TomYam

Juventus are in the strange situation of being the second most popular club in their city, struggle to get big attendances - and yet are by far the most popular and commercially successful club in Italy. Imagine Manchester United but with the attendances of West Brom: that is Juventus.

Newcastle only has one park in the city centre - and some people on this forum want to build a football stadium on it. Leazes Park is the oldest park in the city boundaries. It's Grade II listed and is in a Conservation Area. Leazes Terrace is Grade I listed building (the highest rank of national importance ) and is in a Conservation Area - some on this forum wish it be demolished or moved elsewhere.

Today, our natural attendance level is probably 55,000+. Next year (if we stay up), it'll probably be 60,000+. It should continue to increase as we grow on the national stage and attract international students and tourists, young kids from Basingstoke and Bury St Edmunds, aspiring fairweather fans and former Sunderland supporters. A successful, attractive Newcastle United playing in a magnificent stadium should manage 75,000 within a few years. Why would't we aim to accommodate those that want to attend?

So those who'd consider moving to a new stadium in an alternative city centre location are mad cunts and sick freaks? Perhaps a giant psychiatric unit should be built on Leazes Park - handy for the RVI and for any NUFC fans showing signs of objectivity. We're all emotionally invested in St.James's, but that shouldn't close our minds to the possibility of change.

I seem to have a very different viewpoint to many on this thread. Let me state first that if there is one thing I love more than Newcastle United, it's the city of Newcastle upon Tyne. The city's heritage matters - even if you think our Listed Buildings and parks don't affect your life, they do....and your children and your children's children. I love my beautiful city and I'll be damned if anyone wants to level Leazes Park (the only central one) or Leazes Terrace....or, for that matter, Grey Street or The High Level Bridge. We've lost too much already (Handyside and Royal Arcades, King Charles House, Corn Exchange, etc). Enough. I'm 55 and went to my first match in 1972/3. I'd embrace a move from St.James's Park - SO LING AS IT REMAINS IN THE CITY CENTRE. If the site is still available (and I'm sure it could be), then I believe the Arena site is perfect. A stadium of about 75,000 would be ideal and fit this site snugly. It could sit spectacularly overlooking The Tyne with landscaped access from the West Quayside and Scotswood Road. Infrastructure is excellent, being a short walk from Central Station. There is a disused rail viaduct that could be renovated for train/metro/pedestrian use. There is plenty of brownfield/industrial/tertiary land available immediately westward. Possible training pitches, hospitality and community projects. Affordable homes, too. Such investment in this area on the edge of the city centre would have enormous economic and social benefits to the inner west of the city. Transformational. We need to embrace change that is to the enhancement, not detriment, of Newcastle. I'm not averse to a Gallowgate extension and an improved stadium of, say, 58,000. I just believe that would simply be adequate, conservative, insubstantial. This club can do and be more - it can effect great positive change. I'd like to see the present stadium demolished and incorporated into an extended Leazes Park, while a new state-of-the-art stadium of 75,000 should be built a mile to the west.