Euro 2028: Huge fan zone to take over Newcastle Town Moor with concerts, games and family fun
A huge fan zone is set to be built on Newcastle’s Town Moor when the city hosts Euro 2028.
St James’ Park has been selected as one of host stadiums for the UK and Ireland’s staging of the 2028 UEFA Men’s European Football Championship.
And fresh details are now emerging of Newcastle’s plans for a massive festival of football that summer.
Five group stage fixtures are expected to be held at St James’ Park during the opening weeks of the tournament, according to local authority documents.
But football fans flocking to Tyneside will also be able to enjoy a fan zone with capacity for 15,000 to 20,000 people, which will be erected on the Town Moor, as England’s men bid to replicate the success of Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses.
The fan park will screen all matches from the entire tournament live, not just those being held in Newcastle, and will also be the venue for a series of concerts and shows throughout the month-long event.
A report from the North East Combined Authority (NECA) describes the fan zone as “appealing to the entire population of the region” through a diverse mix of activities, including family events and “football-related interactive experiences”.
It is predicted that being a host city for the Euros will provide a £117.7 million boost to the North East economy, with hopes that it can cement Newcastle’s status as a major event destination and attract a massive influx of tourists.
Government agency UK Sport has estimated that 60% of the 250,000-plus fans who could attend the five matches at St James’ Park will come from outside the North East.
Hosting the tournament is expected to cost Newcastle around £14.5 million – including the cost of the fan zone, decorating the city in Euro 2028 branding, organising a programme to recruit 750 volunteers to welcome visitors, as well as security and transport requirements.
NECA’s report also outlines the need for “significant upgrades” to the power supply at St James’ Park, which will need to meet UEFA’s specifications for tournament venues.
The future of St James’ is unclear, with persistent rumours that Newcastle United could seek to build a new stadium on neighbouring Leazes Park.
However, the club is yet to confirm its intentions or lodge a formal planning application for any such development.
Newcastle City Council last week agreed to accept an £8.6 million grant from UK Sport to help towards the costs of hosting the Euros, which is among the world’s biggest sporting events.
NECA is providing a further £2.9 million, which will be matched by the council itself.
Leader of Newcastle City Council, Karen Kilgour said: “Not only will this tournament be viewed by billions of people worldwide, bringing the international spotlight onto our fantastic city, it will also attract tens of thousands of extra visitors and a massive boost to the local economy.
“Local communities will have many opportunities to get involved through the wide-scale volunteering programme, and additional programmes aimed at North East residents will help to leave a lasting legacy for the city and wider region.
“We therefore welcome the funding contributions from UK Government through UK Sport and from the North East Combined Authority (NECA) which, as well as the council’s funding will enable us to run an exceptional event alongside what will undoubtedly be a fantastic football tournament, something we have been planning for since Newcastle was confirmed as a host city.
“Newcastle has an excellent track record of holding elite sporting events. We’re a city that is set up to deliver and we look forward to welcoming people from across the world to an event that will not only bring nations together but also inspire the future generations in our city.”
North East mayor Kim McGuinness said that the Euros would “showcase the best of the North East on a global stage” as she aims to have the North East designated as the UK’s first official Region of Sport.
She added: “Football is a way of life for North East folk and I simply can’t imagine a major finals taking place in England without games taking place right here. We are passionate, noisy and proud, so we’re the perfect place to host five matches, welcoming spectators from across Europe.
“But our funding will make sure we don’t just host games at St James’ Park but that the city and the whole region benefits, whether that’s through events and activities for local families or tempting visitors to stay longer and boost the takings for hotels, B&Bs and restaurants.”