The owners of Newcastle United are having a stadium feasibility study carried out to see how St. James Park stadium can have its capacity increased from the current 52,300.
That will not only improve the look of the stadium but it will help with the match-day revenues too.
And of course, Newcastle is one of the few football clubs in England that have its Stadium just off the city center, and the owners want to keep it that way.
The Santiago Bernabeu project in Madrid was to remodel the stadium and it looks just fantastic, as shown in the photo above.
Alejandro Lorca, was the lead partner of the Bernabeu project, after his firm, L35, were chosen for the redevelopment.
Lorca dedicated his recent time to the Bernabeu project and is interested in what’s going on at St. James’ Park and the possibilities there.
Lorca is interested to see what comes out of the feasibility study at St James’ Park.
Lorca (shown above) is maybe one of the best people available to offer comments on the St. James Park of the future, and he has done this today by talking to Chronicle Live.
This is what he said:
“They (Newcastle) have to go for it and take their time,”
“With these refurbishments, especially in old stadiums, you really have to study well how you integrate everything to get the best out of it.”
“That means that you need more time to study all the technical areas. You have to have everything tied together for it to happen – and that takes time.”
“Nothing is impossible,” “You know the retractable pitch we have? If they had told me that they were going to do that in 2012, I would not have believed it.”
“We also did a service quarter because one of the problems that the Bernabeu had was all the goods were coming from the street so a truck would just go along the street and then you had all the boxes going inside the stadium.”
“They didn’t have a proper delivery area so we did a ring all around the stadium and then we went in between the foundations of the old stadium and went up the service elevators to be able to get into each area.”
“Now you can service it from one area and the TV compound is underground.”
“We were going in between and retrofitting old foundations. It’s amazing how the club really pushed to have it and if you can do that, you can do just about anything.”
“We even have the train tunnel going through the stadium that was done in the 1920s and it’s one of the most used in Madrid that’s very near the surface of the lower stand so we had to reinforce that to be able to do the retractable pitch.”
“We did build a new tier, like a fourth tier, similar to what they probably have to do at St James’,” “That was a big architectural and structural problem.”
“We have been through some things that could be quite similar to what St James’ might be into if they want to renew and probably the thing that is the closest to the problems that we had is the plot itself.”
“The Bernabeu plot is where the building ends. There’s no more land. I thought the Bernabeu is very tight – it’s about four-and-a-half hectares (11.11 acres), which is a small plot for a stadium.”
“But I saw St James’. Wow! It’s very tight, especially the east side with the row of houses at the back.”
“We did have some similar problems in the Bernabeu. You have to cantilever over it and that’s why that shape happens because it really comes from the limitations of the plot.”
“The skin of a stadium is a reflection of the renewal of a club,” “It sends the message about this iconic building moving into the 21st century.”
“I’m sure besides having more seats and better infrastructure at St James’, Newcastle will want this image of a ‘new’ stadium in the middle of the city. I hope this is the case.”
“I hope you get that wonderful stadium that you all want.”
It wouldn’t be a bad idea if after the study is completed for St. James’ Park expansion, Alejandro Lorca is used as a consultant on the redevelopment.
And remember the costs of the redevelopment is not limited by any FFP or PSR rules.
And it seems that Saudi Arabia’s PIF is willing to put a lot into the St. James’ redevelopment as a statement that Newcastle United is on the way to becoming one of the best clubs in world football.
What do you think?
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328 comments so far
lesh
Feb 7, 2024 at 2:37 PM
Comment #1Some of us have more pressing things to do than claim ‘first’
Raj of Hailsley
Feb 7, 2024 at 2:51 PM
Comment #2Not me 😕
lochinvar
Feb 7, 2024 at 2:56 PM
Comment #3Well let’s build the new SJP, the eighth wonder of the world, an icon stadium. Let’s create with Government finance a whole new zone for business, learning, research and leisure with recreational parkland.
As for Manchester, as Marie Antionette said , ‘let them eat chicken’ or not as the case might be, unless you want food poisoning.
Raj of Hailsley
Feb 7, 2024 at 3:08 PM
Comment #4I wonder if a new stadium revamp will get as much attention on SSN that Man U is today 😕
Munster Mag
Feb 7, 2024 at 3:35 PM
Comment #5Nice bit of playing to the gallery there Jail, and you got a heart too, yay!
