What is happening with the Newcastle United Fanzone? | OneFootball

Has anybody heard what is happening with the Newcastle United Fanzone?

When it was first announced (see below), the club said the intention was for it to be open before the end of 2023.

Then as time dragged on, it became Newcastle United Fanzone set to open in Spring 2024.

Then time drags on again with seemingly very little progress.

Before eventually the club then change it to the Newcastle United Fanzone opening Summer 2024.

There have now been months of silence and not much progress seemingly made, the last I can find (see below) is back in March 2024, the club saying this Summer.

All a bit of a shambles really.

The intention to open during Newcastle United’s 2023/24 season and surely the big target was to be open well in advance and ready to get the cash rolling in during the European Championships. However, they kick off in 11 days time in Germany and quite clearly the Newcastle United Fanzone isn’t going to be open.

This project was put forward as a big commercial money spinner by the club but is taking forever to get done.

Quite obviously it is much more of a general commercial development intending to make money seven days a week, so not really a Newcastle United Fanzone as such, apart from on those small number of NUFC matchdays, which are dwarfed by all the other days it will be open.

That is, if it ever does open…

Official Newcastle United announcement – 26 July 2023:

‘It is hoped the fan zone will be open before the end of the year (2023), with an initial lifespan of three years as the club explores potential uses for the site.’

Darren Eales:

“Our fan zone is aimed at enhancing the experience not just for supporters visiting matches and big events at the stadium, but for people visiting the city centre seven days a week.”

Club announcement on Newcastle United Fanzone – 22 September 2023:

‘Newcastle United are delighted to announce that a planning application for a new fan zone adjacent to St. James’ Park has been formally approved by local authorities.

‘St. James’ STACK, powered by Sela’ will be a thriving food, drink and entertainment option for those attending matches and events at the stadium, as well as a bustling midweek leisure and social destination.

It will be built using repurposed shipping containers around a central plaza and main stage area and is expected to open in Spring 2024, with an initial lifespan of three years as the club explores potential uses for the site.’

(How it is going to look when eventually opening)

The club’s official Newcastle United Fanzone update – 22 January 2024:

‘Building work on the highly anticipated ‘St. James’ STACK, presented by Sela’ has kicked off, with the fanzone outside St. James’ Park set to open this summer.

Plans were revealed in 2023 for the entertainment venue which will create a leisure and social destination seven days a week as well as enhancing matchday experiences for both home and away fans.

Work on transforming the land on Strawberry Place has begun with construction company, The Abbey Group, laying the foundations for the site, before the shipping containers which are synonymous with the STACK brand, will be installed in coming months.’

Official club announcement on Newcastle United Fanzone – 27 March 2024:

‘A key milestone was reached on the construction of ‘St. James’ STACK, presented by Sela’ this week as the first of 56 shipping containers arrived on site in preparation for the next exciting phase of development.

The highly-anticipated fanzone is on course to open in summer 2024, with arrival of repurposed shipping containers, which are synonymous with the STACK brand, marking significant progress since transformation of the land on Strawberry Place began in January.’