A site near Ponteland airport may be a possibility. They could then build the best airport in the world to match the best stadium in the world. To compliment the best team and supporters in the world.
Spitballing again, but I'd imagine Sid James would still operate, only at a massively reduced capacity. It's supposed to be the Millburn and Leazes stands, in particular the extensions, that have the problems. If that's the case and the Gallowgate and East stands aren't affected, they could operate on just those two stands while they demolish and rebuild the Millburn and Leazes stands. But while they did that they'd have a capacity of a lot less than 20k (from Google approximately 17k) and neither stand is equipped with corporate, media or changing facilities, not to mention segregation. No matter how wealthy the owners are, there's no way they could get by for long on gates of 15-16k (they'd have to lose more seats to accommodate the press, TV cameras and team benches) and massive reduction in corporate money. On top of that the mags as fans wouldn't be able to live with the humiliation of losing over 2/3s of their capacity due to the ground being unsafe. The meltdown from them towards the Saudis would be epic. It won't matter that it was fat Freddie that built the extension, the Saudis will cop it for neglecting the ground, not investing in it, not building a new one in time etc. They'd be burning tea towels from Denton to Walker! It would hurt them even more that the only ground in reasonable travel distance that could accommodate them is ours, but the humiliation of having to rent our ground for any extended period of time would see some of them off. They could try and rent Gateshead stadium, but that only holds 12k an even with extended temporary stands wouldn't be much bigger than the reduced Sid James park, if at all. Kingston Park rugby ground is even smaller. All told for at least a couple of years they'd be f@cked, with massive costs to demolish and rebuild the knackered stands and hugely reduced income.
Just been pointed out to me that on the left hand side of this embarrassing picture there's two women in the second row. Are they the ones they keep taking to Vermont Hotel?
If repair/rebuild is out , also Leazes park , Town Moor, Gateshead and everywhere else- there’s bags of room in the desert near Riyhad.
Essentially the Saudi owners have been sold a pup! Due diligence would have established the lack of ownership of the land St. James Park is built on, the adjacent Listed Buildings situation and a thorough Survey of the Buildings and amenities would have identified structural problems and the ensuing cost of delapidations. If the estimates being bandied about on this Forum are realistic there would be a strong case for cutting their losses, folding the enterprise and moving out and on. Always assuming they will not find a Buyer for the whole sorry mess. God help the people who advised them to take over Newcastle United.
I've said before, the Saudis are wealthy enough that even if the mags are a loss, they'll not be a big enough one for them to be forced to sell as a drain in resources. It's not like Ashley or Shepherd who couldn't afford to have a huge loss making asset so would have to sell up to be rid. The Saudis can afford to hold into them but not invest in them until THEY want rid. It's the worst of all worlds. You can't force them out, they can cut the losses by just not spending in them and if they do get rid it's at their choosing. It's likely that the Saudis get rid of the mags, because they served a purpose for sports washing, but as Saudi has the 2034 world cup, the mags aren't needed anymore.
I think they should move to the Darlington arena, 25000 capacity and loads of parking. Don’t even think Darlington play there anymore.Plus it’s a good hike from Newcastle, but the best supporters in the world won’t mind that
Was in Gatwick Airport yesterday not a mag top to be seen thankfully, it was heaving at five in the morning it’s even got a Harrods shop. Mags must look on in airport envy
I did some work in Heathrow a few years back. And was speaking to the guy who opened what was going to be a shop unit up for me. He said Heathrow makes more money from retail than any shopping centre etc.. across the UK. He reckoned there were times when billionaires or whatever flying to buy a watch as it was limited availabilty doing a bit more shopping and never leaving the airport as they flew straight back.
Just got back from antalya airport, only seen 2 football tops , guess who they were, must of had them on all holidays
Likely bought them snide over there. Love their club but happy to rob them for a cheap knock off kit.
