When will Newcastle United expand St James’ Park & to what capacity? Craig Hope at Strawberry Place

[@matthewrayner5104]

Not a Newcastle fan, but this is great news for the club. And best of luck in the Carabao Cup!

[@callumainscough7]

Thanks mate

[@jegnufc91]

This was such a great video Craig! Going round the stadium and explaining each option and for those who aren't familiar with our beautiful ground!

[@robnicholson4942]

Thanks Craig for doing the walk round and showing us how and where such a development could happen..

[@lazthemag]

I loved to hear the story of you going to the match with your dad. Reminded me of my dad too. I’m sure both Geordie and my Dad will have gone to a few matches together when they were younger as they were pretty good mates back then. Great report Craig and good to show the ground and it’s splendour in the heart of the city 👍🏻

[@pauljames77777]

Top Video Craig , there is only one place for St James Park and thats where it stand today , no intrest to move it too many memories for a lot of people to relocate it to another place It will be interesting how this Pans out in the future development of St James park Thanks for the video Craig keep them comming and have a great weekend

[@341METAXA]

As ever a balanced, informed and articulate video. Keep in coming Craig. Loved you reminiscing about your time at the match with your dad. HWTL!

[@leeforster6126]

Class video Craig - totally get not wanting to see the East stand rebuilt because of the memories it evokes. My first game (Shrewsbury, Aug 1983) was in the benches and would have been in or around those turnstiles 🙏

[@Zappa943]

I can remember back in the day people used to sit on the rooftops in Leazers terrace to watch the game.

[@Jules220965]

Thanks Craig as usual Fantastic News .Just can’t leave St James Park just has to be away.

[@richardferguson6893]

Great video Craig and thanks for the tour around. As a Canadian fan, it's nice to see the areas around the stadium, etc. Love that the Strawberry area has been reclaimed.

[@johnsilver613]

Informative video, Craig. I have always wondered why St. James Park was only 52,000 seater when the club is supported by a few thousand more. The most sensible way imo is to expand the Leazes end and remove the lop sided look of the stadium. The listed buildings only predate the football club in its current form by some 60 years, but which is more iconic to the city itself? There is only one 'Cathedral on the hill' while there are at least 4 late Georgian terrace residences.

[@adamrylandhall]

Great work with these videos, Craig. Something we haven't had from any other journos - bit of a niche!

[@finboy1258]

Lee Ryder is in tears. Seriously though, he doesn't travel around town as much

[@michaelkelly7301]

Great video Craig enjoyed the tour round the ground ;You answered a lot questions RE; stadium expansion.thanks👍

[@marcusdidius4090]

Dear Craig, Canny Video as always👍 Wahey🙆That accessible entrance gate is where I go into the ground to take my seat in the Leazes End😁All the quality people come from the Leazes End😛😜🤪😝 Regards,

[@barryingham4834]

Informative piece. Really enjoyed it.

[@jonny5alive7]

Great video, appreciate the new features you keep adding. This week a fast forward section!

[@carlwylie8898]

Cheers Craig. The buying of Strawberry Place, I think shows the intentions that St James Park is the future for Newcastle United. With modern engineering I'm sure St James can expand even to 65-70k

[@mattupton7039]

Really enjoyed this, thanks Craig. Didier Domi drive and Carl Cort Court was the highlight for me 😂

[@peterarmstrong3298]

Thoroughly enjoyed this thanks Craig. We need more than 65,000 however.

[@andyblack7320]

Love the video Craig and your videos. The club should build a huge Gallowgate like the yellow wall or the Spurs stand. Get rid of the little layers of the gallowgate which I think harms the atmosphere. I would keep the East Stand, and well they have to. But it would act as a reminder of where we have come from both as a club and a city.

[@johnosborne7693]

Thanks Craig, great video as usual, here in the bars in Carriacou Granada I am much better informed than my useless drinking buddies!! Thanks so much. J.

[@ToonArmyNL1892]

surely they can do something with the East Stand. I know you’re attached to it Craig, but perhaps a transparent design to improve the view of the stunning buildings behind and perhaps some hydraulic solution which only appears on match day - it would be a win-win

[@JB-dx7eu]

I've been saying this for the past year. Sports stadium architects and engineers would jump at the chance to get on board. The East stand could be the most innovative in world football.

