English Premier League football club Newcastle United is planning to kick off talks early next year with operators of the Tyne and Wear Metro as it enters advanced stages of a feasibility study for redevelopment of its 52,350-seat St. James’ Park stadium.
Discussions are said to centre around the underground station beneath the Gallowgate Stand, which makes any rebuilding job highly complex.
Newcastle’s plans reportedly centre on the expansion and redevelopment of both the East Stand and Gallowgate Stand which would increase the stadium’s capacity to more than 60,000.
The club’s hierarchy is thought to be undecided on whether to stay at the current stadium or move to a new, purpose-built ground elsewhere in the city.
Newcastle is due to open formal talks with Nexus, the metro’s operator, in early 2025.
Nexus intends to be supportive of the club’s next steps, with the organisation saying that it wants to play a big part in what comes next, reports the i Paper.
“We look forward to seeing Newcastle United’s plans for St James’ Park in due course and we will work closely with the club when they bring forward more detailed proposals,” a Nexus spokesperson said.
St James’ Park has been sold out for every Premier League match since Newcastle United’s ownership transferred to the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund.
The club is also aiming to generate more revenue from the stadium on non-match days.
This has led to plans of potentially staging high-profile concerts or other sporting events such as NFL games.
An increase of commercial revenue would give the club more leeway in terms of the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Regulations, which restrict how much can be spent on transfers.
It is said that the club wants to double commercial revenue every two years.
Newcastle could spend between £800m (€952m/$1bn) and £1bn should it choose to redevelop St. James’ Park.
