St James' Park

[LFEE]

10 minutes ago, El Prontonise said:

 

Newcastle will forever be a local/regional airport due to the population of the region which is why it'll never be a hub as I've read as suggestions for if they bought the airport.

Disagree. It’s a long way off of course. Building more houses would help though 

[OverThere]

Newcastle had as much chance of being the northern hub as Manchester did, but they grabbed the opportunity. If that was to change, you effectively would have to dismantle Manchester as I don't think there is enough distance between the two cities nor population to support two hubs.

[Stifler]

1 minute ago, OverThere said:

Newcastle had as much chance of being the northern hub as Manchester did, but they grabbed the opportunity. If that was to change, you effectively would have to dismantle Manchester as I don't think there is enough distance between the two cities nor population to support two hubs.

It didn’t really. Manchester is in the M62 corridor. It is close to both Liverpool and Leeds, and pretty much right in the centre of the population there, which is where the majority of the Northern population is.

It is also still reasonably close to Birmingham which was Englands original 2nd city. 

[Stifler]

I’d love for us to push the boat on the new stadium. As well as having a great capacity, having virtual seats etc would be great as well. I mean for domestic fans it would probably require a change in broadcasting rules, but for foreign fans, and for other events it could be a game changer.

[OpenC]

4 minutes ago, Stifler said:

It didn’t really. Manchester is in the M62 corridor. It is close to both Liverpool and Leeds, and pretty much right in the centre of the population there, which is where the majority of the Northern population is.

It is also still reasonably close to Birmingham which was Englands original 2nd city. 

 

It's one of the things that always strikes me on my rare journeys south - soon as you get to Leeds/Sheffield area and beyond, it feels like it's only ever 20 miles to the next big city or town. I had never really appreciated how isolated we were by comparison.

 

 

Edited September 6, 2025 by OpenC

[Stifler]

1 hour ago, LFEE said:

Disagree. It’s a long way off of course. Building more houses would help though 

We need better density as well. Our towns outside of Newcastle are just either terraced houses, or semi-detached. Places like North Shields are crying out for areas to be developed with mid rise apartment buildings.

Even in Newcastle city centre our density isn’t all that good. Whilst Manchester and Leeds are building apartment skyscrapers, the tallest building we have is Hadrians Tower, which due to be located further down hill to SJP, by being located a couple of streets away, it still isn’t as tall as SJP on the skyline.

[Stifler]

1 minute ago, OpenC said:

 

It's one of the things that always strikes me on my rare journeys south - soon as you get to Leeds/Sheffield area and beyond, it feels like it's only ever 20 miles to the next big city or town. I had never really appreciated how isolated we were by comparison.

Yeah go to Blyth or Morpeth from Newcastle and you still feel like you are in Newcastle. Go the same distance along the M62, and you are in a different city.

[El Prontonise]

14 minutes ago, OverThere said:

Newcastle had as much chance of being the northern hub as Manchester did, but they grabbed the opportunity. If that was to change, you effectively would have to dismantle Manchester as I don't think there is enough distance between the two cities nor population to support two hubs.

 

Nah it didn't.

[TRon]

2 hours ago, LFEE said:

Disagree. It’s a long way off of course. Building more houses would help though 

 

Ironically it seems like there is a never ending glut of new houses being built between the city centre and the airport.  

[TRon]

18 minutes ago, OpenC said:

 

It's one of the things that always strikes me on my rare journeys south - soon as you get to Leeds/Sheffield area and beyond, it feels like it's only ever 20 miles to the next big city or town. I had never really appreciated how isolated we were by comparison.

 

 

 

 

 

It's one of the things I really appreciate about Newcastle tbh. It's great being able to get on the road north and not see a single city until you hit Scotland. 

[LFEE]

Just now, TRon said:

 

Ironically it seems like there is a never ending glut of new houses being built between the city centre and the airport.  

Long may it continue. We need many more.

