Yasir Al-Rumayyan was shown stadium plans earlier this year with incoming CEO David Hopkinson reopening conversations on the stadium project this week
A very different view of the Gallowgate End at St James' Park, June 2025
Newcastle United could look to develop the Gallowgate End at St James' Park
Newcastle United's incoming CEO David Hopkinson did not take long to reference the importance of location when it comes to the next big decision on St James' Park.
It was refreshing to hear Hopkinson reopen the conversation about St James' Park after months of silence at United on a hot topic that never ceases to cause debate within the fanbase.
Hopkinson is already understood to have held early discussions with key figures on Newcastle's stadium mission, just days after the Canadian touched down to kick off a new black and white adventure.
Although, this is because he is eager to get enlightened on this and a host of matters as he gets his feet under the table at St James'.
Announcements on what happens next on the stadium have been few and far between in the second half of 2025, but Chronicle Live understands that Toon chiefs are well aware of the thirst for information on Tyneside and are looking to update as soon as developments are available.
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A "stay or go" straw poll last November saw 3,000 fans offer a warm response when asked by COO Brad Miller whether the switch to a new stadium would appeal.
More seats and more opportunities to see the Magpies were dangled in front of the crowd by then CEO Darren Eales.
Growing suggestions of a move to Leazes Park in 2025 have helped snuff out talk of an unpopular move further outside the city with Hopkinson also appearing to dimiss such an option this week when telling NUFC TV of his previous experiences as a club supremo in places like New York, Madrid and Toronto.
Hopkinson said: "Where ScotiaBank Arena is in Toronto, or where the Bernabeu is in Madrid, right on Castellana.
"Where Madison Square Garden is, the absolute heart of Manhattan. Where St James' Park is in Newcastle. Location matters."
The prospect of a capacity north of 70,000 at a new stadium would be a major change for United, not to mention what would become of the current St James' Park which is part of the city's skyline.
For many fans, still, despite some supporters favouring a new ground, leaving St James' would be a daunting and unpopular choice.
Yet staying at St James' Park remains a big possibility with a revamp on Barrack Road getting as far as Toon chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan looking through breathtaking images of what staying at the ground the club have used since 1892, including how the Gallowgate End could be revamped.
Quite how Newcastle will increase the capacity at SJP has been the question on the lips of many supporters across the decades and a current capacity of 52,264 filed to the Premier League still deemed not big enough to cope with the demand for tickets and season cards.
The truth is Newcastle's owners, PIF, have been keen to move much faster on either rebuilding St James' Park or moving to a new stadium.
But unlike the lightning pace of construction in Saudi Arabia, gaining planning permission and getting green lights from the city council has proved a challenge.
When Toon chiefs were shown those images of a St James' Park that could have a capacity of around 65,000 it was clear that Newcastle would be unable to do build any higher at the East Stand with the Georgian terrace on St James' Terrace Grade I listed.
It has long been accepted by Newcastle insiders that three sides of the current stadium would have to remain the same and the big redevelopment of St James' Park would be at the Gallowgate End.
Indeed, it is understood that key figures at St James' see a restructured Gallowgate End as the only way of nudging capacity up from the current 52,264, which dropped slightly after the introduction of the Wings suite at the Leazes End, to around 65,000.
During the feasibility report, undertaken in 2024, United chiefs looked closely at the Gallowgate End and the possibilities of increasing its capacity.
Rebuilt in 1994 with two corners added on a year later, the rate of construction was rapid during the Sir John Hall era.
And it went up so quickly that between the final game of the season in 1993/94, a 2-0 win over Arsenal, fans stood on the Gallowgate's concrete terraces in May before season ticket holders took their seats for the first home game of the new season in August 1994 as they enjoyed a 4-0 victory over Coventry City.
David Kelly scores in front of a packed Gallowgate End as Newcastle United demolished Leicester City 7-1 on May 9, 1993
David Kelly scores in front of a packed Gallowgate End as Newcastle United demolished Leicester City 7-1 on May 9, 1993
On inspection of the foundations, we understand that part of the old Gallowgate terraces still remains beneath the 30-year-old stand, and the discovery prompted surprise by current club officials.
But rebuilding the Gallowgate with a cantilever stand is deemed feasible to improve the capacity of St James' Park.
If those plans get the go-ahead, there would be few complaints from many fans. Head coach Eddie Howe had said in 2024: "What makes St James’ Park so unique is its position in the city.
"That makes it totally unique. I’d hate to see the stadium move because it dominates the eyeline of the whole city and you can see it from miles around. That’s totally inspiring."
Those comments mirror Hopkinson's opening gambit as CEO but the wait goes on to see what happens next at St James' Park and whether it will be Newcastle's forever home.
The prospect of seeing the Gallowgate End stretch outwards on Strawberry Place to enhance an already stunning skyline remains possible.