St James' Park

[Chris_R]

7 minutes ago, sushimonster85 said:

As long as any new crest isn't shite (like a lot of modern ones tend to be) then I don't really mind. People go through all this hand wringing about the current crest like it's been about for generations. It's only been around since what, the late 80's. Obviously it's a cracking design, and it gets associated with the mid-90's glory years, but it's also seen Championship seasons, the Ashley years, losing 5 in a row to the mackems. I'm fine if they want to take a crack at updating it. 

 

Saw this leaked on Twitter earlier... Quite like it myself.

 

 

Spoiler

That's the Royal Saudi Air Force logo, before anyone gets their knickers in a knot)

 

[TRon]

10 minutes ago, sushimonster85 said:

As long as any new crest isn't shite (like a lot of modern ones tend to be) then I don't really mind. People go through all this hand wringing about the current crest like it's been about for generations. It's only been around since what, the late 80's. Obviously it's a cracking design, and it gets associated with the mid-90's glory years, but it's also seen Championship seasons, the Ashley years, losing 5 in a row to the mackems. I'm fine if they want to take a crack at updating it. 

 

 

I really like the crest as it is. I think the mackems trying to copy the basic design is testament to it's envy generating value.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

I feel like football clubs should just use multiple versions of the crest like baseball teams do. Have the current original crest and a simpler modern version as well. 

[Whitley mag]

Newcastle United insiders shown new stadium capacities as breathtaking images emerge

Chronicle Live understands that things are gathering pace as far as a 2025 stadium announcement is concerned

 

Lee Ryder

 

Newcastle United's new Chief Operating Officer, Brad Miller, at St James' Park (Image: NEWCASTLE UNITED FC)

Newcastle United chiefs are believed to have had two prospective stadium capacities put to them ahead of their 2025 St James' Park project proposals.

As Chronicle Live reported on December 28 last year, insiders are understood to have been shown exciting early drafts on what a revamped St James' and a new stadium elsewhere could look like. The images are not for public consumption at this stage but those behind the scenes are getting braced for the announcement which is set to take place in spring.

It is more than a year now since Newcastle launched a feasibility and looked into what CEO Darren Eales called the "art of the possible". Fans were asked to provide feedback in a specially commissioned survey that could help to shape the club's future stadium facilities.

But since then there have been many hints dropped by club chiefs on what will happen next and some key appointments behind the scenes. On May 31, Newcastle appointed Brad Miller as Chief Operating Officer with his brief to manage the stadium project. The former Manchester Airport supremo told Chronicle Live in August: "There's three big things on why did I join the club. One is obviously the stadium.

 

"Two is to invest elsewhere, across the rest of our facilities, whether that be training ground, academy, etc. across all of the teams. And then working on our existing operation."

After Miller's arrival, Newcastle moved quickly to acquire the services of new director Roger Thornton. Thornton's arrival earlier this year was significant as far as the next part of PIF's bigger picture is concerned. He was introduced to the board by Jamie Reuben after working closely on the Pilgrims Quarter project, Newcastle Racecourse and buildings on Grey Street.

Miller also said in August: "I've had the pleasure and the privilege of meeting a number of people in the city already, whether that be local council, our partners, regulatory bodies we work with, the Freemen etc. And believe me, I feel the weight of responsibility already in terms of let's make sure that we do the right thing."

Newcastle chiefs ruled out any switch to Gosforth Park last year with the second option for a new stadium not expected to be too far from the current historic venue. Miller stated "We don't want to: stretch the elastic band too far." Miller then said in November, in a fan event at the STACK: "The first choice is if we stayed at St James' we have the 52,000 seats already. It comes with significantly more money if we transform it and it will look amazing. That's option one.

"Option two is if we were to move away, and not too far away as we aren't going to stretch the elastic band to the point of breaking. The second option we are looking at it seriously as it does have the potential to earn more than twice as much in terms of revenue, compared to a transformation of St James' Park. And more seats, a lot more seats potentially."

