Newcastle United will seek to extend its lease at St James’ Park after reportedly deciding to redevelop its home ground following a six-month feasibility study.
The Premier League club last December commenced a study that would assess how the existing stadium could be expanded despite the constrains of its city centre location. The study, led by CAA ICON, also looked at alternative sites for an entirely new stadium at nearby Leazes Park and the site of Metro Radio Arena.
The Daily Telegraph newspaper reports that the study has now concluded and that expansion of St James’ Park – the club’s home since 1880 – is considered the best option.
During the course of the study, architects have offered a range of options to increase the capacity to more than 60,000 and modernise facilities.
No renderings have yet been released and building work is not expected to start before the end of the year, The Daily Telegraph reports. The club and its Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF) owners will look to extend the stadium’s 70-year lease before committing hundreds of millions of pounds to the project.
“Before the multi-million pound redevelopment, which has been described as one of the most ambitious stadium rebuilds seen in this country, can begin, sources at Newcastle City Council have suggested Newcastle will want to discuss the length of their leasehold on St James’ Park,” The Daily Telegraph reports.
“The lease currently has 70 years to run, but before investing hundreds of millions of pounds in the project, the club understandably wants to extend it.”
Fan survey influenced decision
The report suggests that a switch to Leazes Park could be considered if the St James’ Park rebuild becomes too expensive or a solution to the leasehold issue cannot be found with the council.
When announcing the feasibility study last year, the club commenced a fan survey gauging opinion on its future. Newcastle said the survey could help to shape the club’s future stadium facilities, with CAA ICON to undertake the broader feasibility study before making recommendations for the future. The survey asked fans if they would prefer a redeveloped St James’ Park to a new stadium and requested opinions on hospitality and club suites, ticket pricing, matchday experience and whether fans would consider attending concerts.
