It truly is a sight to behold. The three towering masts visible from 30 miles away, the sweeping canopy that envelops the new stadium, and a public plaza that is twice the size of Trafalgar Square—no one could accuse the architects behind Manchester United’s ambitious “New Trafford” of playing it safe. However, perhaps the team at Foster and Partners could have approached the project with a bit more caution. What they have designed resembles more of a high-end shopping center situated on the outskirts of town than a traditional football stadium.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his team have repeatedly touted the project as “iconic,” as if their primary challenge was to create a structure that would be a magnet for Instagram selfies. The Ineos tycoon even went so far as to compare the proposed 100,000-seater stadium to the Eiffel Tower, inadvertently revealing the Manchester United hierarchy’s eagerness to attract more tourists with deep pockets.
One can only hope that Newcastle United’s board has been taking notes. A new stadium project at St James’ Park has been in development for over two years but remains shrouded in uncertainty. There are, reportedly, artist renderings of what a new ground in Leazes Park and a revamped St James’ Park might look like, but those fortunate enough to have seen them are bound by non-disclosure agreements.
What I can say is this: I hope Newcastle, unlike Manchester United, has remembered what the essence of such a project truly is—to construct a football stadium, rather than a leisure complex with an adjacent arena. Newcastle’s new stadium doesn’t require a grand landmark to make it special. Instead, it needs four massive terraces designed to capture the atmosphere, smart technology within the stadium, maximum seating capacity, and a design that prioritizes acoustics.
They should take inspiration from the best of the Bundesliga, avoiding airy spaces more suited for a summer Olympic Games. Flexibility is also key, allowing future generations to modify or expand the capacity as the team thrives.
Regeneration initiatives make a lot of sense, and giving Barrack Road a facelift is long overdue. There are numerous exciting possibilities, and Newcastle United stands to gain significantly. The Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) mean that the stadium would benefit from being utilized seven days a week, which the current St James’ Park does not achieve.
Yet, the most crucial day remains match day, and that’s not the feeling I get from New Trafford. Tottenham’s stadium serves as a commendable model, and Everton appears to have grasped the concept. Their “blue wall” is an intelligent design choice, and the Instagram-worthy aspect of their new stadium is its proximity to the River Mersey. There’s no need for a towering structure visible from the Peak District or a canopy to enhance its appeal.
Newcastle must embody similar values because whatever comes next must preserve the essence of St James’ Park—a stadium that, at its peak, becomes a cauldron of intensity, emotion, and history. It features steep terraces packed into a compact space, located in a city center that reflects the club’s significant role in its community.
Momentum seems to be shifting towards a new stadium among Newcastle’s supporters. The continuous frustrations surrounding PSR and the struggle to secure tickets are swaying many fans. However, it would only take a few missteps in a proposed new build for nostalgia to reign supreme, and until designs are unveiled, it’s challenging to make a definitive judgment.
This week has underscored that sentiment. If the proposed designs miss the mark—and the reaction of Newcastle fans to New Trafford is telling—no amount of due diligence will save the project from being sent back to the drawing board. New Trafford stands as a cautionary tale for Newcastle’s decision-makers.
