With a stadium call this size, Newcastle will take their time.
Brad Miller, the Chief Operating Officer [COO] of Newcastle United, has explained why club executives would not be pressured into choosing a stadium as the Magpies aim to make a selection that is “deliverable, affordable, and sustainable.”
The Newcastle supporters have been anxiously awaiting an update on the extension of St James’ Park since departing CEO Darren Eales stated in July that the findings of the team’s stadium feasibility study were “imminent.” “We’re waiting for the final report, I think it’s imminent,” Eales said in a summer update to reporters.
Since then, Miller, Newcastle’s new COO, has attempted to allay speculation about an impending decision over whether the Magpies will remain at their legendary stadium or construct a brand-new, cutting-edge stadium somewhere else. Miller has referred to the decision as a “once-in-a-generation” call on numerous occasions. He reiterated this point earlier this week when he told members of the Fan Advisory Board [FAB] that a decision shouldn’t be anticipated until early 2025.
According to recent rumors, the club may have to pay up to £1 billion to enlarge St. James’ Park to accommodate more than 60,000 people. For comparison, Tottenham Hotspur recently launched one of the most opulent and ambitious stadiums in the world for just over £1 billion, while Everton’s new 52,000-seat stadium is anticipated to cost £800 million in total.
Miller’s remarks earlier this week, in which the club head emphasized that a choice of this magnitude must be taken calmly despite the demand for a response, in one form or another, have at least given supporters some type of update.
“We are challenging our appointed design team, and ourselves, to make sure our eventual chosen route delivers a fantastic fan experience – one that represents the fans, city, region and club, and aligns with the long-term ambitions of our ownership group,” Miller stated at this week’s FAB meeting.
“But it must provide an investable return, and not least deliver strong revenue growth to increase our PSR headroom, which, as everyone knows, means we can invest more in football.
“Part of the process is also to understand alternative options so that we see the bigger picture and, again, find the right balance between risk and opportunity. This is a once-in-a-generation investment, so we don’t want to look back in years to come, as a club or as a city, and regret an opportunity missed.
“Our objective is to select a scheme that is deliverable, affordable, and sustainable, so we are investing this time to make sure we are only going to spend money on the project where it will make the biggest difference – to fan experience, revenue, competitiveness, investment in football and operational efficiency. All this requires a robust process that leaves no stone unturned.”
