Newcastle United is edging closer to recommending the construction of a new £1.2 billion stadium adjacent to St James’ Park, although expanding the current ground remains an option.
The final decision will be made by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), Newcastle’s majority owners. The proposed new stadium would have a capacity of nearly 70,000 and be built using an overlapping footprint with St James’ Park. This design minimizes the impact on Leazes Park, requiring only a small portion of this protected green space.
The approach is similar to Tottenham Hotspur’s recent stadium development, potentially allowing Newcastle to continue playing at St James’ Park during construction. An alternative plan involves expanding the Gallowgate End at roughly half the cost of building anew. This option would increase capacity above 60,000 and allow uninterrupted play at St James’ Park throughout. While no decision has been made yet, Newcastle plans to consult supporters before proceeding.
A previous survey showed over 70% of fans preferred staying at St James’, but attitudes may be shifting as more fans see a larger state-of-the-art home as necessary for competing in Europe. Despite momentum behind the new-build option, PIF could still opt against it due to costs and potential legal challenges from some supporters who oppose leaving their historic home.