St James' Park

[Infatuation Junkie]

You have to understand that one day when you turn on the tv and see a lad in China or Africa on the tv. They are going to be wearing a toon top. 
 

We will become a global brand. 

[Rich]

Random one for today, that's probably been done at length in the past, but where do people prefer to sit in the ground and why?

 

I've had STs in the Milburn Paddock at the Gallowgate end, front row of the Gallowgate right next to the South East Corner, higher up in the South East Corner itself, and now at the very back of the Gallowgate (in the middle).

 

Otherwise, I think I've sat pretty much everywhere there is to sit and I would never, ever choose to sit anywhere other than the Gallowgate (including both corners).

 

If I could hand-pick my seat (or safe-standing spot) I think I'd go upper-middle tier of the Gallowgate right behind the goal, just at the point where the roof doesn't obscure the view of L7.

 

In terms of the last place I'd want to sit, I've been right up against the glass towards the back of the Milburn stand and it was fucking atrocious. Just a weird perspective and atmosphere, with nothing to your right except a cityscape.

[Wallsendmag]

We were up in block A of the Milburn Stand L7 for the Southampton Semi Final. Absolutely horrific and genuinely I'd rather not go to the match than have to sit there again.

[Anderson]

30 minutes ago, Rich said:

If I could hand-pick my seat (or safe-standing spot) I think I'd go upper-middle tier of the Gallowgate right behind the goal, just at the point where the roof doesn't obscure the view of L7.

 

 

Pretty much exactly where our tickets are, just off to the right a little towards Strawberry Corner in between the goal & the edge of the box. Wouldn't swap them for anywhere else in the ground.

[Wandy]

48 minutes ago, Rich said:

Random one for today, that's probably been done at length in the past, but where do people prefer to sit in the ground and why?

 

I've had STs in the Milburn Paddock at the Gallowgate end, front row of the Gallowgate right next to the South East Corner, higher up in the South East Corner itself, and now at the very back of the Gallowgate (in the middle).

 

Otherwise, I think I've sat pretty much everywhere there is to sit and I would never, ever choose to sit anywhere other than the Gallowgate (including both corners).

 

If I could hand-pick my seat (or safe-standing spot) I think I'd go upper-middle tier of the Gallowgate right behind the goal, just at the point where the roof doesn't obscure the view of L7.

 

In terms of the last place I'd want to sit, I've been right up against the glass towards the back of the Milburn stand and it was fucking atrocious. Just a weird perspective and atmosphere, with nothing to your right except a cityscape.

 

I grew up watching from the Gallowgate Corner and ever since then I've never liked watching a match directly from behind the goal. I like seeing the net bulge from an angle when a goal is scored as it gives an increased sense of drama IMO, as you are never quite sure if a shot is going in the goal until right at the last second. Or maybe I am just weird.  

 

My first season ticket was pre-Level 7 John Hall Stand, about 5 rows up in the upper tier and near to the Milburn Corner. I remember when I first sat in the seat and thinking, "F'kin hell this is really high". I got used to it though, and the noise under the roof at that level really sounded loud.

[Stifler]

The Gallowgate is my go too, but honestly it only is because that’s traditionally where the most vocal support was. I don’t think it is the case now.

The Milburn stand near the halfway line and a dozen or so rows back is probably the best view.

 

Aside from the climb, there is also nothing wrong with level 7 in my option. People who say it’s too high up are on another planet, worse still when they take a picture on their phone bemoaning the view.

[Nepharite]

I loved being in Level 7 next to the away fans before Ashley dispersed us all for singing horrible songs about him. Went to the Strawberry Corner for a season and enjoyed it.

[Hughesy]

Personally, I don't think we should go much over 60,000.  I'm sure we could fill 80,000 seats for big games and/or if we are doing well, but you only need to look back at some of CL campaigns under Robson - quite often our attendances were in the high 40,000s rather being full sell outs.  I'd much rather have a packed 60,000 stadium than risk having a 80-90% full 80,000 stadium.

[Wallsendmag]

4 minutes ago, Hughesy said:

Personally, I don't think we should go much over 60,000.  I'm sure we could fill 80,000 seats for big games and/or if we are doing well, but you only need to look back at some of CL campaigns under Robson - quite often our attendances were in the high 40,000s rather being full sell outs.  I'd much rather have a packed 60,000 stadium than risk having a 80-90% full 80,000 stadium.