Transfer Sage
Feb 7, 2024 at 3:50 PM
Comment #6I’ve got say, if they could do something with the current stadium that would make it up there with other elite stadiums, I’d be very happy with that.
Raj of Hailsley
Feb 7, 2024 at 3:54 PM
Comment #7Munster,
I can’t be bothered with you, why would you defend Klopp like that, he had a stinker of a season due to an ageing MF and injuries. Our manager who hasn’t had the luxury of eight years of squad development and top notch youth policy is struggling due to unforseen circumstances. What do you want done about it?
Raj of Hailsley
Feb 7, 2024 at 3:54 PM
Comment #8TS,
I think we need all the restaurants and bars we can put in to max that revenue.
Fat Basta*d
Feb 7, 2024 at 4:09 PM
Comment #9Season 28/29 … we lose a game.
Why?
Because we had injuries in season 23/24
😀
Transfer Sage
Feb 7, 2024 at 4:10 PM
Comment #10Jail
It depends what can be done in the existing stadium. I’m sure with the techniques referenced in this article there may be things we can do to get a significantly increased revenue without needing a new stadium…although not entirely sure what is possible.
Raj of Hailsley
Feb 7, 2024 at 4:11 PM
Comment #11Shame we can’t get rid of the bloody houses behind the East Stand.
Davas
Feb 7, 2024 at 4:17 PM
Comment #12I guess all these nice facilities in these brand spanking new stadia don’t extend to away fans. Can’t say I was that impressed with the facilities at spurs ground.
Saratoga
Feb 7, 2024 at 4:24 PM
Comment #13ST Holder, NUST member since the start of it, used to be a shareholder of the club in a small way.
These folks come in and are big hitters. They call the shots. Bought us for 300 million.
Me I’m just a supporter. Happy to be just that.
So, big hitters. Impress me. Build a new state of the art stadium on Leazes Park. 65K, 70K, 80K blah blah blah, I’m sure they will have it all worked out.
Go on. Impress me.
WLtoon
Feb 7, 2024 at 4:26 PM
Comment #14I wont bother watching SSN at all this week, it will be saturated with the horrible lot from Manchester and their proposed public tax payer backed stadium refurb, Sky will no doubt be creaming in their pants at the thought of Radcliffe giving their darlings a multi million pound shot in the arm.
It is what it is, i`m afraid we are on our own.
Davas
Feb 7, 2024 at 4:27 PM
Comment #15I read a report that denied that the club had any injuries whatsoever and it was just EHs plan to keep the squad happy.
For example, he gave Barnes the first half of the season off to spend time with his wife and new daughter. He also gave willock an extended break due to his efforts last season. That’s now been extended to Joel for his efforts this season.
And as for Tonali, he’s been given the year to acclimatise and learn the language.
So all these problems are just down to EH trying to be a nice guy.
cyprus
Feb 7, 2024 at 4:29 PM
Comment #16This Lorca dude sure talks like a consultant. He can’t lose:
“Go for it Newcastle!…. But take your time.”
“Just do it!…. But just think about it first man.”
Mund
Feb 7, 2024 at 4:35 PM
Comment #17Munster swooning over Klopp and Liverpool again
🙄
Pretty sure there’s a Liverpool football blog somewhere…
Raj of Hailsley
Feb 7, 2024 at 4:36 PM
Comment #18It’s going to take a lot of time and shows they’re here for the long haul.
Davas
Feb 7, 2024 at 4:40 PM
Comment #19Thomas Frank saying Toney will probably be sold in the summer. Thar should be a few million in the coffers for nufc.
morocco0015
Feb 7, 2024 at 5:13 PM
Comment #20Do we have a sell on clause with Brentford?
Davas
Feb 7, 2024 at 5:24 PM
Comment #21Morocco
Yeah, 30% of whatever Brentford get
Davas
Feb 7, 2024 at 5:34 PM
Comment #22I’m guessing as it’s a bit unclear, but we may already have got 3m from what Peterborough got from selling him to Brentford
Davas
Feb 7, 2024 at 5:52 PM
Comment #23Looks like Bruno will be OK for the weekend as he’s shown in the latest training pics. 🙂
lochinvar
Feb 7, 2024 at 5:54 PM
Comment #24Looking at the photo The Bernabeu is the mothership of all stadia.
Reminds me of space ships in E.T. and Independence Day.
