Newcastle United have completed a the purchase of a significant portion of Leazes Terrace outside of St James’ Park.
It’s the third such significant acquisition the club has made regarding St James’ Park and the land surrounding it since the 2021 takeover.
Newcastle purchased the land on Strawberry Place back in 2023, which has since become home to the St James’ STACK fan zone. Last year, the club sold the St James’ Park leasehold to sister company PZ Holdings Ltd for £133million in profit.
The club’s justification for that sale was looking ahead to the future of the stadium. Now, Newcastle have confirmed the purchase of the northern, southern, western and most of the eastern elevations of the Leazes Terrace building that runs alongside St James’ Park’s East Stand.
The Grade I listed structure has restricted the ability to expand the stand’s capacity, which has not been redeveloped since 1972.
According to The Athletic the purchase cost in the region of £20-25million.
While the purchase of Leazes Terrace suggests the club are leaning towards expanding the current site, club sources insist that is not the case and that all options remain open, including a new stadium on a nearby site.
“This strategic purchase is part of the club's long-term planning as it continues to assess all credible and feasible options for the future of its home stadium,” a club statement read.
“It provides Newcastle United with greater flexibility and ensures any future decisions support the club's ambitions, as well as its responsibilities to the local community and the city of Newcastle upon Tyne.
“The club recognises the building’s historic and architectural significance and is committed to its preservation.”
It marks a fresh twist in the long-term debate surrounding the future of Newcastle’s stadium, with a 65,000 St James’ Park expansion considered and a 70,000 capacity new-build on Leazes Park also floated.
Amid the speculation, stadium concept designer and 3D animator Damian Bosio produced several breathtaking suggestions to solve the conundrum via his YouTube channel, Bondibot. The first option sees the Gallowgate End increased to the same height as the Milburn and Leazes stands.
Secondly, Bosio proposes moving the pitch altogether, allowing for further wiggle room in the Gallowgate and East Stand. The final design shows how a new stadium could be built that encroaches into Leazes Park.
Check out all three propositions below.
1. Expanding the Gallowgate Stand
This would involve building over the road and into Strawberry Place. | Bondibot
2. Removing the roof
The concept design involves removing the Gallowgate Stand roof and starting the expansion across the road to allow traffic to continue passing through. | Bondibot
3. One stand expansion
The East Stand, listed buildings and Leazes Conservation area would remain undisturbed by this expansion. | Bondibot
4. A significant expansion
The Gallowgate expansion concept would raise the stand to the same level as the Milburn and Leazes stands. | Bondibot