[Pandamninator]

4 hours ago, Checko said:

Imagine if we end up with the Sports Direct Arena

They can call it the Saint Mike Ashley the Generous Memorial Stadium for all I care if fatty stumped up the right amount of cash.

 

 

Edited September 6, 2025 by Pandamninator

[TheBrownBottle]

Newcastle is in the middle of nowhere in UK geographical terms - it isn’t a ‘hub’ or a potential centre of the economy of the north.  As much as I love the place, anyone thinking this is indulging in wishful thinking. 

[Dr Feelgood]

15 minutes ago, TheBrownBottle said:

Newcastle is in the middle of nowhere in UK geographical terms - it isn’t a ‘hub’ or a potential centre of the economy of the north.  As much as I love the place, anyone thinking this is indulging in wishful thinking. 

But it is the gateway to Northumberland, the Lake District, North Yorkshire and Scotland.

 

We're surrounded by beautiful countryside and nature.  

[El Prontonise]

The Lake District?

[Stifler]

18 minutes ago, Dr Feelgood said:

But it is the gateway to Northumberland, the Lake District, North Yorkshire and Scotland.

 

We're surrounded by beautiful countryside and nature.  

I mean Manchester and Leeds are just as close to the Lake District, and Carlisle are marketing themselves as that.

 

It’s a wonderful place to live, but other than the regionally, we are not going to be a hub economically for the North. We are probably just as close to being a part of the Scottish Central Belt economy, as we are the M62 corridor.

[OpenC]

22 minutes ago, El Prontonise said:

The Lake District?

 

If you're approaching from Dogger Bank or Forties

[Wallsendmag]

3 hours ago, LFEE said:

Disagree. It’s a long way off of course. Building more houses would help though 

 

If other accents I regularly hear there are anything to go by there's always plenty of people from Yorkshire and Scotland use Newcastle airport frequently as well.

[bhoywhonder]

1 hour ago, OverThere said:

Newcastle had as much chance of being the northern hub as Manchester did, but they grabbed the opportunity. If that was to change, you effectively would have to dismantle Manchester as I don't think there is enough distance between the two cities nor population to support two hubs.

Not really. Manchester has a pull that has an effect on towns and cities within a 50 mile radius or more which takes in millions of people. Newcastle doesnt, and even then it's just small towns like gateshead, Middlesbrough, Darlo, sunderland...Not comparible. 

[LFEE]

39 minutes ago, Wallsendmag said:

 

If other accents I regularly hear there are anything to go by there's always plenty of people from Yorkshire and Scotland use Newcastle airport frequently as well.

 

If you can be competitive on flight prices you’ll be surprised the effort people will make to fly from that airport.

[Stifler]

7 minutes ago, LFEE said:

 

If you can be competitive on flight prices you’ll be surprised the effort people will make to fly from that airport.

Chelsea fans used it getting to their Conference League final.

[aussiemag]

What if they rebuilt St. James Park to the same design as it is currently, but with Level 7 all the way around the gallowgate and east stand and upgrade the corporate facilities around both sides of the pitch. 

[Stifler]

5 minutes ago, aussiemag said:

What if they rebuilt St. James Park to the same design as it is currently, but with Level 7 all the way around the gallowgate and east stand and upgrade the corporate facilities around both sides of the pitch. 

No. The design is outdated, and has minimal street level interaction.

[bobbydazzla]

6 minutes ago, aussiemag said:

What if they rebuilt St. James Park to the same design as it is currently, but with Level 7 all the way around the gallowgate and east stand and upgrade the corporate facilities around both sides of the pitch. 

Leazers Terrace fucks that plan 

[Infinitely Content]

7 minutes ago, Stifler said:

No. The design is outdated, and has minimal street level interaction.

I like that about it, it feels elevated and sanctified, up-on-high, where one must climb to reach it. Much prefer that feeling than some walk in from street level shopping-centre-esque shite.