[@danlawson6652]

Theres loads they can do with the east stand! The pitch can be lowered just slightly also the east stand rebuilt to make into a two tiered stand. Lower tier can be rail standing sweeping round to accommodate the lower tier of the new two or three tiered gallowgate stand. Rail standing can house up to 2 for 1 equivalent to seating in the future. But at present 1.5 persons to 1. Capacity could be 70,000 without much problem. The rail seating possibilities solve a difficult footprint problem for the east stand

[@thomasrichards3760]

Turn it into a modern day Bombanera

[@DanielCordone9]

I think we should knock half of leazes terrace down and turn it into an 80000 seater stadium. Relocate the demolished buildings elsewhere. You'd still get the views of the other part. It's possible to expand there and we should mirror the stand opposite

[@jayaychare7318]

@@DanielCordone9 you can’t touch a building with listed building status .

[@BoldonBigLad]

Carl Court Court! Loved that

[@robtantum]

Great vid Craig, this channel can really kick off but need to improve the audio first!

[@jamesnichols2619]

Great video Craig, been waiting for it coming out, I honestly think the answer to expanding attendances is not too far away, I went to football matches for many years pre all seating. It worked. As long as its managed properly I think some sort of standing should return. Maybe a touchy subject but one massively mis managed game many years ago has influenced something that worked with much bigger attendances for the previous 80/90 years. Stupid idea?

[@davidhoward5392]

Shorty after the takeover, the new owners did insist that St James was the spiritual home of Newcastle and they would not be moving, given these are serious business people returning this land back to the club appears was always on their agenda. This expansion would be an architect's dream job, would not be surprised if some very clever and iconic design is produced which expands the Gallowgate up and keeps Strawberry Place in intact, I remember the East Stand being built, also in 63 as a young lad going into the Gallowgate end for my first ever game and the smell of those bloody toilets. The Toon a club on the move, is an understatement, just need to live long enough to see it happen

[@Aptpro23]

Great video mate loving the content

[@andybalfour6746]

Great video Craig.

[@tony6942]

Great video, what selfie stick do you use Craig?

[@michaelc6828]

Thank you for the Video Craig.. I hope and think what will come will deliver one of the best city stadiums in the world.. Match the Gallowgate to the Milburn and Leazes.. Rebuild the East Stand no higher due to Leazes Terrace but a 2 tier cantilever.. The road at the Gallowgate will remain but moved over the metro station & The fan zone will be developed to fit into the whole thing.. That would easily deliver a stadium of 65k..if not slightly more! Regardless we have the land now and whatever happens it will be spectacular

[@panchopuskas1]

Plenty of open spaces on Tyneside to build a new state of the art stadium with transport links and easy access A 70,000 seater somewhere to the east of the city centre....knowing the weather up there a retractable roof would be a welcome addition.......go for it......

[@rogercookcouk]

Nice vid Craig! The *Fan Zone* I've no doubt will be a spectacle! How that'll work with plans to increase SJP I've got no idea! But exciting times!

[@ChrisTopher-gu8gf]

Great content Craig 👍

[@keithrichardsom1898]

Great to hear that the view won't be restricted as I personally think that the view of the stadium coming over the the bridge from the Gateshead side and the view of the stadium has been ruined by the monstrosity of the building s around SJP

[@BusterBloodVessel1]

Great video craig

[@northeastupdates]

Great video Very informative! 🖤⚪🖤⚪

[@peterstabler2321]

I am listening Craig.

[@robnicholson4942]

Gascoigne Gardens.... Beardsley Boulevard.... Waddle Way..... Ashley Avenue... No No scrap that!

[@Dougie_Morris-Ashington]

Happy Day's Craig

[@devongreen7724]

I definitely dont want to leave the cathedral on the hill thank you mehrdad for buying back the land HWTL

[@clarky_697]

Good video Craig....sound was a bit off at times though 👌🖤🩶

[@craighope_dailymail]

Which part? Thanks for the feedback. Had new mic but seems on some devices it was in and out.

[@clarky_697]

@@craighope_dailymail seemed to be through most of the video for me, just a bit unclear as if there was interference or the bass was a bit too much, I tried it on two separate tablets and both the same and I don’t normally have an issue so just thought I’d mention it. None the less great video and keep them coming mate 👍

[@craighope_dailymail]

@@clarky_697 seems inconsistent depending on device and volume level. I’ve got some new software to edit from today, hopefully that will auto correct sound, once I figure out how to use it. Thanks for watching. Important to get sound and picture perfect though. 👍🏻

[@clarky_697]

@@craighope_dailymail yeah good luck, I’m sure you will sort it 👍

[@magpies77]

Reckon it'll get upto round 61 thousand ,use east stand for safe standing maybe get upto 65, build over the road people can drive under the stand

[@goatfather5711]

Mike Ashley literally dismantled Newcastle for profits. Thanks to the owners for reunited the club both on and off the field and bringing back the women’s team.

