British media chroniclelive reported that Newcastle and its major shareholder Saudi public investment fund PIF have not yet made a final decision on the future of the stadium after a new round of discussions, but many key details have emerged in the...
British media chroniclelive reported that Newcastle and its major shareholder Saudi public investment fund PIF have not yet made a final decision on the future of the stadium after a new round of discussions, but many key details have emerged in the relevant plans.
First of all, insiders generally believe that if a new stadium is built, the most popular site among bosses is Leeds Park, which is close to St. James' Park. The new CEO Hopkinson also publicly emphasized that "geographic location is crucial" and took the Bernabeu and Madison Square Garden as examples, strongly hinting that the club will not move to a location far from the city center.
Secondly, in terms of funding sources, PIF is not expected to pay in full for a huge project that could cost ÂŖ3 billion. A ÂŖ1 billion financing plan has been reportedly submitted for discussion, and the Reuben family, a small shareholder who holds 20% of the shares, will also participate in the investment.
Finally, between expansion and new construction, the club faces a trade-off. The expansion of the existing St James Park can only increase the capacity to up to 65,000 people, while a brand new course is expected to accommodate more than 70,000 people.