 

You can't compare football attendances from best part of quarter of a century ago to now though. The popularity of football is at an all time high. We're selling oit for early round League Cup games these days. There's only Southampton in the PL that don't sell out every week. That was unheard of till not all that long ago.

 

I think 65k is the perfect number for Newcastle United.

[LFEE]

47 minutes ago, Anderson said:

 

Pretty much exactly where our tickets are, just off to the right a little towards Strawberry Corner in between the goal & the edge of the box. Wouldn't swap them for anywhere else in the ground.

Sounds exactly where my seat is. Mid tier Gallowgate facing the edge of the 18yd box. Wouldn’t want to move too far from there ever. Only the Strawberry Corner itself at a decent height would sway me.

[Wallsendmag]

14 minutes ago, Stifler said:

The Gallowgate is my go too, but honestly it only is because that’s traditionally where the most vocal support was. I don’t think it is the case now.

The Milburn stand near the halfway line and a dozen or so rows back is probably the best view.

 

Aside from the climb, there is also nothing wrong with level 7 in my option. People who say it’s too high up are on another planet, worse still when they take a picture on their phone bemoaning the view.

 

If you're in the first few rows it's brilliant. I hate it at the back though. You just feel detached from the whole thing.

[Wandy]

8 minutes ago, Hughesy said:

Personally, I don't think we should go much over 60,000.  I'm sure we could fill 80,000 seats for big games and/or if we are doing well, but you only need to look back at some of CL campaigns under Robson - quite often our attendances were in the high 40,000s rather being full sell outs.  I'd much rather have a packed 60,000 stadium than risk having a 80-90% full 80,000 stadium.

 

I will never understand this point of view. It's a bit like saying that there is no point in owning a Porsche/Ferrari/Lamborghini as there are very limited opportunities to use it's 180mph+ capability.

 

Even if a 80,000 seater has occasions when it's "only" 80% full that is still 64,000 crowds you would be getting. But for NUFC, about 70,000 is the sweet spot whereby you would nearly always have capacity crowds when the club is ran with genuine ambition, no matter who the owners are.

 

The lower crowds for CL football also mean nothing. Its a ego stroking/money generating competition where you might only play 5 or 6 games in an entire season, and most fans don't really give a shit about it when you get down to brass tacks, which is a big factor in why there was so much opposition to the Super League. In this country the league comes 1st, 2nd and 3rd in importance to the fans. And its why NUFC has never had a problem selling out league games when the the club has been run properly.

 

As long as the club punches it's weight and actually tries to compete for trophies then selling out a 70k stadium for league games will never be a problem. If some cup games only attract 70/80% of capacity then so what, it's nothing to be embarrassed about or a reason to build a smaller stadium. That is small-time thinking.

[pinkeye]

Before I got my season ticket I used to buy tickets wherever I could get them and the worst by far was the back row of Level 7 in the Milburn.  It would be OK if the whole stadium was that height but, in isolation with the Leazes it feels strange , I was also very pissed on the day I sat up there and actual felt a bit of vertigo or something, quite dizzy with how high I was up against the backdrop of the City.

 

The nice comfy seats in the Milburn bar areas but, zero atmosphere.

 

I moved to the East Stand over 10 years ago and sit amongst some lovely people, 2/3 of the way back and basically in between the halfway line and the Gallowgate 18 yard line.  We have an atmosphere there, mainly as a result of being quite close to the Strawberry corner.  ( I still hate, and will always hate, that Stand up if you love the Toon chant - not because it involves standing up.  I just hate it....  I remember all the variants like shoes off, pogo and so on....  all with as much yuck).

 

The East Stand gets a lot of grief on this forum for being full of old people and moaners....  it is the worst stand in the stadium though.  Getting in and out is a proper pain and the toilets are revolting...  I dont hear too much moaning other than some bloke behind me who relentlessly contradicts himself, like "Maxi, you're shite!"  2 minutes later "Maxi, you are brilliant!"  That is just football fans though, fickle bunch eh?

[Magpie]

1 hour ago, Nepharite said:

I loved being in Level 7 next to the away fans before Ashley dispersed us all for singing horrible songs about him. Went to the Strawberry Corner for a season and enjoyed it.

Same and would move back up there in a heartbeat 

[NUFC91]

1 hour ago, Wallsendmag said:

 

You can't compare football attendances from best part of quarter of a century ago to now though. The popularity of football is at an all time high. We're selling oit for early round League Cup games these days. There's only Southampton in the PL that don't sell out every week. That was unheard of till not all that long ago.

 

I think 65k is the perfect number for Newcastle United.

