Deeply concerning news on Newcastle United stadium plans

Fans are still waiting to hear the club’s plans for the Newcastle United stadium.

A far bigger capacity ground desperately needed, both to allow far more supporters to watch matches in person AND to help the club compete on and off the pitch.

A far bigger Newcastle United stadium absolutely essential if NUFC to stand any chance of closing the financial chasm between themselves and the half dozen Premier League clubs we need to be able to compete with long-term.

The Newcastle United owners have now been in control over four years and planned announcements on a brand new Newcastle United stadium (or a significantly increased St James’ Park) have been repeatedly put back.

If Newcastle United fans were worried about the endless delays on the NUFC hierarchy announcing what is going to happen with the stadium situation, then they should be deeply concerned with this news on Friday (28 November 2025) morning.

Earlier on this morning I saw an article on The Mag about an announcement from The FA, revealing that St James’ Park is one of the stadiums that is part of a four nations bid to host the 2035 Women’s World Cup.

“That’s great news” I hear you shout.

Well, it is, up to a point.

You see, in the official release from The FA, it lists all the stadiums that are part of the bid, then also gives extra information and background facts on what all the different clubs have planned regarding their stadiums (see below).

Aston Villa, Manchester City and Brighton are currently redeveloping/extending their current stadiums.

Leeds United, Wrexham, Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest all have redevelopment/extension plans for their current stadiums that are ‘moving forward prior to 2035.’

Whilst Manchester United, Birmingham City and Chelsea are all planning new stadiums.

So what about the plans for the Newcastle United stadium?

I am guessing that many of you are thinking; “So what? NUFC are just keeping their plans secret and any minute will reveal them…”

That isn’t how these things work though.

When the Newcastle United owners have been asked (along with the owners of the other clubs) whether they want their stadium to be considered as part of this 2035 Women’s World Cup bid, they are duty bound to tell the FA about what they have planned, if anything.

As Newcastle United fans, we all want to believe that loads of secret planning and progress is going on behind the scenes and that very soon it will be revealed exactly what is happening with the Newcastle United stadium plans. That things have moved along rapidly in secret and loads of boxes ticked, concrete plans in place, plus a timescale on when exactly this brand new Newcastle United stadium (or massively expanded St James’ Park) will be completed.

My gut feeling sadly is, that the reality is very little progress, if any, has secretly been made. That we are no further forward and the huge new capacity Newcastle United stadium has no plans as yet.

I think the reality is that all of these other rival clubs are joining those who have already greatly increased their capacities since a quarter of a century ago, the Newcastle United stadium increased from 36,000 to 52,000, whilst the Newcastle United owners have got nothing planned as things stand.

If/when St James’ Park hosts matches at this 2035 Women’s World Cup, it will be 14 years since the Newcastle United owners took control from Mike Ashley and indeed, getting on for more like twenty years since they first started the process of trying to buy Newcastle United. At which point surely, they absolutely looked into all the ins and outs of what possibilities there were with regard to the Newcastle United stadium.

When they put together a business plan for buying the club, the subject of St James’ Park and alternatives would 100% have been one of the key considerations.

I will continue to hope for the best where a massive (and essential) new Newcastle United stadium is concerned BUT at the same time I have to say that I very much fear the worst.

From the official statement from The FA about the four nations bid to host the 2035 Women’s World Cup:

Proposed host cites and stadiums

• Belfast – Clearer Twist National Stadium at Windsor Park
• Birmingham – Sports Quarter Stadium*1 and Villa Park
• Brighton & Hove – American Express Stadium
• Bristol – Ashton Gate
• Cardiff – Cardiff City Stadium and Principality Stadium
• Edinburgh – Easter Road
• Glasgow – Hampden Park
• Leeds – Elland Road
• Liverpool – Hill Dickinson Stadium
• London – Chelsea FC Stadium*2, Emirates Stadium, Selhurst Park, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Wembley Stadium connected by EE
• Manchester – Etihad Stadium
• Newcastle – St James’ Park
• Nottingham – City Ground
• Sunderland – Stadium of Light
• Trafford – Old Trafford*3
• Wrexham – Racecourse*4

*1. Sports Quarter Stadium, recently publicly revealed as the Powerhouse Stadium, is a new stadium development with a proposed capacity of 62,000, forming part of a significant urban development in Birmingham.

*2. Chelsea FC is currently consulting on a range of options for their new home. The current Stamford Bridge stadium does not meet FIFA’s technical specifications therefore the outcome of their consultation process will determine whether a new or redeveloped stadium can be included in FIFA’s final stadium selection.

*3. The bid submission includes Old Trafford in its current form. This approach has been taken because the proposed new stadium does not currently have sufficient information for FIFA assessment and therefore cannot be evaluated as part of the bid process. The planned redevelopment has been referenced within the bid, and while Old Trafford will be submitted as it currently stands, the intention is for the new stadium to be considered for FIFA’s consideration once plans are confirmed.

*4. Wrexham AFC’s stadium is currently undergoing redevelopment to reach an increased capacity of 18,000 fans. They are planning to further increase this capacity before 2035, which would then meet FIFA technical requirements.

N.B. Villa Park, the American Express Stadium, and Etihad Stadium are currently being redeveloped, while Elland Road, Selhurst Park, The City Ground, and the Clearer Twist National Stadium at Windsor Park have redevelopment plans that are moving forward prior to 2035.