NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE - St. James' Park (52,405)

[2zanzibar]

St James Pk is interesting in a slightly schizophrenic way because it has a kind of identity crisis going on. One half thinks of itself as a BIG club, with great pretensions, the other side has more modest ambitions.
It seems there are a few clubs which have stadiums that are scaled too big for themselves (juve, Munich 1860 etc) and some which are larger than their existing scale (Arsenal, Man U, spurs, Valencia? probably lots of others)
But, St James park really plays out this conflict. To have any continuity would either mean something too large or too small, so its left itself with a stadium which carries both ideas. I like it!

[Spank]

I love St James park! Does anyone have any stats to do with the stand gradients of EPL grounds? Just looking at pictures it seems to me that St James' looks steeper than any other ground in the Priemership. Although compared to the gradients of the San Siro or the Bernabéu it's nothing.

[mrtocsin]

The occupants of that stadium which I think is pig ugly haven't won anything for over fifty years. Mad crowd that lot, great party city too, but they are a bit naive when it comes to sport.

[bubomb]

Originally Posted by mrtocsin

The occupants of that stadium which I think is pig ugly haven't won anything for over fifty years. Mad crowd that lot, great party city too, but they are a bit naive when it comes to sport.

I would say 52000 each week at a club that has won nothing for 50 years does not make them naive supporters, it does in fact make them superb supporters!!

[Socrates]

St James Park is a drab, lop sided eyesore.
How anyone can think this place is aesthetically pleasing is beyond me... I am NOT a fan.
Not been to a game there though, shall attend one in due course and perhaps my opinion shall change, but I doubt it.

[mrtocsin]

Originally Posted by bubomb

I would say 52000 each week at a club that has won nothing for 50 years does not make them naive supporters, it does in fact make them superb supporters!!

I'm not questioning the supporters, I think they are the best in the country as supporters to trophies go, but that stadium is just an eyesore to me. Knock those listed buildings down someone and finish the stadium off. Even relocate those listed buildings to one side maybe an answer, but as it stands that stadium looks a joke from the original posted angle.

[bubomb]

Originally Posted by mrtocsin

I'm not questioning the supporters, I think they are the best in the country as supporters to trophies go, but that stadium is just an eyesore to me. Knock those listed buildings down someone and finish the stadium off. Even relocate those listed buildings to one side maybe an answer, but as it stands that stadium looks a joke from the original posted angle.

I'm not a big fan of the stadium, but there's not much Newcastle can do to change it!

[london lad]

I've been to the stadium & its one of hte best in England. I know one of the stands cant reallt expand because of listeed housing behind the stand but I saw some pics years ago with the smaller stand developed to the same size as the other 2 stands- Does anyone know if/when this would be done??

[kingdomca]

I doubt they could fill it without lowering prices if it was extended all the way round. And with lower prices it probably isnt financially viable to do it now.

That may change in the future and, hopefully, it will then be possible to do it. Perhaps its possible to remove some of the buildings behind it but probably a very expensive task.
But it has to be considered that these listed buildings could be in the way of what must be the most famous institution in Newcastle, and whether thats really good for the place.

[MoreOrLess]

Originally Posted by kingdomca

I doubt they could fill it without lowering prices if it was extended all the way round. And with lower prices it probably isnt financially viable to do it now.

That may change in the future and, hopefully, it will then be possible to do it. Perhaps its possible to remove some of the buildings behind it but probably a very expensive task.
But it has to be considered that these listed buildings could be in the way of what must be the most famous institution in Newcastle, and whether thats really good for the place.

I'd guess it would take something like a World Cup bid to push that though, some council grant money to make sure they got some big games is probabley the only way you'd see it fully extended(probabley to around 75,000) aswell for the reasons you mention.

I don't know if theres the demand for it but they could do something smilar to that new Zaragoza stadium and have a wall of directors boxs(there doesnt seem to be many right now) on one side to even things up a bit.

[2zanzibar]

That looks like a reasonable solution

[BobDaBuilder]

^

Personally I'd build the stadium all the way round and lower prices!

Football is supposed to be the battlers game. Not the millionaires game. The people of Newcastle should able to follow their club for a reasonable price.

[Its AlL gUUd]

If people are critisizing St JAmes park then wot can be said about Parkhead? The only difference is really that on TV the camera angle in parkhead is facing towards the large stand and at newcastle its facing the smaller stand. if they changed the camera angle at SJP to face the large two tiered stand everyone(nearly) would love it.

[MoreOrLess]

Originally Posted by BobDaBuilder

^

Personally I'd build the stadium all the way round and lower prices!

Football is supposed to be the battlers game. Not the millionaires game. The people of Newcastle should able to follow their club for a reasonable price.

If the balance sheet doesnt add up then its ultimately the average fan who's going to suffer just as much though.

[kingdomca]

Originally Posted by BobDaBuilder

^

Personally I'd build the stadium all the way round and lower prices!

Football is supposed to be the battlers game. Not the millionaires game. The people of Newcastle should able to follow their club for a reasonable price.

Unfortunately Newcastle live in the real world where you dont launch huge projects while at the same time lower your income. They are a mid table team, who would self-destroy with such financial insanity and relegation would soon follow massively reducing income still further. Football is not a closed shop but a tough world.

No single club can force through such drastic changes and it would require europe-wide political legislation to even try to curb the power that the big clubs hold.

[MoreOrLess]

The main thing it would require is large scale public subsidising of sport which for better or worse doesnt often happen in the UK.

[Lostboy]

But it has to be considered that these listed buildings could be in the way of what must be the most famous institution in Newcastle, and whether thats really good for the place.

Newcastle is - and unlike a lot of other British Cities - always has been extremely proud of its heritage. The fact that it has taken care of so much of it, is why it is the nicest looking (perhaps with the exception of Bristol) of England's Core Cities.

[BaronVonChickenpants]

Originally Posted by BobDaBuilder

^

Personally I'd build the stadium all the way round and lower prices!

Football is supposed to be the battlers game. Not the millionaires game. The people of Newcastle should able to follow their club for a reasonable price.

like may people have said on here,you can't build it all the way round,as there are listed buildings right up behind one stand,plus the main road,and tunnel for the metro at one end,that would make it impossible to continue building all the way round

[EADGBE]

Well, it's certainly idiosyncratic! I always look at aerial pictures of SJP with a degree of discomfort. It's not just quite unbalanced, but almost ridiculously unbalanced.

That said, the Milburn/Lezies stands do look stunning and as a (Manchester) United fan, I do envy their horizontal roof. It's one of the few things I'm not enamoured with at OT. Like many others, I'd like to see the Gallowgate end extended to match - and I really like the idea and the picture of the Zaragoza plan for the remaining 'problem' stand. I'm sure Newcastle could sustain crowds of 60-65,000 and more corporates.

I think I'm right in saying 'Toon' is the word 'town' in the local dialect as in (in my best Sid the Sexist):
"Ah'm gannin' oot on the toon the neet, like"

Newcastle fans are great and deserve a better team and a finished stadium.

[Socrates]

Originally Posted by Its AlL gUUd

If people are critisizing St JAmes park then wot can be said about Parkhead? The only difference is really that on TV the camera angle in parkhead is facing towards the large stand and at newcastle its facing the smaller stand. if they changed the camera angle at SJP to face the large two tiered stand everyone(nearly) would love it.

The same criticisms could also be levelled at Old Trafford. 3 massive stands and one tiny eyesore. Doesn't get noticed on TV though because of where the cameras are located.