Newcastle council refuse to change St James' Park street signs to Sports Direct ArenaPublished 22:30 10/11/11 By Simon Bird (2) Recommend (1)
St James’ Park will remain St James’ Park on the streets of Newcastle – because city bosses will refuse to alter signs.Anger at United’s -decision to sell the stadium name grew yesterday, with supporters leading the -criticism.
But the club encountered street-level resistance when the Labour controlled council announced it will not be paying to alter signs showing cars and -pedestrians the way to the ground.
Club fanzines led the charge against owner Mike Ashley’s decision to call the ground the Sports Direct Arena. That will change again once a buyer for the £10million-a-year naming rights is found.
The influential NUFC.com site wrote: “Having made significant strides in PR terms this season and seen their popularity rise in tandem with progress on the field, this looks like yet another own goal by NUFC.
“Just when ‘Peace in our Tyne’ looked to have been achieved after another tumultuous period of player (and managerial) departures and other distractions, this seems both ill-advised and avoidable – running the risk of opening up old wounds for no guaranteed reward.”
The True Faith fanzine wrote: “The risible attempt to sell out one hundred and thirty one years of history for what Mike Ashley hopes will turn him a few pounds at some unspecified time in the future will not work.
“Ashley may have the club literature changed to state Sports Direct Arena but no one else other than the likes of Sky TV and other soulless corporations will fall behind it.
“For all genuine football supporters, whatever the club, St James’ Park will always be St James’ Park. The home of Newcastle United.”
Mark Jensen, editor of Newcastle United fanzine The Mag, described the move as “all stick and no carrot”.
Labour councillor Henri Murison said: “The football club is part of the beating heart of the city, and while the council values its -relationship with the club, it has no plans to change any existing wayfinding signs which bear the name St James’ Park.
“As far as the fans and Newcastle City Council are concerned, the home of Newcastle United will always be known as St James’ Park.
“It’s recognised around the world and the decision to change it, without consultation, will upset the -overwhelming majority of fans who loyally support the team week in and week out.
“While I understand the -commercial reasons for renaming sport venues when they relocate, this is not the case in this instance. Some things are beyond profit when they mean so much to people.”
Nexus, who run the Metro system, added: “We are not renaming St James’ Metro station.”Ex-Toon defender and radio pundit John Anderson predicted most fans would continue to call it St James’ Park, while former United star Joey Barton tweeted: “Why change the name other than to upset the natives. Sports Direct Arena big no no. It will always be St James’ Park to me.
“Ashley and his subordinates know the cost of everything but the value of nothing...”
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120 years of history... a timeline
1892: St James’ Park first used by Newcastle Utd.
1905: Ground capacity doubled to 60,000.
1971: Agreement reached for redevelopment.
1972: New Leazes Terrace stand started, opening a year later.
1978: Leazes End demolished, but relegation means no new stand.
1986: West Stand knocked down after 1985 Bradford City fire disaster.
1987: (Jackie) Milburn Stand is opened.
1993: Sir John Hall Stand replaces Leazes End for Premier League debut.
1995: Plans to relocate to Leazes Park opposed and St James’ extended.
2000: Capacity up to 52,000 in redevelopment.
2003: MGM Mirage casino plans fall through.
2004: Shearer’s bar opens to honour Alan Shearer.
2007: Plans for £300m 60,000-seater on hold as Mike Ashley takes over.
2009: Ground to be known as sportsdirect.com@St James’ Park.
2011: Stadium to be renamed Sports Direct Arena.
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Newcastle-Sports-Direct-Arena-row-council-refuse-to-change-St-James-Park-street-signs-and-fanzines-lead-protests-article829128.html肥佬你咪自己單方面改名囉，但係市內所有路牌以及地鐵站都唔會改名，球迷亦唔會更改佢地對球場既稱呼。
[ 本文被bmx在2011-11-11 13:14重新編輯 ]
