With every day that passes, and nothing happening publicly, a new stadium will still be around five years away from opening (thick end of two years for the planning process, with a definite Public Inquiry, then say another three years to build and finish); even super-optimistically a new stadium is three years away........so for now, enjoy what we have and all the memories within.
Only fans in the Gallowgate would probably see this, coming up the stairs on Boxing Day, I noticed the three big five-sided advertising shapey things on Strawberry Place were being demolished. They were taking up loads of space previously and were just filled inside with grass and debris. Whether this points to an extension of the stack or something else…? Just a point of interest.
I’m actually more relaxed about the subject than I thought I’d be- provided it’s a goal kick up up the road or a huge Gallowgate, I prefer the latter but it’ll still be St. James’ Park. You could still call it St. James’s. (Retain the slant!). There’s a good book by Paul Jonnau about the history of SJP which makes you realise we’ve always been doing a bit shuffling and adding-on anyway. I’d prefer to stay if possible, rather than waste the beautiful stadium we already have. But as long as we stay on the premises, I’ll get behind whatever they announce.
Hopefully the close funding ties between our Government and the Saudis helps all to see the significant benefits of further local investment to support a new stadium. This relationship was further strenghtened with this announcement 9th December, which includes working with Newcastle University:
A major concern to me with building a new stadium is the proximity of the fans to the pitch. New stadia - particularly those with multi-purpose intent - seem to have the fans further away from the pitch. The potential for that to damage the atmosphere worries me. One of my favourite away days is Selhurst park because you are right on top of the game. It would be a shame if the those ferocious St. James’ moments were diluted by a stadium that did not have the match-day atmosphere as central to its design!
"The economic argument could also be bolstered if the club were to advise that, should Leazes Park not be feasible, their only other option to allow them to compete on the pitch in the long-term would be to explore out-of-town sites, and the devastating impact that would have on the city centre, as well as the resultant traffic chaos."
I don't think the Council would give a great deal of weight to this. I don't think it could be concluded that a new stadium is essential to compete in the long term and if even it was, the Council would not allow any plans that would be likely to cause traffic chaos.
This has always looked the most obvious option to me, provided the plans include expanding the footprint of Leazes Park back into where St James Park currently sits after it has been demolished. As you point out, moving the stadium out of town, or in some other part of town, would involve potential traffic chaos on match days, as well as taking away the huge economic benefit and public transport access to the city centre which is already in place.
Also, a big negative impact if St James Park was simply to be expanded would be reduced capacity and it's impact on the atmosphere on match days. Two sides of the ground would be a building site for, how long, two years, three years? Thousands of season ticket holders would not be able to attend matches. And this at a time when we are trying to push the team up into Champions League places.
With every day that passes, and nothing happening publicly, a new stadium will still be around five years away from opening (thick end of two years for the planning process, with a definite Public Inquiry, then say another three years to build and finish); even super-optimistically a new stadium is three years away........so for now, enjoy what we have and all the memories within.
Only fans in the Gallowgate would probably see this, coming up the stairs on Boxing Day, I noticed the three big five-sided advertising shapey things on Strawberry Place were being demolished. They were taking up loads of space previously and were just filled inside with grass and debris. Whether this points to an extension of the stack or something else…? Just a point of interest.
I’m actually more relaxed about the subject than I thought I’d be- provided it’s a goal kick up up the road or a huge Gallowgate, I prefer the latter but it’ll still be St. James’ Park. You could still call it St. James’s. (Retain the slant!). There’s a good book by Paul Jonnau about the history of SJP which makes you realise we’ve always been doing a bit shuffling and adding-on anyway. I’d prefer to stay if possible, rather than waste the beautiful stadium we already have. But as long as we stay on the premises, I’ll get behind whatever they announce.
Hopefully the close funding ties between our Government and the Saudis helps all to see the significant benefits of further local investment to support a new stadium. This relationship was further strenghtened with this announcement 9th December, which includes working with Newcastle University:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/thousands-of-british-jobs-to-be-created-through-closer-uk-saudi-cooperation#:~:text=And%20the%20UK%20and%20Saudi,and%20skills%20in%20clean%20energy.
A major concern to me with building a new stadium is the proximity of the fans to the pitch. New stadia - particularly those with multi-purpose intent - seem to have the fans further away from the pitch. The potential for that to damage the atmosphere worries me. One of my favourite away days is Selhurst park because you are right on top of the game. It would be a shame if the those ferocious St. James’ moments were diluted by a stadium that did not have the match-day atmosphere as central to its design!
"The economic argument could also be bolstered if the club were to advise that, should Leazes Park not be feasible, their only other option to allow them to compete on the pitch in the long-term would be to explore out-of-town sites, and the devastating impact that would have on the city centre, as well as the resultant traffic chaos."
I don't think the Council would give a great deal of weight to this. I don't think it could be concluded that a new stadium is essential to compete in the long term and if even it was, the Council would not allow any plans that would be likely to cause traffic chaos.
Fair enough on the rest of the post
Errrm… funding? Ownership? Approval from The Government down in that London?
Good luck anyway. I won’t see it.
This has always looked the most obvious option to me, provided the plans include expanding the footprint of Leazes Park back into where St James Park currently sits after it has been demolished. As you point out, moving the stadium out of town, or in some other part of town, would involve potential traffic chaos on match days, as well as taking away the huge economic benefit and public transport access to the city centre which is already in place.
Also, a big negative impact if St James Park was simply to be expanded would be reduced capacity and it's impact on the atmosphere on match days. Two sides of the ground would be a building site for, how long, two years, three years? Thousands of season ticket holders would not be able to attend matches. And this at a time when we are trying to push the team up into Champions League places.