Editing Newcastle United F.C. (section)

==Stadium==
{{Main|St James' Park}}

[[File:NUFC av attendances.jpg|thumb|Newcastle finished as the Football League's best supported club on ten occasions. The club was the first in the world to attract over one million for league games (1946–47) and average over 50,000 for league games (1947–48; 56,283).]]

Throughout Newcastle United's history, their home venue has been St James' Park, the oldest and largest football stadium in North East England, as well as the seventh-largest football stadium in the Premier League. It has hosted 11 international football matches at senior level, the first in 1901 and the most recent in 2024.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/MatchRsl/MatchRsl1900.html |title=England's Matches 1900–1914 |website=England Football Online| access-date         = 13 April 2011| archive-url         = https://web.archive.org/web/20111108121358/http://englandfootballonline.com/MatchRsl/MatchRsl1900.html| archive-date         = 8 November 2011| url-status         = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/seas2000-10/2004-05/M0826Aze2005.html |title=England 2 Azerbaijan 0 |website=England Football Online| access-date         = 13 April 2011| archive-url         = https://web.archive.org/web/20110317041314/http://www.englandfootballonline.com/Seas2000-10/2004-05/M0826Aze2005.html| archive-date         = 17 March 2011| url-status         = live}}</ref> It was used as a venue for both the [[2012 Summer Olympics]] and the [[2015 Rugby World Cup]]<ref name=olympic>{{cite web |url=http://www.london2012.com/games/venues/st-james-park.php |title=sports direct arena |format=PHP |access-date  = 13 April 2011 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20110713232040/http://www.london2012.com/games/venues/st-james-park.php |archive-date = 13 July 2011 |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/4516330.Newcastle_s_St_James__Park_to_be_Rugby_World_Cup_venue/ |title=Newcastle's St James' Park to be Rugby World Cup venue |first=Andrew |last=White |date=28 July 2009 |newspaper=The Northern Echo |access-date   = 13 April 2011|archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20090731053617/http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/4516330.Newcastle_s_St_James__Park_to_be_Rugby_World_Cup_venue/ |archive-date = 31 July 2009|url-status   = live}}</ref> and has been a regular venue for Rugby League's [[Magic Weekend]], attracting record crowds.{{citation needed|date=October 2023}}

Football had been played at St James' Park as early as 1880, the ground being occupied by Newcastle Rangers, before becoming the home of Newcastle West End in 1886. Its lease was then bought by Newcastle East End in 1892, before they changed their name to Newcastle United. At the turn of the 20th century, the ground's capacity was given as 30,000 before being redeveloped between 1900 and 1905, increasing the capacity to 60,000 and making it the biggest stadium in England for a time. For most of the 20th century, the stadium changed very little, despite various plans for development of the ground. The old West Stand was replaced with the Milburn Stand in 1987, the Sir John Hall Stand replacing the Leazes End in 1993, and the rest of the ground renovated making the ground a 37,000 capacity [[all-seater stadium]]. Between 1998 and 2000, double tiers were added to the Milburn and Sir John Hall stands to bring the venue up to its current capacity of 52,305.<ref name="officialsitehistory3">{{cite web |title=Newcastle United official site] St James' Park Story, Part 2 |url=http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/StJamesParkDetail/0,,10278~226535,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080307201620/http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/StJamesParkDetail/0,,10278~226535,00.html |archive-date=7 March 2008 |access-date=3 March 2008}}</ref>

{{wide image|StJamesParkPanorama.jpg|1000px|A panorama of St James' Park from the Milburn Stand, showing from left to right the Sir John Hall Stand, the East Stand and the Gallowgate End}}

