Where is the attendance limit?

You can buy it if you fancy moving to a place that time hasn't left behind!

 

I actually think we should stay in the same location but lower it so its not uphill from the station. Then roll the Earl down the hill so its next to the ground. The lowering would allow an increase in seating although the stairs might have to be a bit steep. Imagine it would look something like this:

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I like it. Extremely good use of space. Not sure about the roof seats mind. They defy the laws of gravity.

 

For away supporters - have safety belts.

 

And hope they haven't had a dodgy pint before the game!

 

I'd be made up with 60k+ at St James' and upgraded facilities. There was a time during Keegan and possibly Robson when we were popular with other fans and neutrals but that has passed and the nature of our owners now means I can't see us garnering support from tons outside the area. I think 80k+ would end up being more of a burden than a benefit.

If we can expand now then great, but nothing major for years and only if demand suggests. A stadium 80% full often looks quite empty.

 

Ardently agree with you.
It'd be an emotional wrench to leave our home of 140 years, but the site is far too restrictive.
Purely from a footballing perspective, the renovation and (Gallowgate) expansion of St.James's appears apt. However, the Arena site offers the opportunity for so much more: increased capacity, major infrastructural improvements, environmental enhancement, community engagement, associated developments and investment.
The potential for the club and city has long been evident. Weak and unaspirational local government and deaf central government has assured 50 years of meagre and mundane civic projects (Quayside excepting).
Peversely, Saudi club ownership can prospectively unlock some of that potential.

 

Settle down son

 

Actually on careful reflection I think we should leave St James’ Park be.

It has character, it has history, it has location and a capacity of 52,000+.





Plus if I can’t go I’ll be able to maximise my money on selling to a desperate market.

 

Luckily because of the PIF wealth we won't have to worry about some atmosphere killing running track around the stadium just to get a government grant to help with the build. I always hated watching football at certain Olympic stadiums around Europe because the atmosphere was tragic because the fans were a mile away from the pitch.

 

nah **** that. We need to move to expand. We could convert SJP into student flats as there’s not enough in the City centre already…

You’d have a limited market anyhow for your ticket as it’s an OAP one….

 

Big. Very Big.

 

Build it and they will come...

Honestly think we could go as big as we liked for the fan base - in 11/12 when we finished in 5th we had 10 sell out's, in the championship last time we had an average of 51k with over a million people through the gates over the course of the season. Every season we hit around 51K - I'd assume there are a number of away seats not taken but we pretty much hit capacity as a relegation fodder team.

If we were actually up there competing with a team that played decent football 100k wouldn't be outside the realms of possibility. If I were the Saudi's I'd go in at 85k with potential to expand in the future.

 

SJP is just memories. It's fine to say "ah, I remember the days of Shearer, Keegan, Ginola, SBR and SJP." I think we need to go all in and move to the Moor, or other sites as suggested. Success has no room for sentimentality. Not like SJP is held dear the last 14 years - "ah, Ashley years bring a tear to the eye....."

Just move into a 80,000 seater. I think that's the top limit, similar size to Bayerns, Reals, Dortmunds, but the Saudi's will want to ensure it's the biggest in the country so a move to the Aramco Arena is inevitable.

 

But the Ashley years do bring a tear to my eyes.

 

Just wondering if we could replace the East stand with a double-decker stand, assuming it wouldn't cause a light-blocking issue for Leazes Terrace? If that was an issue could the top tier then be made moveable by hydraulics up/down when not is use (bit mad, but possible I suppose - some pretty big bridges are moved about this way).

Probably easier just to build a new super stadium somewhere else :-(

 

In theory Leazes Terrace is not as big an issue as first thought, however it would be expensive. It would have to be bought, demolished and rebuilt pretty much as an exact replica elsewhere, is what some are saying.

Also pretty sure its owned by a Saudi Consortium

 

Is that a real plan or a fan fantasy plan? If the former what would the new limit be?

 

Welcome Prof. A more practical solution could be forthcoming if something happened to Leazes Terrace, if you know what I mean…