Welcome to Sid James Park
What's in a stadium name? Quite a lot if you're Arsenal (£100m over 15 years) or the New York Mets ($400m over 20 years).
But what about Newcastle United, whose owner Mike Ashley has sparked outrage on Tyneside, and much mirth on Wearside, by revealing that he would welcome offers for naming rights to St James' Park to generate sponsorship money for the club.
Ashley was already a hate figure in the eyes of many Newcastle fans. Now he's the devil incarnate, having threatened the heritage of what Geordies regard as the most sacred ground in football.
St James' has been the Magpies' roost since 1892, since when the club's fortunes have fluctuated with alarming regularity.
Ashley no doubt hopes that he can pull off what the Gunners achieved when they left their hallowed home of Highbury for the Emirates Stadium having played the name game with lucrative aplomb.
But his chances of success are remote, for all sorts of reasons. The truth is that Newcastle have become a joke club, with suggested names ranging from Sid James Park to the Ashley Coal Arena.
Toon fans have had much to moan about in recent years, but this really is the pits. And look what happened to them in the north east.
So what should St James' Park be called? Or is Mike Ashley barking up the wrong tree? Have your say below
not a magpie but i dearly hope newcastle bounce back 1st time as they are a premier league club. i think ashley deserves some leaway tho with the money he has put into the club over the years, pulled them out of debt, will end up almost 250 million out of pocket, and still has to endure the ire of the fans. and let's face it nobody's going to call it anything other than st james' anyway.
Posted by: steven | 06 November 2009 at 17:32
Who cares....???? Just get on with it. Bunch of northern softies.
Posted by: keegan | 31 October 2009 at 17:02
Rich!! Why are you arguing with Gaz he is just a tossa from roker who has more to say about the Toon that his own club. Cant he remmember when his local team were compared to YO YOS'. Ignore these people mate they are only trying to wind you up Makems are more worried about how the Toon do than there own Team. At least in Quinny they have a man to respect and has the good of his club at heart unlike Ashley who doesn't give a shit about his club Just hunour Gaz we have been the top club for years!!! Let the makem scum have their little bit of glory as it will soon fall around there ears There is only one way for us to go and hopefully that is up. You can always ask the makems, HOW MANY GAMES HAVE YOU PLAYED IN EUROPE? THE ANSWER IS TWO AND THEY HAVE ONLY WON ONE!!!!!!!!! HOW MANY COMPETITIONS HAVE THEY WON IN EUROPE NON!!!!!!!!! .
So just ignore them mate
Posted by: Dave | 31 October 2009 at 16:43
Gaz in Roker you got it spot on THE PITS sounds about right....hahahahaha
Posted by: tweed | 31 October 2009 at 14:58
Mike Ashley, one sad cockney.
Posted by: bmc | 31 October 2009 at 14:47
How is the joke on rich, just cos he supports the team he loves and his local team. And just because they get relegated doesnt change the team he supports like Man UTD fans etc. Come on man get a grip, WE SUPPORT OUR LOCAL TEAM! Geordie and proud
Posted by: Lee | 29 October 2009 at 15:17
I can't believe what Mike Ashley's doing to Newcastle. Yes he's putting money into the club but he's not listening to the fans. St James' Park forever I say
Posted by: Janet, Gateshead | 29 October 2009 at 14:36
Who do you support Rich?
newcastle and live in Newcastle?
Who's the joke really on?
Posted by: glen | 29 October 2009 at 11:56
Who do you support Gaz? Man U and live in Kent?
Posted by: Rich | 28 October 2009 at 15:49
You've got it - The Pits. Cos that's what Newcastle are - always have been and always will be. Ashley's doing a great job making a bad club worse
Posted by: Gaz in Roker | 28 October 2009 at 14:29