Newcastle promotional video suggests £1.2 billion plan to leave St James’ Park is under consideration | OneFootball

St James’ Park has been home to Newcastle United since 1892, and many fans are sentimental about the ground.

There have been talks about leaving the stadium, but many supporters are resistant to the idea. Manager Eddie Howe believes it would be a betrayal for the club to leave.

“My natural instinct was always to stay at St James’ Park,” Howe said (via the BBC). “It’s an incredible place to play football.

“It’s our home, so to think about moving somewhere else feels a little bit of a betrayal to somewhere that’s served us so well.”

However, the Saudi Arabian-backed club is keen on expansion as Newcastle look to compete with other European giants, especially after winning the League Cup. A modern, world-class stadium is a necessity to rub shoulders with the elites.

According to the Guardian, Newcastle have unveiled a sleek promotional video showcasing plans for a new 65,000-capacity stadium at Leazes Park. The video offers the ‘strongest indication yet‘ that they are considering leaving St James’ Park.

Club executives recently presented chairman Yasir al-Rumayyan with proposals for a new stadium and a redevelopment of St James’ Park during a meeting at Matfen Hall in Northumberland.

No official decision has been made, but Newcastle prefer the new-build option, provided Rumayyan and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) are willing to cover the £1.2 billion cost.

The video has been shown to senior staff and shared confidentially with a Newcastle fan board. It opens with sweeping aerial shots of the green space surrounding the Grade II-listed Leazes Park before zooming in on the proposed stadium.

Unlike a previous design that overlapped with St James’ Park’s footprint, the new plan positions the stadium deeper into the park.

This revised layout would allow Newcastle to continue playing at St James’ Park throughout construction, reducing financial strain.

The stadium will still be able to host multiple group-stage matches during the 2028 European Championship.