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Newcastle United’s St James’s Park sign ripped down
NEWCASTLE United’s iconic St James’s Park lettering was today ripped down – to be replaced by new Sports Direct Arena signs.
These pictures show workers taking a crowbar to the famous old ground to remove the final remaining traces of its old name.
The club announced back in November that the stadium would no longer be called St James’s Park, being replaced by Sports Direct Arena, in a controversial decision by owner Mike Ashley.
For more reaction to the move, buy tomorrow’s Gazette.
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Wednesday 23 May 2012
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Comments
There are 17 comments to this article
Page 1 of 2
Brian. H.
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 05:31 PMIs it fair to say that all the negative comments are from Newcastle fans and all the positive congratulatory comments are from Sunderland fans? I dislike the double standards of football TOTALLY! They're not footballers these days! They're media stars! They're ALL over-paid and underworked! Reduce them all to about a £1,000 p.w. and give them a bonus when they actually score a goal! There'll be a lot more goals and less kissing and cuddling! Footballers are supposed to set a good example to young boys(and girls). But their actions on and especially off the field leave a lot to be desired! By the way, the spelling and diction of some of the posters on here is atroshus(deliberate mis-spelling to highlight the problem) "areana", "honist", arean", to name but a few. Lastly, Mr Ashley should listen to the paying public and NOT potential advertisers for his arena! All the fans have to do is stay away for one match and Mr Ashley would get the message! (ducks down and awaits the fall-out!)
Heinrich Scrotwengler von Grossteschattenburg
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 12:11 PMAre there any 'football' matches these days that are not fixed? How the hell someone on £20,000 to£50,000 a week can fail to score less than, say, 3 goals a week baffles me. How come they do not get sacked? There's a big match fixing scandal in China right now...
Hebburnlee
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 10:15 AMwavydavy - look at all Mike Ashley (and owners of other clubs) have done - yet the supporters still turn up in their droves. Many fans try to settle it in their own minds by saying "yeah, but I'm only going to support the team", but by doing so, they're lining the owners' pockets. Only a brave few, eg the people who walked away from Manchester Utd and formed their own club, United FC, are prepared to stick to their principles when it comes to match-day.
KEVSLF
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 07:08 PMTo me it will always be St James" park no matter what the fat cockney does...
jarramag
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 07:01 PMChrist sake man everyone knew he'd changed the name, abit of signage isn't going to make any difference. As long as we are doing well on the pitch and financially off it I couldn't care less.
ftm007ftm
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 06:12 PMI think SIR MIKE SHOULD GET A KNIGHTHOOD. We love you mike. Hero you are Sir Mike. lol
ftm007ftm
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 06:06 PMPending Moderation
charlie B
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 05:46 PMwell done mike, this has made my day. how did that lucky fella get the job of taking a crow bar to the sign?
hebburnmag
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 05:16 PMSad day is all i can say !! they may only be letters on a wall to some but its what they stand for..what will now go up in their place ? another advert for the Ashley empire me thinks. Ashley is a business man first and foremost with no passion for the history and tradition of Newcastle united..of course the fans and even the local media will always still refer to the ground as St.James Park but i still think its one of the ways Mr.Ashley has his snipes at the fans he knows changing the ground name will bring in a certain ammount of money to the club but equally he knows it will wind the fans up...win win for him !!!!
bewilderedonlooker
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 04:55 PMLetts make it extra Geordie The "Greggs Ham and Peas pudding stottie stadium"
Wavydavy
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 04:47 PMCould we make it "Greggs chesse and onion pasty arean"? It's a bit more "Greggsy"
Wavydavy
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 04:45 PMHebburnlee, I agree with your comments. However, any good businessman knows that your biggest asset is your employees or in this case fans and listening to them as well as treating them with respect will make you all the more successful. The fans of the club he owns give a huge financial contribution to him and he takes advantage of the support he gets. Leaving this sign would have made little difference to his aims and success.
bewilderedonlooker
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 04:39 PMTo be honist I dont care what the stadium is called, aslong as the club is financialy sound and isnt heading the way of Rangers or Pompy. If that meens calling the ground "The Geggs Sausage Roll areana" then so be it!
Hebburnlee
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 04:23 PMMike Ashley and many of the other Premier League chairmen know how to make money and how to run a successful business. Football fans want a successful team and often don't care about (or understand) the needs of the business. And therein lies the problem and the cause for conflict - fans care about the club, owners care about the business.
Planning Portal
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 03:53 PMWE LOVE YOU MIKE :D
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