Advice on dropping off teens at Newcastle Metro Arena at busy concert

[CUL8RAlligator]

Hi, I'm taking two teens to their first proper gig at Newcastle Arena soon, I'm sure it will be busy and hard to get close in the car but I want to supervise them going in and then pick them up again. It looks like I could drive down Skinnerburn Road and then walk with them up Shot Factory Lane, and meet them at the parents & childrens meeting point afterwards for the same trip in reverse.
Does anyone have any better ideas or useful information?

[KenDoddsDadsDog]

We normally park in the NCP (Redheugh Bridge Road) and its a short walk from there. Or you could park and ride on the Metro and it's just a walk through the Centre for Life and down another bit.

[CUL8RAlligator]

What is the traffic like? its the Arctic Monkeys and I think it's sold out so it'll be as busy as it gets I should think. I've never been to the Newcastle Arena before - the Sheffield arena gets absolutely gridlocked.

cheers

[KenDoddsDadsDog]

It will be really busy. Are you driving up from Sheffield and if so are you staying over? Will think of somewhere you can park and ride/ walk.

[Tequilamockinbat]

I would drive up the A19 (avoiding the A1 roadworks/traffic), turn left at Testo's roundabout onto the A184, head towards Gateshead, park at Heworth Metro Station, get the metro to central station, and walk from there. Parking near the arena will be horrific, you could always walk into town for a coffee while the concerts on and them go back for them

I live fairly local to the arena, you could even park at mine and get the metro in!

[CUL8RAlligator]

Thanks both - I'll have a look at the Heworth Metro, the thing that worries me about the metro is that there'll be so many people leaving at the same time and getting on. Could we be waiting ages for one ? and I'm paranoid about us getting separated.

We're driving up from near York and need to get back the same night.

[PotteringAlong]

If you're coming from York do you need to drive? Advance train tickets fron York to Newcastle are only £15 and it's a 2 min walk from central station to the metro arena. By the time you've paid for petrol / parking / metro tickets it won't cost much more and will be quicker - the fast train is about 45 mins.

[KenDoddsDadsDog]

Metros are really frequent, you shouldn't have a problem. But if you can train it up then do. The arena is really near to central station.