And Chronicle Live understands that the option of staying at St James' could involve an increase in capacity to the region of around the 60,000 mark. Some sources believe that would see a redesign at the Gallowgate End if Newcastle decide to remain on Barrack Road.

It was Eales who intervened during Miller's speech to remind him that "option two" would include "more seats" than staying put at St James'. The club are also understood to have had a capacity of around 70,000 put to them at a potential new stadium. Both options would offer Newcastle the chance to satisfy some of those fans waiting for season tickets while the chance to boost revenue and improve the club's PSR fortunes would inevitably increase.

We understand that the drafts for both stadium options are believed to be breathtaking and will excite supporters. Newcastle vowed to run the final proposals past the fan advisory board and wider supporter base before any final decisions are taken.

[HawK]

 tl;dr; 60k expansion or 70k new stadium

[Kid Icarus]

29 minutes ago, Chris_R said:

 

Absolute guff.

It's about the people in the stadium, not the stadium itself.

 

Plus as has been mentioned already, SJP isn't exactly condusive to a great atmosphere with the Leazes and Milburn being too high different levels and broken up seating areas. That said, it's still rocking when the right games come around so you can get a good atmosphere in any ground if the fans are up for it, which is the key point.

 

A new stadium with a better design - steep stands, with big blocks and one level all the way back creating a wall of fans a-la Dortmund etc would be awesome. Add a roof coming in close to trap the sound and it'll be cavernous and loud, I'd love to see something like that. One of them at each end, and then let the corporate sandwich munchers have their bit at the sides. Everyone wins.

 

Location is key though, although I'd be happy to move it really needs to stay central. I'd be a bit gutted if it ended up outside the centre of the city and I say that as someone who's never lived closer than Whitley Bay. But the metro journey in is always part of the fun and being able to go out around town before/after, walking from the stadium, is key.

Does this mean there's no issue with having a problem with people in the stadium then?

 

Because for whatever reason you can point to, new stadiums and improved atmosphere don't seem to have gone hand-in-hand.  

[Sima]

"2025 stadium announcement"

 

#wait

[Kanj]

44 minutes ago, AyeDubbleYoo said:

I feel like football clubs should just use multiple versions of the crest like baseball teams do. Have the current original crest and a simpler modern version as well. 

the smart thing to do is have a few, like you said. Our current class one is the official club crest forever. And variations used on different kits and merch. Sorta what Tottenham are doing, and I assume our club is smart enough to do that too 

[Holloway]

The images are breathtaking, but you need to wait till the spring to get a glimpse 

[Slim]

3 minutes ago, Holloway said:

The images are breathtaking, but you need to wait till the spring to get a glimpse 

Woke 

[Chris_R]

51 minutes ago, Kid Icarus said:

Does this mean there's no issue with having a problem with people in the stadium then?

 

Because for whatever reason you can point to, new stadiums and improved atmosphere don't seem to have gone hand-in-hand.  

 

Is it the new stadia? Or is it because atmospheres generally have declined as the matchday experience has become more "Family" oriented?

 

Because we're always moaning about how the atmosphere was better in the 90s at SJP and as far as I can tell we're still playing at the same ground. We've just changed as a fanbase, as has every other fanbase. If we'd have simultaneously moved stadium during that time, we'd be blaming that. But is that the full picture for those clubs who have moved stadium?

 

That's not to say stadium design isn't a factor, of course it is, hence why I wrote quite a bit about how I'd like to see the ends of any new ground to maximise the sound volume in there. But also the game / matchday eperience has fundamentally changed. No terracing has been one factor of course, but pricing models, appealing to families/women etc has all changed how fans behave in the ground - sometimes for the better but sometimes it makes it less hostile and noisy.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

I don't really see anything about SJP specifically which contributes to the atmosphere. Like people have said, it's to do with who goes to the match and where they're able to sit. 

 

TBH I sometimes don't know what we even mean when we talk about the atmosphere we actually want. I'm 40 and I can't really remember a time when SJP was consistently loud throughout a game. Except for the very special moments like PSG etc. 

