Newcastle United remain at a crossroads. over their long-term stadium future, but fresh comments from chief executive officer David Hopkinson have offered the clearest indication yet of what a new home could look like.
Since November 2024, the north-east club have been weighing up two options – redevelop their iconic St James' Park home, or move to a brand new venue on the nearby Leazes Park site.
While no final decision has been made, Hopkinson's latest update suggests some planning is starting to take shape.
What did Newcastle's CEO say about their new stadium plans?
Speaking in a recent interview with TalkSPORT, Hopkinson admitted that no call had been reached yet. “The truth is, we haven't decided,” he said, while also describing St James' Park as a “magical” stadium.
However, he went on to reveal interesting details about the club's modelling for a new ground, confirming that plans have consistently centred around a capacity “in the 60,000 range.”
The Magpies chief also added that he does not believe “bigger than that is good,” hinting at a focus on retaining their atmosphere.
By comparison, Everton's new Hill Dickinson Stadium holds 52,769, while the likes of Anfield (61,276) and the Emirates Stadium (60,704) aren't far ahead of that number.
FGG says: Newcastle need to make stadium decision sooner rather than later
The ongoing uncertainty is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore – as Newcastle continue to grow under the leadership of PIF, clarity of their new stadium plans will be essential to unlocking long-term commercial potential.
Clubs like Tottenham Hotspur and Everton have already shown how modern, multi-use stadiums can transform revenue beyond matchdays.
Whether Newcastle can better achieve that by redeveloping St James' Park or by building a new venue remains to be seen.
One way or another, a decision is needed soon, because standing still isn't going to benefit the Magpies or their supporters.