Can Newcastle expand St James’ Park? The problems in improving 52,000-seat stadium as new ground is proposed
ST JAMES’ PARK’S city centre location in Newcastle is both its strength and weakness — and Toon’s owners are discovering there is no easy solution as they try and pack more punters in.
The ‘cathedral on the hill’ towers over everything else in Newcastle and has been the home of the Magpies since 1892.
Less than two years before the Saudis took over in 2021, despised former owner Mike Ashley gave away 10,000 free season tickets.
But those disillusioned fans — and more — are back and the club needs to maximise that potential revenue to stay at the top.
With a 52,000 capacity, St James’ Park is not big enough — but what can be done about it?
What options are Newcastle considering?
Ideally, they would expand the stadium with the Gallowgate End and East Stand the two stands in theory able to house more fans.
They could also demolish St James’ and start again on the same site, or even find a new one.
Why can’t they just expand?
This is where things get tricky.
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Behind the East Stand there are listed Georgian buildings used as university accommodation so there is little room for manoeuvre.
And then the noisy Gallowgate has its own complications.
The club purchased land behind it to turn into a fan zone, but there is a busy road leading to a hospital running by it and it has underground rail tunnels nearby.
What about starting from scratch in the same location?
This feels like the most likely solution at present.
The club, who this week surveyed fans for their thoughts, have hired the architects behind Tottenham’s stunning new stadium to put options on the table.
It would keep Newcastle at their spiritual home and enable them to build a swanky new modern arena capable of 65,000 sell-out crowds.
But there is no guarantee it is feasible.
If it is, would they take it down bit by bit while still playing there? If not, where would they move to while it’s being built? Sunderland?
Why don’t they just move?
Buying a huge plot of land and starting again would be pocket change for the Saudis.
Yet given the uniqueness and history of St James’ Park, it would prove hugely divisive.
As Magpies boss Eddie Howe said: “My ideal would be that we stay at St James’ Park. It’s the heartbeat of the city and I wouldn’t want to see that change.”
Former chairman Sir John Hall proposed moving to Leazes Park just behind St James’ in 2007 but local opposition put paid to that.