 

Good point, i remember going to villa in Ashley area and being fair few thousand empty seats amongst other grounds yet they have a waiting list now I beleive.

 

 

Edited March 8, 2023 by NUFC91

[Yorkie]

The only time I've ever had a view I didn't like very much was in the East Stand/Leazes corner, but closest to the long edge of the East Stand, meaning you were somewhat creaking your neck to see what was going on at the Gallowgate End.

 

Other than that (and presumably the same at the other end), I genuinely don't think there's a bad view in the ground. I don't like being low in the Milburn, with so much behind you, but that doesn't affect the view of the pitch of course; I just love being able to see as much of the stadium as possible (another reason why I wouldn't want to be far back in the Gallowgate where the roof obstructs your view).

 

If I had the choice of the ground I'd probably go East Stand but close to Strawberry Corner to get both the class view and a guaranteed bit of atmosphere. Two of my favourite moments ever were there (Perez winner against Everton and Bruno winner against Leicester).

[madras]

Worst view I've had was front row by the corner flag Milburn/Gallowgate corner. Great for seeing how fast the game is and the skill and technique of the players but a rubbish view of the game.

[Kid Icarus]

My attendance at SJP has been really sporadic since 2013, but whether it's been in 1994, 2005, 2009, or 2015, the best place to be has always been almost the exact middle of the Gallowgate for me, by a mile.

 

I'm not much of a singer, but I find it really easy to get involved whenever I'm there. The exact opposite when I'm anywhere else.

 

 

Edited March 8, 2023 by Kid Icarus

[HaydnNUFC]

27 minutes ago, Yorkie said:

If I had the choice of the ground I'd probably go East Stand but close to Strawberry Corner to get both the class view and a guaranteed bit of atmosphere. Two of my favourite moments ever were there (Perez winner against Everton and Bruno winner against Leicester).

 

[Wolfcastle]

Sitting in the padock, where I used to stand from early 90 to late 91, when the East Stand was shut for renovations during the Intertoto games reminded me why I'd stayed with the East Stand.

 

But that's how football changed for you. The slope was always tricky from there, couldn't see the touchline on the other side, and it wasn't easy standing at the front of the Gallowgate either. But you didn't really go for the entertainment/football in those days, was just to support the team and win. My first two away games I didn't see jack shit but loved it.

 

 

 

Edited March 8, 2023 by Wolfcastle

[Wolfcastle]

The thing with the CL gates under Sir Bobby is that you had to buy them in advance.

Paying for three home tickets alone was nearly £120 and many of us applied for the away games too.

Made me realise how expensive they were where a season ticket felt like a mandatory debit.

 

Rangers had the same problem. You're not getting 44,000 against Hibs and a few days later 33,000 in the CL against Dortmund under normal circumstances.

 

Also you want to have a look at some of Bayern, the Milan's, Real Madrid and Barcelona's champions league gates back then.

That very season: Inter got 33k, 31k and 45k. Bayern 40k 59k 22k (and that was way up on previous years). Barcelona 62k and 42k

A few year earlier Liverpool were getting 30k's.

 

 

 

[TomYam]

3 hours ago, Wandy said:

 

I will never understand this point of view. It's a bit like saying that there is no point in owning a Porsche/Ferrari/Lamborghini as there are very limited opportunities to use it's 180mph+ capability.

 

Even if a 80,000 seater has occasions when it's "only" 80% full that is still 64,000 crowds you would be getting. But for NUFC, about 70,000 is the sweet spot whereby you would nearly always have capacity crowds when the club is ran with genuine ambition, no matter who the owners are.

 

The lower crowds for CL football also mean nothing. Its a ego stroking/money generating competition where you might only play 5 or 6 games in an entire season, and most fans don't really give a shit about it when you get down to brass tacks, which is a big factor in why there was so much opposition to the Super League. In this country the league comes 1st, 2nd and 3rd in importance to the fans. And its why NUFC has never had a problem selling out league games when the the club has been run properly.

 

As long as the club punches it's weight and actually tries to compete for trophies then selling out a 70k stadium for league games will never be a problem. If some cup games only attract 70/80% of capacity then so what, it's nothing to be embarrassed about or a reason to build a smaller stadium. That is small-time thinking.

Agree with all you've written here.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

I think we almost need 70k just to accommodate the extra season tickets people want. 

[Wolfcastle]

Could bring back 'unsafe' standing and solve all our stadium related conundrums.

 

[pedro111]

Any ideas on when we might see any plans for expansion?