If it were the Stadium Of Likes they it would be a Facebook Stadium. If it were the Stadium Of…read moreLychee it would be a delicious tropical fruit popular in India. And if it were the Stadium of Lipo... well then a lot of cute Geordie Shore types would be here getting surgery. Thankfully (or not?) it's none of those things. Sunderland are, somehow, blessed with one of the best stadiums in the Premier League and in the country. First-Hand Experience: More info about my personal experience at this stadium. I have lots of photos of me at this place. It's a wonderful stadium. I first came here in 2004, then again to watch a match in 05, then in 07, and when on tour in 2011. Most recently, I visited in 2014, when my partner and I were looking into buying a property (or more likely renting) somewhere in the Tyne & Wear area. I always stop by the stadiums and catch matches if I can and this is one of my faves. I've been to virtually every significant stadium in the UK & US, due to a lifelong obsession with travel, sport & especially footy (soccer to Americans). Born and raised in England, I followed Oxford United (my hometown team) to many stadiums all over the country at away games, and later followed Liverpool (my fave team) around. Every stadium review - like all my reviews - are from personal experience at these stadiums from multiple visits. In 2011, I was on music tour in the UK, and visited these stadiums then, also. As recently as Fall 2014, when I was "stuck" in the UK for 3 months, I visited all of the stadiums as I travelled around the country. I have pictures of many of them which I will post in future. Also, when I'm back in the UK I plan to take more pictures, and add more stadiums too! So watch this space! *** return to regular review *** Built in 1997 and costing 24 million, I actually did part of the shoot for my first album here because I like it so much (even though I'm a much bigger supporter of Newcastle than Sunderland). It can hold 60k for concerts. Oasis, Take That, Pink, Kings Of Leon, Coldplay, RHCP, Springsteen, Bon Jovi, Rihanna, One Direction and Foo Fighters have all played here. It's a huge bowl that is right on a river... and England have played here too. They beat Turkey 2-0 here in a Euro qualifier.

Wow the atmosphere in this stadium is fantastic and I can recommend coming along for the…read moreexperience. Obviously I'm a supporter but none the less, the stadium it's self is fantastic. 49,000 capacity and the flow of people into and out of the stadium is always smooth. There's alcohol, food and betting available inside but be warned it's expensive and you will have to queue. Toilet facilities are good; there are provisions for wheelchair access and a good mix people in the crowd.

I love the pavilion - it is a great sports venue and caters for all age ranges from the childrens…read moreparties and fitness classes ran in school holidays to the gym and fitness classes, tournaments, and OAP classes. Check out the teesactive.co.uk website for details of all the facilities this place offers. I am a gym member and the gym is great - it was recently refurbished and has top of the line new machines and well trained staff to help you get the best out of your gym sessions. If you get a monthly gym membership (lots of packages on offer) all the fitness classes here, and at the Forum as well as the swimming pools in billingham, thornaby and stockton are included at no extra charge. Well worth the subscription you pay and it is reasonably priced unlike some gyms in the area.

This is the home of Darlington football club, a 25,000 capacity stadium built by George Reynolds…read morewho swore to take the club all the way to the Premiership from the 3rd division.Sadly he only took us to the play offs at Wembly where we lost; that was the beginning of the end of for George as results and the crowd turned against him. But he saved the club from extinction and left us with a marvelous stadium that recently saw a great concert from Elton John with others in the pipeline. The club are involved with the community and hold classes for youngsters who are struggling at school. With facilities for functions such as weddings and a wonderful restaurant open on most nights and Sunday afternoon; the club are looking to the future and have plans to build a training ground and hotel with links to a province in China for future trade.

Multi-purpose facility, just like my nether regions. Used for all kinds of fun stuff, detailed…read morebelow, as part of the review of the Gateshead FC team that I wrote which also includes info about this stadium, which has held up to 30,000 people for concerts. Gateshead is what Bill's lovers usually give him before the actual act of consummation. First-Hand Experience: More info about my personal experience at this stadium - I come to Gateshead regularly (most recently 07, 11, and 14) for Cheese Savoury sandwiches. That sounds crazy but it's absolutely true. What is less crazy is that I came to this stadium and watched Gateshead play in 14 after visiting it the first 2 times. I was impressed with the facility but it was pretty empty and maybe not the best footy specific building. I've been to most UK & US stadiums, due to lifelong obsessions with travel, sport & especially footy (soccer to Americans). Born & raised in England, I followed Oxford United (hometown team) to stadia all over the country at away games, and later Liverpool (fave team) around. Every stadium review - like all my reviews - are from first-hand personal experience, usually from several visits. In 2011, I was on music tour in the UK, and visited most stadiums for fun in my spare time. As recently as Fall 2014, when I was "stuck" in UK for 3 months, I went to hundreds yet again while travelling. I have pictures of me at most, which I'll post later. Also, when back in UK I'll take more pix, and add more stadia! *** return to regular review *** Gateshead FC has been around since 1889, with a brief interruption in the 70s when they were liquidated. Speaking of liquid, you should see what often happens at the end of the Gateshead. Which sort of prevents the consummation from happening. The city is part of the Newcastle-Sunderland area, sandwiched right between the two. The team is super cool because they have the Angel Of The North on their badge, I'll be reviewing that later, it's one of my fave "things to see" in the UK. You wouldn't get this from any other guy. I just wanna tell you what I'm feeling. Gotta make you understand. They play in white at the Gateshead International Stadium which can hold a whopping 11,800 people. They are one tier below the actual football league, in the conference premier. However the team may be moving to a new stadium in the city centre, although that hasn't happened yet. The current stadium is also used as a gym, and for athletics, and rugby, and such.

