Newcastle consider expansion over metro

Article posted by Coliseum, November 18^th, 2024

Image: St. James' Park, Arne Müseler/www.arne-mueseler.com, CC BY-SA 3.0 de

Newcastle United will open talks with Tyne and Wear Metro on the feasibility study of a redevelopment of St James’ Park over a nearby station, which could add 10,000 seats to a mega Gallowgate end.

The Shields Gazette said expanding St James’ Park is a long-term goal for Newcastle with talks taking place throughout 2024.

And the club are set to talk with operators of the Tyne and Wear Metro, Nexus, in the New Year. The St James’ Metro Station is located below the Gallowgate End, complicating any potential expansion of the stand.

Expanding St James’ Park is also thwarted by the stadium’s city centre location close to listed buildings and the Leazes Conservation Area.

The ground currently has a seating capacity of 52,305 and is the eighth largest football stadium in England. It has been home to Newcastle United F.C. since 1892.

The club plans for any new stadium to have a capacity in excess of 60,000, meaning an 8,000+ expansion would be required in order to remain at St James’ Park.

Newcastle’s preference has always been to remain at their historic home but – as revealed by chief operating officer Brad Miller last month – the study has identified “risks” around expanding on the current site, one of which relates to the complexities of building out the Gallowgate End, which is situated close to the nearby St James’ Metro station.

Although adding a further 10,000 to the Gallowgate Stand and corners is thought to be possible, it would add significant weight above the Metro Station and pose further logistical challenges in its construction.

Jamie Standing, a professor in ground engineering at Imperial College in London and an expert in the field, told The i that technology advances mean a solution to the Gallowgate dilemma could be found.

He said, “It depends on a number of factors – the station isn’t a structure designed to carry heavy loads so it’s complicated and would require investigation but I’m sure it’s possible.

“You would need to build some sort of structure above the station that spans it such that the structure doesn’t load it. It would certainly need careful structural engineering and foundational engineering to ensure you didn’t do anything adverse to the existing station but there is usually a way around these things.”

Professor Standing suggested a sizeable arch could be constructed over the metro station as part of a newly-configured Gallowgate End to help support an expanded stand.

The Strawberry Place land around the Metro Station and behind the Gallowgate Stand is owned by the club and currently houses the St James’ STACK fanzone, which has planning permission to remain on the site for three years.

The prospect of spades in the ground at St James’ Park or another site still appears some way off, however, with Newcastle yet to open formal talks with Nexus, the metro’s operators, or brief the body on their plans. That is expected to come as the project progresses in the “early part” of 2025.

And it’s understood Nexus chiefs intend to be supportive of the club’s next steps, with the organisation telling i they want to play a big part in what comes next.

“We look forward to seeing Newcastle United’s plans for St James’ Park in due course and we will work closely with the club when they bring forward more detailed proposals,” they said.

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