In October 2009, Ashley announced that he planned to lease the name of the ground in a bid to increase revenue, and in November the stadium was temporarily renamed sportsdirect.com @ St James' Park Stadium.<ref name=off_market /><ref name=direct>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/8342406.stm |title=Newcastle reveal new stadium name |website=BBC Sport |date=4 November 2009 |access-date=4 November 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091105044920/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/8342406.stm |archive-date=5 November 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> This name was only supposed to be used until the end of the [[2009–10 Newcastle United F.C. season|2009–10 season]], but lasted until November 2011.<ref name=direct /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Newcastle-owner-Mike-Ashley-has-spent-a-staggering-285-8million-on-the-club-so-far-it-can-be-revealed-today-article718115.html |title=Newcastle 'have cost Ashley £285.8m so far' |first=Simon |last=Bird |date=29 March 2011 |newspaper=Daily Mirror |location=London |access-date=13 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110402150324/http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Newcastle-owner-Mike-Ashley-has-spent-a-staggering-285-8million-on-the-club-so-far-it-can-be-revealed-today-article718115.html |archive-date=2 April 2011}}</ref> On 10 November 2011, the club officially changed the name of the stadium to the Sports Direct Arena, although this was an interim name to showcase the sponsorship capabilities of the stadium. The company, owned by Ashley, was not paying anything for the deal.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/newcastle-united/8882563/Newcastle-United-insist-Sports-Direct-Arena-name-change-is-essential-to-help-pay-for-new-striker.html |title=Newcastle United insist Sports Direct Arena name change is essential to help pay for new striker |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=10 November 2011 |access-date=16 November 2011 |first=Luke |last=Edwards |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111113185206/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/newcastle-united/8882563/Newcastle-United-insist-Sports-Direct-Arena-name-change-is-essential-to-help-pay-for-new-striker.html |archive-date=13 November 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.skysports.com/skysportsnews/story/0,28679,19494_7301431,00.html |title=Magpies&nbsp;– We need the money |website=Sky Sports |date=10 November 2011 |access-date=16 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111112015328/http://www.skysports.com/skysportsnews/story/0,28679,19494_7301431,00.html |archive-date=12 November 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> In October 2012, [[payday loan]] company Wonga.com became Newcastle United's main commercial sponsor and purchased the stadium naming rights but restored the St James' Park name.<ref>{{cite news |title=Newcastle United sponsorship deal with Wonga sees stadium becoming St James' Park again |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/newcastle-united/9596399/Newcastle-United-sponsorship-deal-with-Wonga-sees-stadium-becoming-St-James-Park-again.html|archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20121010035657/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/newcastle-united/9596399/Newcastle-United-sponsorship-deal-with-Wonga-will-see-St-James-Park-reinstated-as-stadium-name.html |archive-date=10 October 2012 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |access-date=9 October 2012}}</ref>

Following the conclusion of the 22/23 season, a small allocation of seating in between the East stand and Gallowgate end were converted into [[Safe standing]] zones meaning that for the first time since 1993 St James' Park is no longer an all-seater stadium much like many other Premier League grounds.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shieldsgazette.com/sport/football/newcastle-united/work-underway-at-st-james-park-as-newcastle-united-fans-get-new-safe-standing-section-4197932|first=Miles|last=Starforth|title=Work underway at St James' Park as Newcastle United fans get new section|date=2023-06-27|website=shieldsgazette.com}}</ref>

In July 2023 it was confirmed that following the re-purchase of Strawberry Place, plans for a new fan zone outside the Gallowgate End had been submitted. It will be built in partnership with Stack and Sela (The clubs front of shirt sponsor).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-26 |title=Planning under way for Strawberry Place fan zone |url=https://www.nufc.co.uk/news/latest-news/planning-under-way-for-strawberry-place-fan-zone/ |access-date=2023-07-26 |website=Newcastle United Football Club |language=en}}</ref>

Since 1982, the stadium has been served by [[St James Metro station]] on the [[Tyne and Wear Metro]]. The station is decorated in a black and white colour scheme, with archive photographs of the club's players.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thetrams.co.uk/tyneandwear/stations/St._James |title=St. James |website=TheTrams.co.uk |publisher=Peter Courtenay |access-date=10 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110526080045/http://www.thetrams.co.uk/tyneandwear/stations/St._James |archive-date=26 May 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The club's current training ground is the Newcastle United Training Centre, located at [[Darsley Park]], which is north of the city at [[Benton, Newcastle upon Tyne|Benton]]. The facility was opened in July 2003.{{citation needed|date=October 2023}}

Following the club's ownership takeover in 2021, the Training Centre was renovated extensively, with a new reception area, restaurant, players' lounge, presentation suite, offices, medical facility, dressing room and hydrotherapy unit all constructed.<ref>{{cite web |title=A Tour of Newcastle United's New Look Training Ground! | date=30 May 2023 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QPp-UAJXD4 |publisher=Newcastle United |access-date=12 June 2023}}</ref>