2 weeks Ago By [email protected] (Ross Gregory)
Newcastle United continue to mull over whether they stay or go at St James' Park in what could be a defining decision in the club's future. St James' Park - the home for more than a century - is in urgent need of a revamp stadium. The capacity of 52,000 is too small for current demand although the atmosphere created inside it - as shown against Manchester United and Crystal Palace recently - still makes it an intimidating, intoxicating place to play and watch football.
However, thousands of fans are unable to get tickets to see their heroes, and Newcastle chiefs have openly admitted that they need to improve their matchday revenues to compete at the top of the Premier League. Hampered by PSR regulations, the Magpies have seen the likes of Arsenal, Man United and Liverpool announce huge matchday revenues which they are unable to keep up with. There are two options on the table.
Stay or go. Expand St James' or build a new 'super stadium' in the city centre, with Leazes Park believed to be the preferred site. It's a controversial, difficult and thorny subject which has created much debate around the city and region.
Here's everything we know on the timeline, decision and opposition. What is Newcastle United's stance? Newcastle chiefs are insisting that no decisions have been made on the club's St James' Park project. United are maintaining their stance that they will fully update fans when they are in a position to communicate.
Chronicle Live understands that chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan flew to Tyneside earlier this month and was shown plans for two options, including a revamped St James' Park with a capacity of around 60,000 and a new stadium that could hold around 70,000. A city source close to the project said: "No decisions have been made." What has Darren Eales said about the stadium and St James' Park? CEO Darren Eales spoke to reporters a couple of weeks ago on the matter.
He said: It's a huge decision for the club, something we've spoken about being a once in a generation decision. It's something we want to get right. "We're at a situation where we did the initial feasibility, we followed that up, we've discussed it with our ownership and we want to make sure we have got everything right, all our ducks in a row.
"We said that we'd talk with the fans and the Fan Advisory Board but this is an opportunity and ownership is very much looking to make this investment, we just want to make sure it's the right investment, strategically for the club, the city, the region and that takes us doing a lot of work, due diligence and making sure at the right time that we go to those external stakeholders as well and get everyone aligned." What is the timeline for a decision? The Fan Advisory Board are due to meet with club chiefs this month to discuss the project. Eales admitted: "We're looking to get something done in the near future but I can't really say anymore than that.
Work is going on and I think you've seen it from just the general discussions we've had it is something we're taking very seriously because it's a hugely important decision." This will be a long process, however. There will be consultations and conversations with numerous parties, and either way, planning permission will need to be sought.
It took Everton around seven years from their first public consultation until their new home at Bramley-Moore Dock was built and ready to stage games. They will start playing there from the start of next season. If Newcastle are to build a new 65,000 or 70,000 capacity stadium, they would be looking at a similar timeframe.
If they decide to extend St James' Park, they will potentially follow a similar model to Liverpool, who redeveloped their Anfield Road stand. From the first public consultation until the work was finished was around four years, although Liverpool ran into some problems along the way which delayed the build. Leazes Park petition The reports Newcastle wish to build on Leazes Park saw environmentalists start up a campaign against any plans.
Members of Save Newcastle Wildlife launched a petition last month which called for a referendum to be held on the idea. As of Thursday lunchtime, that change.org petition had garnered more than 11,000 signatures – following a surge in support that had seen the number climb from around 6,000 just 24 hours earlier.
Save Newcastle Wildlife have said that building on the grade II listed Leazes Park, which is the oldest park in Newcastle having opened in 1873, would “set a dangerous precedent for parks and green spaces across the city, many of which are already struggling to make ends meet”. It is expected that the campaigners will submit the petition to Newcastle City Council and ask for it to be debated at the local authority’s next full meeting, which is in June. Petitions with more than 2,500 signatures can trigger a full council debate – however, that is not guaranteed.
A spokesperson for Save Newcastle Wildlife said: “In 1857, 3,000 working people of Newcastle petitioned Newcastle City Council for 'ready access to some open ground for the purpose of health and recreation’. In 1873, Leazes Park was opened for the people of Newcastle. Since then, millions of pounds of tax payer’s money has been spent on making Leazes Park a green and pleasant place for the people and wildlife of Newcastle.
“In more recent years, Leazes Park has hosted the Green Festival, the North East’s largest free environmental festival and has been cared for by the Friends of Leazes Park. There are more than 1,000 trees in the park, as well as shrubs and hedgerows, which provide food and shelter for insects and other wildlife , including bats, birds and hedgehogs. “If these plans were to be given the green light, it would set a dangerous precedent for parks and green spaces across the city, many of which are already struggling to make ends meet.
” It's not just environmentalists who are interested in the developments. Chronicle Live reported this week that St James' Park's East Stand has been added to a list of buildings considered to be 'at risk' by a national charity to highlight what an 'unusual and historic brutalist structure it is'. What has Newcastle City Council said? Council chiefs insist that no official talks over a new stadium or redeveloping St James' Park have been held between them and the club.
Whether the club opted for an extension of St James’ or the building of a new stadium, the proposals would require planning permission from the council and a public consultation would be legally required as part of that process. Any future plans could also end up being referred to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to deliver a final verdict. A council spokesperson said: “There has been a lot of speculation and interest among fans and others about the future of St James Park.
As stated previously, the city council has had no formal talks with the club about this important matter. Our door remains open as it would with any developer, and when the club wants to discuss their plans in detail with us we will be happy to sit down, listen and advise.”.
