Fans still waiting to find out whether it is going to be a brand new Newcastle United stadium, or an increased capacity of St James’ Park.
Hopes had been raised that the much talked about meetings two weeks ago at Matfen Hall, between the Newcastle United owners and senor senior staff, would then see some kind of statement made about the stadium plans.
Reality though has proved to be we are still waiting.
However, a new update of sorts has been provided now, via the media.
The Mail reporting that: “Following the Matfen Hall summit in front of PIF last month, it is understood chief executive David Hopkinson and chief operating officer Brad Miller were sent away with clear instructions from the Saudi owners to return with specific information on both a new build and a St James’ Park renovation. PIF did not make a definite decision on which option to pursue, but a new stadium is said to appeal to both the executive team and the ownership.”
For sceptics this will no doubt sound simply like more of the same, yet more meetings where the Newcastle United owners talk to senior staff but little or no action, at least from what fans can see.
However, Craig Hope at The Mail goes on to say: “The project – new-build or renovation – has moved beyond the exploration stage and, while supporters and some inside the club were hoping for a clear direction of travel post Matfen Hall, work is intensifying to provide ownership with the specific details they need to make the call that will shape the future of the club.”
Is this different to previous? Are the club’s owners set to finally get things in motion?
The man from The Mail has revealed that they’ve managed to get sight of designs/drawings that have now been produced by KSS, the architects leading the Newcastle United stadium project.
They report that these images show a potential brand new Newcastle United stadium that looks similar to the Allianz Arena, a cross-section drawing that shows a “bowl-like design has two tiers and hints at a bubble-wrap facade, like Bayern Munich’s.”
The Mail report adding: “A second working drawing was so detailed that we have agreed not to use it, for the blueprint revealed the exact layout from an aerial vantage and could compromise a future development. Sources have stressed that both architectural images have been updated and that plans have since evolved significantly. That, however, is a strong indicator of the club’s preference being a new-build.”
Any stadium plans that might be announced, in the near future or later… would still then take any number of years before completion.
Craig Hope giving more detail: “The drawings, and the subsequent improvement and development of them, show the extensive and detailed work that is going into exploring the new-build option. Leazes Park remains the most likely site were that to happen, with a capacity of at least 65,000. That was the number thought to be attached to the drawings we have. The birds-eye view shows surrounding parkland and there is a hospitality entrance and designated hospitality area within the stadium on the halfway line.”
The Allianz Arena has a capacity of 75,000 and is a stunning stadium.
Obviously everybody has their own opinion of exactly what would be an ideal capacity of a brand new Newcastle United stadium.
The Mail finish off their report by stating that the announcement of the new £200million training ground at Woolsington is expected in the near future. Here’s hoping.