Newcastle United are yet to make a final decision on St James’ Park’s future.
Newcastle United have reportedly narrowed St James’ Park’s future down to two possible outcomes.
It is no secret that the Magpies are plotting to make a once-in-a-lifetime investment regarding their spiritual home. St James’ Park has remained largely unchanged since its 2000 expansion - which boosted the capacity above 52,000.
At the time, only Old Trafford held a bigger crowd in the Premier League. However, Newcastle now sit eighth in English football, with clubs like Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Everton building new stadiums in recent years.
Whether the Magpies should revamp or rebuild has been a hot topic since the Saudi-backed takeover five years ago. Traditionalists value St James’ Park’s 146-year history - but a new venue could generate further income to propel Newcastle to new heights.
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Newcastle United narrow down choices
The Times report that Newcastle now have two clear choices in mind. One option is to build a state-of-the-art venue on Leazes Park that would cost £1.5billion.
However, the club’s owners would want the Magpies to fund at least one-third of the sizeable cost. To do this, Newcastle may need to seek outside investment and dilute PIF’s stake.
Plans have already been drawn up for the potential new stadium - which would increase the capacity to 65,000. Alternatively, Newcastle are also considering expanding St James’ Park to 60,000.
A smaller investment of £500million would keep the Magpies at their home since 1892. Newcastle are yet to make a final decision, with St James’ Park hosting Euro 2028 also governing the timescale of when construction can commence.
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‘We’re not ready’ - David Hopkinson
Earlier this year, Toon CEO David Hopkinson stayed coy when asked for a stadium update. He said: “I don’t know. We’re not ready to yet. What’s clear is to win consistently, to be at the top consistently we’ve got to grow revenues and that means we need world-class facilities to generate those revenues.
“St James’ Park is incredible but I think there’s still opportunities but whether that’s a renovated or reimagined St James’, we haven’t made a decision yet. We are working on it literally every day.
“I know there’s a lot of pressure. I don’t know when that will be. That’s not today and I don’t think it will be next week either. We’re working on it furiously. The complexity around financing, it’s an incredible complex project.
“This will be the most ambitious project this club has ever taken on. That work needs to be below the waterline. Grand announcements of this design and this date, we’re not ready for that year.
“Getting ahead of ourselves with the announcement of a plan will not be helpful. I recognise that will not be a popular answer, but I don’t know the timing of a press announcement at this point.”
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