[@DanielCordone9]

He humiliated the fans. Didn't care about the club

[@Cal2929]

Ameobi Avenue, I absolutely love that hahah

[@marsdenrattler8571]

I don't think the club would have bought that land if they didn't know what they could do with the East stand. I think a push north west into Leazes park with a reciprocal arrangement to renovate and upkeep the remainder of the park in perpetuity may be an option which would allow development of half a new stadium without affecting the current ground. Whatever happens it will be well thought through and that's all you can ask.

[@occiegray]

I’m Malmo FF but Newcastle is my Papa’s team I’ve got colleagues in London! It’d going to a mythical football Fiji at Wembley! 🎉 GCI Geordie Capital Invasion! 🎉

[@kierondixon2257]

He never misses

[@ilcorvo9559]

if they can build up the gallowgate and get us to say 62k that would be great. What I’d like to see them do is modernise the stadium inside as well. Improve the concourses and hospitality areas.

[@FloydManFloyd]

I think they should try and build some mad futuristic suspended stand over the east stand. If they could build a suspension bridge in the 1820s then I reckon they could build a suspended spectator stand for a stadium 200 years later...

[@Tom_murray89]

I’m so glad we’ve got the land back under our ownership

[@peterstabler2321]

i hear that 10 of the world's best stadium architects have been locked in a room with a kilo of magic mushrooms, i'm hoping for a magpie shaped glass stand on the East side.

[@thebyronicmann]

I think they could totally rebuild the east stand and rase it slightly leaning towards the listed buildings. The club could make that particular area look stunning and appealing to look/live in for the residents with deflection technology to avoid any natural lighting. Let’s face it that external part of the stadium is shoddy/70’s style dated and could do with a makeover anyway. I’ll see myself out…

[@v4vendetta237]

As I understand it although I could be wrong, I'm of the understanding that those listed buildings could be taken down brick by brick and moved to a different location. They dont hold any unique architectural value other than age. It's a painstaking process but it has been done before but it is a very very very very costly endeavor but to the PIF it would be the equivalent of loose change. A fully developed st James's park is surely everyone's dream.

[@JB-dx7eu]

I understand an expansion of the Gallowgate will take time but I would be content if I didn't have to wait too long to atleast drool over the plans ✌

[@TheJulioGeee]

Got your steps in today Craig

[@ianlittlefear4690]

Sandman building has always been there. They just re vamped the existing building. The rest of the brewery obviously got flattened but the sandman building was the brewery offices 👍

[@craighope_dailymail]

Thanks Ian. My mistake. I can see that now.

[@jonnymars8084]

Straight in the strawberry 🍓 after filming? It should have been in the video too!

[@kendo5862]

Lol - yer lad picked some good lads there as the best players 👏👍you’ve been a good dad! 😂

[@budweizer100]

A beautiful moment talking about the boy getting recognition from Bruno just to put us at ease, followed by "Didier Domi Drive and Carl Cort Court"!! 🤣🤣🤣 Completely caught me off guard and broke me.

[@DanielCordone9]

Didier Domi was a quality left back. Could do with someone like him now.

[@geordieian3266]

Craig you know your still a toon fan!! Regardless of being a sports reporter and having to have an unbiased opinion

[@gordonkelly]

"Well hellllloooo..." It's your intro now 😎⚫⚪👊

[@adamduda9900]

As someone living so far away (NZ) I love these types of videos. Craig, is there any news of a location for the new training ground site? Thanks

[@LH22222]

Good video Craig. Would be interesting to know how much MA sold it for and how much it cost to buy back? Someone’s made an absolute fortune out of nothing I bet…

[@joinmeonthedarkside2]

The biggest question is What would the new stand be called ? Sir Bobby Robson stand ? Kevin keegan stand ? Alan shearer stand ? 🙂

[@DanielCordone9]

Clarence Acuna Area

[@joinmeonthedarkside2]

@@DanielCordone9 the Albert luque end

[@DanielCordone9]

@@joinmeonthedarkside2 How about, the Brian Pinas End?

