by Eddie Howe has indicated his preference for Newcastle to stay at St James’ Park rather than move to a new stadium and has branded the club’s potential move a “betrayal”.
By 2025, Saudi homeowners in Newcastle are expected to decide whether to extend and upgrade their current home or build a new plot elsewhere on Tyneside. Given that St James’ Park is located right in the city centre, there are strong arguments against the move, but its proximity to listed terraces of Georgian townhouses complicates the idea of expanding the capacity of 53 000 to around 65,000 people at a cost of at least £800 million. However, the Newcastle boss has warned the hierarchy of the danger of “losing something special”.
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“What makes St James’ Park so unique is its position in the city,” Howe said. “That makes it totally unique. I would hate to see the stadium move because it dominates the view of the entire city and can be seen from miles away. It’s totally inspiring. Wherever you are [central] Newcastle, you get a taste of it and it’s so powerful.
“When you’re there, the atmosphere, the look of the stadium, it’s a beautiful thing. I like being there, I like experiencing games there. The first time I succeeded at St James’ Park with Bournemouth, I thought ‘Wow, I’ve never succeeded at a stadium like that’. St James’ Park blew me and my team away. If the club were to move, it would lose something special.
“My natural instinct has always been to stay,” Howe added. “St James’ Park is an incredible place to play football. This is our house. So thinking about moving somewhere else feels a bit like a betrayal to a place that has served us so well.
“But we are well aware that as a club we need to increase our income. So people with more brain cells than me will make the decision for the benefit of the long term future of the club.
If a new stadium proves to be the best solution, Newcastle could consider developing a ground at Leazes Park, adjacent to St James’ Park. Yet even though it would keep them downtown, such a plan would face vehement objections from various organizations committed to retaining the attractive, environmentally friendly green spaces that distinguish a city where cattle still graze on Town Moor of many of its English counterparts. .
It had previously been thought that Newcastle might consider a move to the north bank of the Tyne, but the area they had in mind is now set to become the site of much-needed social housing.
