not like the dog whistle he has. Additionally I grow a pretty decent beard, unlike the flour dust off a loaf bread that he grows.

Yes there has, but I don’t think what has been said is false. At the end of the day, if they turn around and try to put it at the Racecourse, then fans will not stand for it. If it’s at Castle Leazes/Leazes Park, fans will accept it.

I don’t disagree, but the thing is that now fans are changing their tune from the initial consultation 18 months back.