Just looks too big for that site.
Location, location, location.
Lets hope that the PIF can rebuild the iconic SJP into a 80,000 stadium that makes Old Trapdoor look like a relic on the Antiques Road Show. Quite like the idea of a 70,000 stadium for most games but with another 10,000 seats hidden in the roof around the ground (probably Level 8) with some sort of clam like/eyelid roof that opens up when needed for World Cup or Champions League finals or nationally important events such as a Sam Fender gig.
Beautiful.
Munster Mag
Feb 7, 2024 at 5:54 PM
Comment #25Well done Jail you got some support, although Mund doesn’t really count.
Reality is I hate Klopp. In fact I had a good old disagreement with the brother about him at the funeral the other day.
Could have been a fightin Irish wedding 🙂
Munster Mag
Feb 7, 2024 at 5:56 PM
Comment #26Loch we won’t fill that level consistently. I’d take a good 65k stadium at sjp although I think we will move
tannerabag
Feb 7, 2024 at 6:03 PM
Comment #27Doesn’t look like Yankuba Minteh or Garang Kuol are going to cut the mustard as NUFC first team players any time soon (happy to be proved wrong of course), but neither seem to be showing progress in the Eredivisie. Oh well, back to the drawing board.
Raj of Hailsley
Feb 7, 2024 at 6:07 PM
Comment #28I hatedThatcher Munster ergo you won’t find me making excuses for her, or saying how brilliant she was. Your fawning praise for Klopp didn’t sound like you hated him.
Raj of Hailsley
Feb 7, 2024 at 6:08 PM
Comment #29tannerabag,
Minteh is doing OK.
Munster Mag
Feb 7, 2024 at 6:16 PM
Comment #30Inaccurate comparison Jail.
Klopp is a top class manager. Just happens to be a complete cnut aswell, but I dont let that detract me from saying he is v good at what he does.
9
Feb 7, 2024 at 6:24 PM
Comment #31Who in their right mind (apart from architects, of course) is in any way interested in what a football stadium LOOKS like and, especially, looks like from the outside??
How are we to pass judgement on a stadium by seeing what it looks like from the outside???
Raj of Hailsley
Feb 7, 2024 at 6:34 PM
Comment #329,
Same as a house.
Davas
Feb 7, 2024 at 7:01 PM
Comment #33Munster
Klopp is, and yet, as Dazzler said and from what I remember too (not infallible 🙂 ), Liverpool only started improving when they started getting their players back.
magicmac54
Feb 7, 2024 at 7:05 PM
Comment #34Evening Folks
Been out in the Garden most of the day, the first this year, the first is always a pain in the butt, and i have a pain in the back tonight for my troubles 😀 😀
On the stadium redevelopment, i`m not worried either way if it`s an expansion of Saint James, or an new stadium.
HWTL
Fenham to Chalfont
Feb 7, 2024 at 7:06 PM
Comment #35Little Bobby dazzler (or Debra) do you have your rainbow, BLM, Palestine and Hamas flags spewed right across all the windows of the hovel which you dwell in at all? I bet you do 😉
As you are clearly radicalised with your very far left views and lover of Hamas…Do you dye your hair bright blue and have a nose and eye ring piercings? I bet you look a reet owld clip eh?
Fenham to Chalfont
Feb 7, 2024 at 7:08 PM
Comment #36Any BS from Debra I’ll respond to whatever palaver you say tomorrow as I’m a wee bit busy at the moment.
Raj of Hailsley
Feb 7, 2024 at 7:09 PM
Comment #37Davas,
They also spent £37M on Cody Gakpo.
Raj of Hailsley
Feb 7, 2024 at 7:10 PM
Comment #38Fenham,
You do not have to be a supporter of Hamas to have sympathy with the plight of the innocent people of Palestine.
Fenham to Chalfont
Feb 7, 2024 at 7:18 PM
Comment #39Aye little Raj there are innocent people in Palestine and there are innocent people in Isreal. Hamas are the orchestrators of what’s happening over there right now. 7th October was a disgrace also. So any innocent people caught up in all this crap I have sympathy for. Anyone who sympathises or supports a terrorist organisation like Hamas I have zero respect for.
Raj of Hailsley
Feb 7, 2024 at 7:23 PM
Comment #40Of the 10K children killed since Oct 7th, I doubt any of them knew much about Hamas.