But fans have threatened protests during Newcastle United ’s home games over the Toon owner’s plan to call the stadium Sportsdirect.com@St James’ Park.
The Newcastle United Supporters ’ Trust has also gathered 21,000 signatures on its online petition against renaming St James’, and recently launched its Yes We Can campaign to lead a fan buy-out of Ashley.
That led to concerns Tyneside’s World Cup bid may be scuppered, but city councillors believe the area is in a great position.
City council leader John Shipley said: “It absolutely will not affect the bid. This bid is about the region itself.
“We have the infrastructure already in place with the Metro, with the hotel base, with the football club itself meeting very high standards and we are very hopeful.
“It all gives us a great advantage. Everything is in place. Some cities in the running do not yet have a big enough stadium but we do.”
Deputy leader David Faulkner said: “We have an advantage because the Newcastle United stadium needs only minor alterations, whatever it’s called. I think it’s named after an email address.”
The NewcastleGateshead bid is almost complete and will get the final go ahead at the council’s Executive on November 25.
A decision on which cities will go forward with the England 2018 application will be released on December 16.
An FA inspection team visited St James’, as well as Exhibition Park, Newcastle Racecourse, Saltwell Park and various Tyneside hotels and training grounds on September 10.
And the reaction has so far been very positive.
They said in a letter to the bid committee: “The quality and content of your initial bid was excellent and you should be commended on the highly professional approach which was adopted during the recent inspection visit.”
Coun Faulkner said: “Despite all the torments of recent times it is a football area and it would be tremendous for the city.
“We have been talking with people from our sister city Gelsenkirchen, Germany, which hosted an England game at the World Cup in 2006, and they say it has led to great sustained interest in the area, and has been great for the fans and great for the region.
“When we had the European Championships here in 1996 it was very positive across the city.”
