Articles 
Newcastle United sacrifice over a hundred years of history for what?
The final act of a sad and sorry tale came to pass on Friday 17th September.
Despite NUST presenting a petition of objection of 30,000 names, despite 230 individual objections, despite many of the planning committee wondering how the words ‘Sports Direct’ were so big compared to St. James' Park - planning permission has been granted for the erection of giant signs reading ‘SportsDirect.com@St.James' Park.’.
NUST were allowed a 5 minute opportunity to object and represent the members of the Trust and the fan base as a whole who raised the thirty thousand strong petition. NUST Board member Bill Corcoran attended the Council Planning Committee meeting and reflected, “I was given the opportunity to object which I did on positions of ‘amenity and safety’ – the only two allowed. Taste, morality and judgement being outside the committee’s terms. I made points that the development infringed the conservation area of Leazes Park and that it affected the amenity of the new science based Central Business District by allowing billboarded advertising on the fabric of the ground. The council officers, who it must be said were very fair throughout, were obliged though to point out that there were very few objections allowed under planning law."
A Mr. Burn spoke on behalf of the club and used the examples of the Emirates Stadium, The Reebok, The Cellnet Riverside Stadium and The Brit Oval. He said that no other organisation had offered to sponsor the stadium naming rights and that, “If Newcastle City Council offered to sponsor it then that would be fine”.
So another huge own goal which divides club and fans, this at the very time when Chris Hughton and his players need everybody pulling together to help support the encouraging start to the season. The club are quite right that other stadiums in the Premier League have taken sponsorship but they are all new grounds, not steeped in over a hundred years of collective memories and emotion. As fans we are all quite aware that football is a ‘business’ these days and there may have to be a trade off at times between what supporters would ideally like and what the harsh financial reality is. However, at this moment in time there appears as yet to have been no financial benefit to the club and its supporters by this renaming move.
Only at Newcastle United.
The Council's decision and other documents can be accessed here