[huss9]

i love st james but its no longer fit for purpose. the concourses and turnstiles are shite.

we're lucky as we have ST's.

but loads of friends and my kids mates can no longer get in to see us play - they can get the odd ticket here and there but never a proper visit where they go in a group.

needs at least a 65k capacity.

 

[LFEE]

4 hours ago, Big River said:

I'm not against a new stadium by any stretch, but it's a bit naive to think a new stadium automatically means things will be more accessible for "locked out" fans. I very much doubt the motivation for building a new stadium is to make things better or fairer for the common Newcastle United supporter.

I disagree unless they only build it 65k. 75k as rumoured will make a massive difference. 23K extra tickets. 13-18k corporate. 5-10k match day. 

[PauloGeordio]

3 hours ago, Sima said:

"2025 stadium announcement"

 

#wait

The new #cans 

[Kid Icarus]

2 hours ago, Chris_R said:

 

Is it the new stadia? Or is it because atmospheres generally have declined as the matchday experience has become more "Family" oriented?

 

Because we're always moaning about how the atmosphere was better in the 90s at SJP and as far as I can tell we're still playing at the same ground. We've just changed as a fanbase, as has every other fanbase. If we'd have simultaneously moved stadium during that time, we'd be blaming that. But is that the full picture for those clubs who have moved stadium?

 

That's not to say stadium design isn't a factor, of course it is, hence why I wrote quite a bit about how I'd like to see the ends of any new ground to maximise the sound volume in there. But also the game / matchday eperience has fundamentally changed. No terracing has been one factor of course, but pricing models, appealing to families/women etc has all changed how fans behave in the ground - sometimes for the better but sometimes it makes it less hostile and noisy.

 

Since the expansion it's not the same stadium as the 90s atmosphere-wise. I do think it's partly the changing demographic regardless of that, but that everything also goes hand-in-hand.

 

Stadiums and 'the matchday experience' are designed to cater to ever-wider demographics, ticket prices price some demographics out, allocations aren't necessarily nurturing the atmosphere because mates find it more difficult to sit together, and then supporters who are treated like customers end up acting like it.

[Ginola14]

Atleti's new stadium looks amazing and seems to generate a brilliant atmosphere, so can be done 

 

was sad to see them leave the old one a few years ago  

[Stifler]

25 minutes ago, Ginola14 said:

Atleti's new stadium looks amazing and seems to generate a brilliant atmosphere, so can be done 

 

was sad to see them leave the old one a few years ago  

It looks shit, it’s the exact same as the Stad De Luz, and the Emirates.

[Joelinton7]

31 minutes ago, Ginola14 said:

Atleti's new stadium looks amazing and seems to generate a brilliant atmosphere, so can be done 

 

was sad to see them leave the old one a few years ago  

Have been, really good transport with the metro in and out. Kind of a massive bowl. Wouldn’t want that for us. I’d hope they’d try and be as unique as possible with it. 

[NSG]

If it was going to be from scratch then a San Siro style stadium (with better bogs) would be my preference like. 
 

Rectangle stadiums >>> round stadiums 

[Whitley mag]

Always thought the planned Liverpool stadium In Stanley Park was a bit different.

 

 

 

 

Edited 22 hours ago by Whitley mag

[Nucasol]

1 minute ago, Whitley mag said:

Always thought the planned Liverpool stadium In Stanley Park was a bit different.

 

 

 

 

What’s up with the corners?

[Turnbull2000]

That's awful

 

A San Siro style design would be amazing.

[Whitley mag]

1 minute ago, Nucasol said:

What’s up with the corners?

Think they wanted to recreate a Kop end behind the goal.

[Stifler]

34 minutes ago, Whitley mag said:

Always thought the planned Liverpool stadium In Stanley Park was a bit different.

 

 

 

 

 

Although I think that design is quite dated now (it came out around the time of the Dallas Cowboys stadium), I’m still surprised they opted to redevelop Anfield instead of relocating to across the road where this was proposed to be built. It’s more surprising considering how Anfield doesn’t fit to minimum standards now to be considered for hosting UEFA and FIFA events.