Premier League club planned to build 65,000 Allianz Arena copy to move from 134 year home

Newcastle had planned to build a 65,000-seater stadium in the style of Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena.

That was last year and there is still yet to be any official movement from the club on a new ground.

Getty

The Premier League side have previously hinted at moving away from St. James’ Park.

Chief executive David Hopkinson revealed earlier this month that the club could leave their famous home.

However, he added that expanding the ground was also under consideration.

The Magpies have played at St. James’ Park since it opened in 1892 and it holds a special place in the hearts of the Toon Army fanbase.

St. James’ Park was last renovated between 1998 and 2000, with the capacity currently standing at 52,264 fans.

A potential new ground has been mooted since the Saudi-led takeover of the club in 2021.

Allianz Arena copy

Speaking on talkSPORT’s Inside The Toon YouTube show, journalist Craig Hope said: “All the information coming out of the big high-level Saudi summit last year was that all roads led to a new 65,000-seater ground in the style of the Allianz Arena.

“They had bubble wrap with a Wembley Way-style walk-up, and every source I went to was convinced this was the avenue they were going to commit to.

“They were waiting for the Saudis to give the green light. Now, Darren Eales, who was the chief executive at the time, had said the announcement was ‘imminent’.

“This was a year ago. Now, that wasn’t forthcoming, and what we are led to believe is that the Saudis didn’t follow through with what we expected them to do.

Getty

“More feasibility studies were commissioned, and they wanted more time to be sure this once-in-a-lifetime cheque had to be right.”

It is now nearly four and a half years since the Newcastle takeover by the Saudi Arabian PIF went through, and the Toon are still at St. James’ Park with no direction on what is happening there, and they still train at the same training ground.

This has led to a sense of frustration for supporters, and Hope shares that same frustration.

He said: “Infrastructural investment: Training ground, stadiums and regeneration all fall outside of PSR, so they can’t use that as an excuse.

“So, if I had said to you then four and a half years down the line, there would be no training ground, no stadium, no regeneration. Not even any spades in the ground, but no plans.

“I think they’ve missed a trick because you don’t actually have to build the training ground. I think an announcement itself would send a message to those players inside the club and any prospective signings of ambition.

Inside The Toon on talkSPORT

talkSPORT does Newcastle like nowhere else.

Stay ahead of every tactical shift, manager sacking and transfer rumour by making talkSPORT’s Inside The Toon show your weekly go to for all things Magpies related.

Subscribe now to ensure you never miss a beat of the action one episode at a time, sponsored by BetMGM.

Download the app or visit BetMGM.co.uk. 18+gambleaware.org

Rex

“They are reporting for duty every day to a training ground in Benton that ranks amongst the bottom six or seven in the Premier League, and this is a club whose stated ambition is to be number one in the world.

“So, I am surprised, disappointed and frustrated that there hasn’t been any tangible progress with regards to the training ground or stadium.”

Ground control

Former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan has also urged Newcastle’s owners to take the next step by leaving their beloved ground.

Speaking on the White and Jordan show, he explained: “The one thing we’re not talking about here, and should be talking about, is that the Saudis have played nicely with the football establishment.

“(They) have played by the rules in terms of not pushing the envelope or created any issues about their ownership model and how they should be able to do precisely what they wanted.

“In the same way that they did when they tried to influence (the) government to influence the purchase in the first place, which we all know happened with Boris Johnson.

“So the one thing they can do to enhance Newcastle United Football Club and give them the opportunity to be at the top table, which doesn’t take anything away from PSR, is build a new stadium.

“Get on with it, build a new stadium.”

Youtube / talkSPORT

Newcastle chief’s stadium stance

Speaking exclusively to talkSPORT earlier this month, Hopkinson was asked about Newcastle’s stadium plans.

The club’s chief executive revealed the club could leave their current ground for a new home.

However, he also admitted they also had the option of expanding St. James’ Park’s capacity to 68,000.

Asked what Newcastle plan to do, Hopkinson explained: “The truth is, we haven’t decided.

“St. James’ is a magical place, it’s going to be an extraordinary place on Saturday when we play our next match.

“It’s 53,000, we think we could be bigger and that of course is revenue, a major investment.

“We haven’t made the final decision on what we’re going to do here.

“We are working on this every day, deciding whether it’s here or a new site, where it’s a renovation or new stadium.

“But we’ve got an opportunity we’re pursuing and working on every day.”

Since the takeover in October 2021, Newcastle have twice qualified for the Champions League.

The club are into the last 16 of this season’s competition after beating Qarabag in the knockout play-off round.

Meanwhile, Eddie Howe’s side ended their 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy by winning the Carabao Cup last season.