Newcastle United have recently created a promotional video for their proposed new stadium inside Leazes Park.
Chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan and the PIF are yet to make an official decision on whether they want to expand St James’ Park or knock it down in favour of a new, state-of-the-art ground in the park behind the existing site.
Newcastle United could spend £1.2bn on a new stadium, which would see their capacity increase to 65,000, an increase of 13,000 in comparison to what is already there at St James’ Park.
Chief Darren Eales informed Newcastle staff about the stadium, stating that the capacity is what it is because he does not want an empty seat in the ground for any game. It has also been confirmed that the proposed new stadium will have a lot more in terms of corporate hospitality and leisure amenities.
Brad Miller spoke to Newcastle fans recently, stating that the new stadium would double the Magpies’ matchday revenue each season, putting them amongst the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur in that regard.
PIF is believed to want Newcastle in a new stadium, but the final decision has yet to be made.
With a huge decision which completely changes the trajectory of the club on the cards, a new report has uncovered a major stumbling block and change to initial plans.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Newcastle United face new stadium permission trouble
When original plans were revealed, Newcastle’s new stadium encroached upon St James’ Park. Those plans meant that there was a chance the Magpies would have to move away from the ground while construction took place.
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Newcastle had limited groundshare options due to a lack of stadiums of a similar size. There were murmers that Newcastle could groundshare with rivals Sunderland, but the Black Cats were quick to turn that down.
Now, according to the Guardian, the promotional video has been shown to the PIF, senior club staff and a fan advisory board.
The video shows an aerial shot of the green space surrounding Leazes Park, which is Grade II-listed. The report states that the proposed ground is further into the park than initially thought, meaning it no longer overlaps with St James’ Park.
The change means that Newcastle can continue playing at St James’ Park during construction, causing no disruption to the games they are due to host at the 2028 European Championships.
However, the report claims that the club are set to have a tough time obtaining planning permission, as the project involves building on land in the city centre that is subject to a conservation order – meaning legal challenges could arise.
It has previously been confirmed that Newcastle will build a green space on St James’ Park once it is knocked down – a key sweetener to the deal.
When will PIF confirm Newcastle United stadium plans?
While all the talk around the new stadium persists, Newcastle fans want to know one thing: when will they find out?
Eales spoke earlier in March, claiming that a decision is set to come ‘very soon’, but asked for patience as the club wants to make sure that they make the right decision which will benefit both them and Newcastle’s fans.
Earlier reports suggest that Newcastle will announce stadium plans at the end of the season, so fans only have a short amount of time left before learning the fate of St James’ Park.
Eales confirmed Newcastle’s stadium work will start in 2025, with the club already hiring a planning consultant to prepare an application to Newcastle City Council.