One chief topic of discussion among Newcastle United fans, that can be a contentious issue, is the potential St James’ Park rebuild or the potential move to a brand-new stadium.
CEO Darren Eales announced many months ago that the publication of the feasibility study into the redevelopment of St James’ was imminent. But, unfortunately, since then things have gone quiet – until today.
According to an exclusive from The Telegraph’s Luke Edwards, Toon chiefs have been told ‘the cost of rebuilding St James’ Park could be as much as £1billion as final decision on stadium plan edges closer.’ The article goes on to highlight that there ‘is still work to do but progress has been made on whether to rebuild or move.’
In what is an emotive subject amongst the support we finally appear to be edging closer to a final resolution on an issue which will be as equally divisive as it could be transformative. Club infrastructure is one area of running a football club in the PSR era that isn’t affected by the rules as it can be offset in clubs accounts, and it has often been cited by fans that this is an area our owners should look to exploit to increase revenues.
It is also deeply emotional as many fans have generational ties to St James’ Park so this is a topic the board must handle with nuance and care. Spurs have shown the way with the redevelopment of White Hart Lane highlighting what a new, super stadium can do for club finances.
Hopefully, the club can find a solution that caters to almost everybody, although we all know how difficult that will be to achieve. Watch this space; the Saudi PIF have a big, big decision to make.
🚨EXCLUSIVE Newcastle told cost of rebuilding St James’ Park will be as much £1bn as final decision on stadium plan edges closer. Still work to do but progress is being made on whether to rebuild or move #nufc https://t.co/QHN5CDB6Ln
— Luke Edwards (@LukeEdwardsTele) October 1, 2024
St James Park is a special place but we cannot afford to stagnate whilst other clubs build better and increased stadia. Quite alot of the supporters who dont want to move have season tickets! It would of course be a different kettle of fish if they did not and couldn’t watch games and so would be crying out for an expanded stadium elsewhere. If NUFC are to proceed as a club we need to build a brand new stadium and not be dictated to be the selfish element of our fans.
edward yeates(Quote)
I’ve watched the Toon at St James Park since I was 11 – 66 years ago and I would have no qualms about leaving our current stadium.
We have owners with huge pockets who could build a new futuristic ground to match Spurs. West Ham and the new propsed Man U stadium. If we are to accommodate our next influx of fans and beyond we have to put sentiment aside.
We have ONE opportunity to match the top 6 and generate unbelievable revenue. Miss this chance and we’ll only fall further behind.
It’s a no brainer.
Toonarden(Quote)
Fans saying to leave SJP aren’t true fans. A new stadium would mean nothing to me. I hate modern buildings and won’t even be going there.
Adam(Quote)
I am 71years old I’ve been a newcastle united fan all my life l know in my mind that st James park has been a shrine too all of our older generation and have many a memory but I think we have to move with heavy heart to a new stadium keep the old place for U 21s and the lasses they deserve it
Ray Mortimer(Quote)
We need to build a new stadium I attended my 1st game in 1970. We need to have ground big enough for current and future generations. 🏴🏳️🏴🏳️HWTL
DAVID KING(Quote)
Any link to the game
Henock nufc(Quote)
It is a no brainer- a new stadium is essential if we are to progress as we all want to see. I get the emotional attachment to St James Park but it does bear little or no resemblance to the St James I first started attending in 1967 in any case.
Keith
Keith Frazer(Quote)
We need a stadium to hold 80,000 and that may give me a chance to have a season ticket. If we cannot extend SJP p, we must build elsewhere but keep it in or very close to the city centre. HWTL
Alan Denham(Quote)
I have supported NUFC for 54 years now been through the good time and all the bad times which there have been many, i love the cathedral but we need to move too a new stadium we are losing millions in revenue and other clubs are leaving us behind, even though it pains me to move we have to be brought into the 21st century. Everton new stadium, MUFC a proposed 2 billion new stadium even Bournemouth are getting an upgrade, Spurs stadium is fantastic this is what we need to be doing, just saying.
Karl Thompson(Quote)
I’m a NUFC fan and have been for well over 60 years. SJP is great for what it is, but attending a match at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium blew my mind – I’ve never seen anything like it as a football ground, and that includes the new Wembley. It is quite impossible to turn SJP into something as monumental as the TH Stadium, so, like the majority here, even the majority of old-timers like me, the future is beckoning, Saudis have the readies, we cannot possibly afford to miss the chance of catching up/getting ahead of the best: it’s a one-off chance and, as said by others above, a no-brainer.
Onward and Upward!
davewallace(Quote)
Build a new one the existing has had that many up grades the only thing that hasn’t changed is the players tunnel
Dave(Quote)
I have my memories of SJP. they’re special to me and no-one is taking them away.
Was lucky enough to go to the Mercedes Benz stadium in Atlanta for the summer series in 2023 and a purpose built modern stadium is something the club should aspire to build and the best way for them to recoup their money
Jonesy(Quote)
Ninety years old and have supported the Toon since the war. ‘When your house becomes too small for your family you move too a larger one’ ‘We can certainly fill a much bigger one’
nutmag(Quote)
Come on Adam, explain why the fans who have the sense to want the new stadium not real fans?
And who are you to say what a real fan is?
Gfor(Quote)
Yeah ok. I’ll have your season ticket
Dutch Docherty(Quote)
It’s best to relocate and build a new stadium. Handover St James to the youth teams and women’s team to use
Ronald(Quote)
If the council use their brains and green light Leaze’s park as opposed to a minority of dog walkers the jobs both in the build and running of an 80K plus modern stadium surely outweigh any loss of St Jame’s – and the club are more than capable of converting the old St Jame’s into a major community venue that would bring enormous revenues to the city.
With PSR not involved in the build expense and with the Reuben Brothers being not only a local outfit but also owners with a vested interest in NUFCs progression its a no brainer – MOVE.
derek mooney(Quote)
For £1Billion cost , I would expect a new high rise RVI on the old St James Park site , and a new 80,000 seat stadium build on the vacated RVI site.
Thats the only way of keeping the stadium in the city centre AND modernise out hospital services.
David McGarr(Quote)