[@joinmeonthedarkside2]

@@DanielCordone9 jon dahl tomasson way

[@SensibleMoniker]

Pingle Place?

[@Matty12333]

The East stand could be demolished and rebuilt higher.

[@ilcorvo9559]

Not significantly, or it would restrict light access to the terrace which is a legal requirement.

[@Whowantstokna]

I'd sell up and move to ameobi avenue tomorrow

[@grahamtctravels8380]

Hi, enjoy these videos and agree great news we have this piece of land back. However as emotional our ground is to us all it very much has it’s challenges. I am sure we can’t just twist 90 degrees like Spurs etc, also anything like that option, also read we could almost push west onto Barrack Road to allow enough light for houses behind East Stand. Of course as you mentioned Barrack Road is a major road into our city. Even if possible these creative ideas the question would be where would we play? 10-15k Gateshead Stadium or maybe our neighbours down the road? That would be popular both sides of river! We keep St James’ in time we don’t know exactly how the ladies game is to expand, also guessing U23’s etc, all in all we can keep for Footballing use. I say all this as I can see us fiddle about & spend £100 or £200 million on expanding & eventually say get to 65k. Even know that wouldn’t cut it. When joining Q’s for regular match tickets you’ll find Q’s of 10-15k trying best to get tickets. Answer is the unpopular one, as sometimes the correct answer is. Build brand new (still stay in SJP) while being built, my choice would be to nab the land where Arena is (they are moving) would still be in city centre and could be something special. I’ve been lucky enough to attend Atlanta United & Mercedes Benz Stadium/Arena (of course Darren Eales) and truly spectacular.

[@jonnya4209]

Jeez Craig - I went through the next turnstiles down 41&42 from Oct91 until the fat man.

[@forestedforestschool]

You kept this quiet at the TF live show ;) Canny scoop!

[@kevinpipe8168]

i would love to see them expand sjp but i dont think this land has been bought for that i think short term its going to be a fan base. the co owners own loads of land around newcastle and this just adds to the portfolio. SJP is a fantastic stadium but its not a world class stadium and at the end of the day thats what these people will want and i with restrictions i cant see how u can turn the stadium into that

[@DanielCordone9]

So sad about Christian Atsu. Hoping for a miracle. Always used to rate him.

[@harry4901]

Carl Court Court 😂😂

[@andyh323]

The sound quality on this is poor.

[@craighope_dailymail]

At what point? It was recorded with a lapel mic. Some sections the wind was catching the mic I noticed. Any feedback appreciated. Also used ring light for first time.

[@bensouthwell1339]

Leazes Terrace can be moved stone by stone to any where in the city and apart from a handful of residents no one would give a monkeys. The greater good for the people should out weigh students and a few middle class residents bent on stopping the march of progress for a cosy life style. As I keep saying if a bye-pass had to be built in that area the building would be rubble in eight hours.

[@micathasteings]

Complaining about another leval id buy a season ticket for leval 8 rather that then not geting in at all

[@pg5739]

why the emotional block about moving to a new site ? Isn't the aim to win and to have as many people watch as possible ?

[@tonym8009]

First

[@juanaltredo2974]

great to see an arabian club do so well in england

[@jaksonmaicol3124]

Surely you didnt mean what you said about being anaesthetised to supporting nufc?! Not possible

[@thedok6419]

Haha.....Ameobi Avenue, many of the younger supporters have been lied to and think Shola was a good player? He was good at winning new contracts for being useless.

[@IndieGoFigure]

He had a wonderful habit of scoring against S*nderland

[@tonyp011]

Rubbish saying Newcastle is more special than anywhere in the country that people want to get into for the atmosphere, you’ll never beat the atmosphere of Anfield, speaking of which your home record came crumbling down last night once again, and your richer than Liverpool yet you can’t beat them on the pitch lol

[@denisconor648]

Knock the place down redevelop retain ownership and build a new stadium .90, 0000 stadium best for the fans.

[@Intravenusdimilo]

Ive never cared about the view and i dont blame mike Ashley

[@Steph-wq9it]

Maybe Beamish Museum? No, let’s not think that the whole world revolves around football.

[@peterreid]

more free half season tickets when it gets extended!

[@seansmith445]

The stadium is a monstrosity, a blot on the landscape. Why on earth would anyone want to protect the view of an absolute carbuncle that is St James Park 🤣

[@bigal3364]

Who cares