Should we stay or should we go?

[Keegans Export]

13 minutes ago, OpenC said:

We've had that before, was canny popular  why is that easier somewhere else?  Because it doesn't have history as SJP so it's easier to just call it the WongaDome from the outset?

 

 

Essentially yeah! I assume it would probably attract a larger sum than if we were to sponsor and existing stadium but I'm just speculating.

 

I'd say the main reason there was so much resistance to the previous attempt at sponsoring SJP was who was doing it and knowing that the proceeds would ultimately line his pockets rather than the clubs'!

[OpenC]

Aye, absolutely. I don't suppose there would have been as much objection to the Rolex Arena or Porsche Park or SelaField  and I'm not convinced there would be now but I don't really know

[Abacus]

I guess the other thing is that not many sponsors would pay to take the flak for renaming a historic stadium. I guess it's why mainly new stadiums have it from the outset.

[Guest]

Stay (Existing Season ticket holder)

Stay (Non-Season ticket holder with no intention of going to many games)

Stay (Non-Season ticket holder wishing to attend more games/have a Season ticket)

Leave (Existing Season ticket holder)

Leave (Non-Season ticket holder with no intention of going to many games)

Leave (Non-Season ticket holder wishing to attend more games/have a Season ticket)

 

Would be an interesting poll.

[healthyaddiction]

I used to always be in the stay at St James' camp. But with all the PSR stuff recently, it's made me think we'll never reach the top without a new custom built stadium. It's another negative of PSR really. Clubs have to trade away their heritage and price out their die hard supporters to try and squeeze every penny they can.

[wormy]

Stay if a 65k expansion can happen. I think in the longer term that will be sufficient. I dare say some overestimate just how much capacity we'll need once the novelty has worn off if we become genuinely successful. Not to mention when you factor in inevitable price hikes that will unfortunately price some out (although I'd love that not to happen).

 

I have no knowledge from a commercial perspective but I don't really understand why the stadium can't house better match day facilities? Obviously it may not be Spurs level but surely there's more than enough scope to improve existing offerings?

 

I can understand hosting certain events may be more impractical than elsewhere but I'd be interested to hear from smarter people from me exactly how much of a loss that would be. 

[Ben]

Me (48) go

 

Son (19) 100% stay 

[Sibierski]

Voted stay, but that was on basis of new build on adjacent location. I like where it’s situated currently. 

[Lazarus]

I understand all the arguments for building a new stadium but I would prefer to stay.

 

Also, if we did build, and the big 4/6 left to join their superleague, what happens then?

[Pablo]

51 minutes ago, wormy said:

Stay if a 65k expansion can happen. I think in the longer term that will be sufficient. I dare say some overestimate just how much capacity we'll need once the novelty has worn off if we become genuinely successful. Not to mention when you factor in inevitable price hikes that will unfortunately price some out (although I'd love that not to happen).

 

I have no knowledge from a commercial perspective but I don't really understand why the stadium can't house better match day facilities? Obviously it may not be Spurs level but surely there's more than enough scope to improve existing offerings?

 

I can understand hosting certain events may be more impractical than elsewhere but I'd be interested to hear from smarter people from me exactly how much of a loss that would be. 

If we stay then I expect large increases in season ticket prices once the 10 / 14 year deal ends, possibly pricing out some of the loyal fan base. PSR requires every penny to be squeezed out of us, or we remain an upper mid table team.

 

if we move to a super stadium, possibly 80k, perhaps the level 7/8/9(?) seats could be kept at a low price point, similar to how Barcelona use to operate at Camp Neu. I get the view is worse but at least the less affluent could still have a means to be a match goer. Those seats could be subsidised by higher price points for the seats with a better view and the corporate and hospitality sections which we could expand.

 

I’ve always heard that NUFC has the best and most loyal fan base. I therefore challenge that 65k is sufficient if we become elite and develop a global fan base. Even at present many thousands are locked out with circa 70,000 members struggling to get tickets.

[Sibierski]

One of the positives of a new build whilst we’ve got Saudi money, is you’d hope the stadium would be mean debt free for club. Whereas, most of times, it would be saddled on the club which has restraints for what can be done on the pitch for multiple years till debt is cleared.

[Coffee_Johnny]

Went stay, as 65k seems reasonable. Not averse to a move though dependent what and where. A new Spurs jobby on the Arena site could be amazing. 

[NE27]

Voted stay but that would be totally dependant on what/how they feel they could better St James'. Interested to see what the feasibility reports have came back with and what the club propose.

