Newcastle United have accepted that a new stadium would not exceed a capacity of 70,000, according to a report by the Daily Mail’s Craig Hope.
Hope reported that internal modelling has placed an upper limit on any new ground below the figure many supporters had hoped for.
“Newcastle have finally committed to what Confidential has long reported – the proposed capacity of a new stadium NOT being beyond the 70,000 many supporters crave,” Hope wrote. “Indeed, we revealed last year that a video shown to the club’s
owners during a Matfen Hall summit depicted a 65,000-seat stadium on Leazes Park.“
Chief executive David Hopkinson confirmed that assessment during a radio interview this week. Hopkinson said the club’s supply-and-demand modelling would limit a new stadium to “no bigger than 65–68,000.”
The CEO also said that around 10,000 seats could be added if St James’ Park is redeveloped, instead of building a new arena from the ground up.
Hope reported that the decision between a new build and redevelopment remains with the club’s Saudi ownership.
“It was expected among insiders that PIF would green-light that project imminently,” Hope wrote. “That did not happen and a decision on whether to pursue this option or redevelop St James’ Park is still in the hands of the Saudi owners.”
For now, Hope simply said that PIF’s focus remains on improving the current training facilities and the building of a proposed £200m training centre in Woolsington.
