Great news, Newcastle is an ideal venue with its compact City centre and nightlife.



also St James' parks design makes it easy for the RFL to sell the bottom tier (s) first so it'll look full for the camera's.

Great choice of venue. Right in the city centre, abit like Cardiff in that respect, the locals are brilliant, vibrant city centre. I canny wait.

Great choice IMO.



However, appears accommodation might be a challenge.

I did find a place out of the city centre on the way to the airport that is £103 for a double room for 3 nights. They also do a triple for the same price too. I suppose its a matter of whether you have to be central or not. Not sure it financially viable for me or logistically coming from Cardiff.

Brilliant !!!!!

The Strawberry will make a fortune.

Great pub 30 seconds from the ground.



For those who like a drink about a dozen pubs within a FIVE minute walk.



1000 times better than the Etihad,



100 times better than cardiff.



Loads of places to eat.



I guarantee it will be the best Magic weekend ever.



If looking for accommodation try the area around Jesmond. Loads of hotels and bars.



Also remember it has an excellent METRO system so dont be afraid to stay out of town.



Whitley Bay and South Shields packed full of cheap accommodation and the metro from these places stops

a 1 minute walk to St James' park.



Only issue will be the stewarding. There boozing will be immense. I hope the Stewards deal with the idiots quickly.

Good to hear DG. I booked mine in Jesmond. 2 rooms for 2 nights for £140 with breakfast!

Buzzing my tits off.

as durham giant says, there is plenty of accommodation outside of the city centre. i have stayed there with work and was in jesmond for most of my visit, which is just north of the city centre and a couple of metro stops up from the haymarket, monument area. plenty of hotels here. the best value perhaps will be in whitley bay and south shields both served by the metro. remember the area hosts a similar number of visitors for the great north run and does ok for accommodation. i did the GNR several times and never had any problems staying in the area if i booked early enough (though all the close hotels filled up really quickly) - for the hardy there are camp sites on the coast too

. for anyone driving there are lots of places within 30 mins drive - durham, hexham, alnwick with decent hotels and in nice areas.



whilst i was up there i used the metro all the time for getting around and found it great. for day visits, drive to the outskirts, park free and get the metro into town, sorry toon



haven't been up for a wee while so not too well versed on the pubs now, but always liked rosies bar which is near the ground near chinatown and did good ales. used to be a fine pint of draught bass in the percy arms nearby, and over towards the infamous bigg market the duke of wellington was good, but don't know if it is still there

Excellent choice if correct.



Space around the ground may be a bit limited for fanzones/unsafe for large numbers to keep entering/leaving unless the road that runs along the back of the main stand is closed over the two days.



Be unusual to see a Super league game played on a sloping pitch again!

Leazes Park would provide plenty of space for a fan park.

Can't see that happening to be honest. Alcohol sales etc would be completely unmanageable in a public open space detached from the stadium. Can't see the people who live close being too pleased.



Closing Strawberry Place would be best bet. Also a decent amount of space behind the other pitch side stand.