 

If the move was just up the way from the current site, I wouldn't mind either way if we stayed or moved.

 

Moving out of town is a solid no from me.

[Colos Short and Curlies]

Naming rights is probably the biggest commercial driver to moving.

 

City get £21.5m a year+ for their stadium (that was 2019), Arsenal £16m in the same year.

Even allowing for FMV you'd expect £10m for the first 2 years and then assuming we became established top 6 stick another £5m on that.

 

SJP won't get the same value

[duo]

Be interesting to know the % of who voted Stay / Go are Season Ticket holders / Non Season ticket holders. 

 

For full disclosure I voted stay and am season ticket holder.

[Mag_in_NZ]

Stay - this is my heart and St James has so many memories (good and bad) and as others have said the feeling is the place is intrinsic to the club we love

 

Go - the obvious expansion, increased revenue potential and overall growth of the club (and hopefully easier to get tickets when I come home ?) but as others have said would have to be city centre otherwise it just becomes a remote, likely bland operational base

 

Voted to move but really don’t know if that’s what I would want ?

 

any of you lads/lasses coming to Aussie?

[Dokko]

Go. Won't disrupt our current income, no faffing trying to make the stadium fit the constraints of the environment. Start again, don't have to build on imperfections. Huge capacity and naming rights.

[RS]

I’m voting staying. Which is pretty lucky as that’s what our owners plan is as well. 

[sushimonster85]

2 minutes ago, RS said:

I’m voting staying. Which is pretty lucky as that’s what our owners plan is as well. 

 

Pretty sure no long term decision has been taken either way. Or if it has they haven't communicated it yet. 

[Dr Jinx]

Someone explained quite well recently that stadium naming rights isn’t quite as big as you’d think.. it certainly wouldn’t be a main reason for leaving or rebuilding.

 

If they really had their best minds on it.. building some sort of massive multi purpose development all in the name of the club would be the way to go.

 

Hotel, Conference Centre, Event venue (15k+ capacity), offices, casino and of course a new shiny massive football stadium.

 

Thays how the club could be earning money all year round that would dwarf chasing around for sponsorship deals that are never going to get us close to those who have an unfair head start on us.

 

Do PIF or the Reubens want to achieve something that big? Remains to be seen.

[McDog]

I didn't vote because as an international fan it isn't my place to say what should be done. It's very easy for me to say "Go" and build a Wembley of the North East but this is a primarily Geordie decision and secondarily a UK fan decision. Even if I flew over across the pond once a month to attend a game this is a community thing to me and not mine to weigh in on.

[JLC]

Season ticket holder. Voted go. My opinion is we have an opportunity to create a jaw-dropping stadium, much like Spurs. Game changing. Been a ST holder since the late 80s and have a huge love for SJP. But I’m willing to move on. This was not my original point-of-view when this whole debate started. We need to get the youngsters in for obvious reasons. And more corporate, for different reasons. 

[Beth]

Go, simply because it would take years of red tape and jumping through hoops to get any meaningful increase to the SJP capacity. Build a new 65-70k seat stadium in it's place, or maybe even right next to the old site like Spurs did if it was feasible.

[Colos Short and Curlies]

1 hour ago, Dr Jinx said:

Someone explained quite well recently that stadium naming rights isn’t quite as big as you’d think.. it certainly wouldn’t be a main reason for leaving or rebuilding.

 

If they really had their best minds on it.. building some sort of massive multi purpose development all in the name of the club would be the way to go.

 

Hotel, Conference Centre, Event venue (15k+ capacity), offices, casino and of course a new shiny massive football stadium.

 

Thays how the club could be earning money all year round that would dwarf chasing around for sponsorship deals that are never going to get us close to those who have an unfair head start on us.

 

Do PIF or the Reubens want to achieve something that big? Remains to be seen.

City get over £21m, Arsenal £16m.

 

the overall view is skewed by the fact that it’s not leveraged in the UK, largely due to the age and history of stadia.

 

we won’t get top dollar, but £10m is doable 

[timeEd32]

55 minutes ago, Colos Short and Curlies said:

City get over £21m, Arsenal £16m.

 

the overall view is skewed by the fact that it’s not leveraged in the UK, largely due to the age and history of stadia.

 

we won’t get top dollar, but £10m is doable 

 

Where are you seeing £16m for the Emirates? That deal is weird and complicated but I've never seen an estimate that high.

 

The Etihad deal obviously comes with many questions. 

 

I agree though that for a new stadium we'd be in the £10m range. Maybe a bit higher.