Is this now the final confirmation Newcastle United won’t be staying at St James’ Park? | OneFootball

Have we just had the final confirmation that Newcastle United won’t be staying at St James’ Park?

Fans are still waiting to hear whether the club’s owners are going to significantly expand St James’ Park, or build a brand new far bigger capacity stadium close to the current site.

That stadium announcement from the Newcastle United owners has failed to materialise a number of times now, despite  fans led to believe it would happen.

However, now on Thursday (19 June 2025) morning, the Newcastle United owners making a different announcement.

This one (see below) revealing that the STACK Fanzone opposite St James’ Park, has now been given a Newcastle City Council extension to 2031 after the football club applied for it to be extended.

Winding the clock back, this land on Strawberry Place was originally purchased by Newcastle United back when John Hall and Freddie Shepherd were in charge. The land specifically bought so that St James’ Park could be expanded in the future. The Gallowgate End the only logical part of the stadium that could be significantly extended and this land opposite the Gallowgate, seen as essential for any future extension. The Hall/Shepherd ownership had plans then drawn up when purchasing the land, showing it would be possible for at least a 60,000+ new capacity if/when St James’ Park was eventually extended.

When Mike Ashley bought Newcastle United, this Strawberry Place land was part of the club that he bought. Ashley then later made it so the football club sold the land to himself, then for a personal profit Ashley sold the land to developers. The plan to build retail, hotels, student accommodation and so on, on the site, meaning any future expansion of St James’ Park all but impossible.

Before the land could be developed, Mike Ashley then sold Newcastle United and the new owners subsequently bought the Strawberry Place land back from the developers, allowing for a potential major expansion of St James’ Park once again.

Then back in July 2023, an official NUFC announcement made public that an initial planning application has been lodged with Newcastle City Council, not for a St James’ Park extension, but for a Fanzone on the Strawberry Place site.

Now to be honest, I couldn’t have cared a less about a Newcastle United Fanzone AND still don’t.

After all, the unique location of our club means we have an entire city centre of bars, cafes and restaurants to choose from, within easy reach of St James’ Park.

Only one line interested me in that July 2023 announcement from the Newcastle United owners and it was this…

Newcastle United official announcement – 26 July 2023:

Fair to say that there was/is only one ‘potential use’ that pretty much all Newcastle United fans were concerned about for this site and that was, hoping ASAP in that three year period where the Strawberry Place land is used as a Fanzone, that we’d get notice that a planning application has gone in for the land to be then used to help significantly increase the capacity of St James’ Park.

It is now coming up to four years since the Newcastle United takeover and this Fanzone extension takes it up now to ten years from the takeover happening, with planning permission extended to 2031 regarding the ‘St James’ STACK’ on Strawberry Place.

I am aware of course that things can always change, that a u-turn could happen and plans for a St James’ Park expansion announced instead.

However, this news today, it tells me for absolutely sure that we won’t be seeing any major expansion of SJP.

Which then leaves simply the question of, are indeed the Newcastle United owners going to go ahead with a brand new stadium on a different site? If that’s the case, when are those plans going to be made public…?

Newcastle United official announcement – 19 June 2025:

‘Following a momentous first year, city planners have awarded the hugely popular ‘St. James’ STACK, presented by Sela’ an additional five years of planning permission.

The 2,000-capacity fanzone and leisure destination – located beneath the iconic Gallowgate End of St. James’ Park – was initially granted a three-year planning permission in 2023 before officially opening in 2024.

Now, ahead of the first anniversary of its launch, the venue has received the green light to remain on the site until 2031 – giving football fans, concert goers and the wider public continued access to its unique blend of live entertainment, bars and globally-inspired street food.

A VIBRANT SOCIAL SPACE

Crafted from 56 repurposed shipping containers, the site is a collaboration between STACK and Newcastle United. It has transformed a former car park at Strawberry Place into a vibrant social space that includes a central plaza, main stage and large, immersive screens.

The site now employs 175 people and is a base for eight small businesses. It also continues to support local and national talent, with 1,426 stage performances at the venue since it first opened its doors last summer.

Just last week, it welcomed 35,000 concert-goers across three days of performances by Sam Fender at St. James’ Park.

“A FANTASTIC ADDITION”

Brad Miller, Chief Operating Officer at Newcastle United, said: “The St. James’ STACK has been a fantastic addition to the city and we’re delighted to receive an additional five years of planning permission.

“As a dedicated fanzone, it has become a huge attraction for people attending matches and events at the stadium.

“But it’s so much more than that. It has been incredibly popular with families, it has increased trade throughout the week and it has created vital employment opportunities.

“It also provides an important revenue stream for the football club that will continue to fuel our growth on and off the pitch.

“I’d like to thank the team at STACK and our city partners for their support and collaboration. We’re excited to continue our work together.”

‘PHENOMENAL RESPONSE’

STACK CEO Neill Winch said the decision to extend planning permission is not only “hugely welcome,” but also “a testament to the venue’s role in enhancing the matchday and event experience at St. James’ Park.

“This location was always envisioned as a true fanzone – a place where supporters could come together before and after games to soak up the atmosphere,” he said.

“But what’s been incredible is how it’s also become a central hub for major events at the stadium, from cup celebrations to concert weekends like Sam Fender.

“Being right on the doorstep of St. James’ Park means we’re perfectly placed to support everything happening there – and the response from fans and visitors has been phenomenal.”