Good gym and cheap but full of bruisers.read more

For a great day out try Newcastle Races. You can get there by taxi for around £10 from central…read morestation or they have free buses running 2 hours proir to the first race and 2 hours after, you would pick one of these up at either four lane end or regent centre metro stops. It costs about £13 to get in and there are plenty of food and drink outlets inside the course. There is also quite a large indoor area so if the weather is not too good you can take cover. You can get packages from around £30 which is good if you are in a group, which would include something like afternoon tea. The main events are the john smiths plate in late June its, packed during this weekend and booking is advisible. Overall A fun day out with either family or friends.

You know, it was said that his little brother Joaquin, was the thorn in River's Side. I don't think…read morethat's fair, especially since Joaquin became something of a Phoenix from the flames after River's death. What I want to know is, in the Sahara, where there is no water, where do all the Rivers Hide? First-Hand Experience: More info about my personal experience at this stadium - I love the Riverside. In 2004 when I was touring the UK, I visited for the first time and was utterly impressed even though it was located on a building site. I went back in 2005 and ate a Parmo while sitting on the steps of the stadium (I'm not kidding). I like it better than Sunderland's Stadium Of Light, believe it or not. Then I finally was able to watch a match here in 2011, and what a game it was. High-scoring and a really loud, intense crowd. I've seen Boro play away, but their fans really get behind them at home, unlike most other clubs, and The Riverside might be one of the 10 places I'd most like to go back and see another game - asap - in the UK. I've been to most UK & US stadiums, due to lifelong obsessions with travel, sport & especially footy (soccer to Americans). Born & raised in England, I followed Oxford United (hometown team) to stadia all over the country at away games, and later Liverpool (fave team) around. Every stadium review - like all my reviews - are from first-hand personal experience, usually from several visits. In 2011, I was on music tour in the UK, and visited most stadiums for fun in my spare time. As recently as Fall 2014, when I was "stuck" in UK for 3 months, I went to hundreds yet again while travelling. I have pictures of me at most, which I'll post later. Also, when back in UK I'll take more pix, and add more stadia! *** return to regular review *** This is one of Britain's best stadiums. It's stunning, red, grand, and wonderful. It's surrounded by a building site and an industrial sludge river and factory upon factory, but that almost adds to its charm. Young kids play in the industrial wasteland around the stadium and pretend they are Gaizka Mendieta. This was a great Prem stadium and will be again someday soon. They even incorporated part of the old stadium into the new, with the gates of Ayresome Park. Middlesbrough is the team that plays here, and it has hosted UEFA Cup Semi Finals among other things. In person, it's one of the loveliest stadiums I've been to. It can hold 35k, and England have played here before. That was the only time the stadium ever sold out. 2003, England 2, Slovakia 1.

Great place to see magnificent football with great atmosphere in the west stand. Sounds class from…read moreoutside cant afford a ticket but still know grant leadbitters dog.

My first premier game! 51k were in attendance and it was absolutely electric!!! Newcastle ended up…read morewith the win. Super clean stadium with great seats all around. Very well ran. Infectious atmosphere. More of this in my life!

My family had the pleasure of attending a game recently at St. James' Park…read more.. Sadly, Newcastle lost to West Ham, but the experience was pretty special regardless. We were treated to seats in a suite which was an amazing experience and included a full meal with several courses, drinks, snacks, special pins for the game, programs, and more. Service was attentive and friendly and the seating both in and outside of the suite itself was comfortable and convenient. We rideshared to the stadium, which worked out well but getting a ride after was a bit challenging. Even so, if you have the opportunity to attend a game here or check it out, do it! You will not regret it!

This stadium was designed in the image of Victor Hugo's ear (hence the name Victor-ear Park). It's…read morea bit of a missed opportunity because it's so close to the harbour and the North Sea, but you can't really "sea" it from inside the stadium because of the railway line, the massive Asda, and such, that are in the way. But it's close enough to be an absolutely freezing place to play football. And it's close enough where I'll give it a 4 out of 5 for proximity, even though the stadium is under 10k and isn't much to shout about. First-Hand Experience: More info about my personal experience at this stadium - I've seen Hartlepool play here only once, and what a lovely experience it was. Back in 2014 (about 9 months ago) on a day when they were filming a movie in town by the shore. I saw the Harts win here and the crowd went insane. Yes the stadium needs a bit of work but what a lovely place, what passion and history... and it's been around since 1886 too. I loved it here, the cold, the wind, the noise, and everything about it. It's one of the stadiums I plan to go back to. It could use a facelift and more fans inside it but it's easily a 4-star facility. I've been to most UK & US stadiums, due to lifelong obsessions with travel, sport & especially footy (soccer to Americans). Born & raised in England, I followed Oxford United (hometown team) to stadia all over the country at away games, and later Liverpool (fave team) around. Every stadium review - like all my reviews - are from first-hand personal experience, usually from several visits. In 2011, I was on music tour in the UK, and visited most stadiums for fun in my spare time. As recently as Fall 2014, when I was "stuck" in UK for 3 months, I went to hundreds yet again while travelling. I have pictures of me at most, which I'll post later. Also, when back in UK I'll take more pix, and add more stadia! *** return to regular review *** They create a nice atmosphere here, and it's intimidating for opposing teams, and they've managed to stay in the league for a long time with such a small town backing them up, so that's nice. Interestingly, last time I visited this stadium, they were filming a movie just down the road, and they yelled at me to move my car because my (rental) car was going to end up polluting their scene or something. There were a lot of 50s cars and stuff. There weren't any "redcars", that would have been too funny. By the way, yay for this stadium surviving since 1886 and yay for it being so close to the city centre as well as harbour. It's known as "The Vic" and the women's England team have played (and won) here.