Newcastle United CEO Darren Eales has pledged work will soon begin on the design and production of a fan zone outside St James' Park. The club announcement came as the Magpies unveiled their new front-of-shirt sponsor Sela and home shirt for the 2023/24 season.
Newcastle agreed a deal with Reditum Capital back in February to repurchase the long-term lease on land at Strawberry Place, which was sold by former owner Mike Ashley to developers back in 2019. Attention will soon turn to improving the matchday experience around the stadium as ticket demand continues to soar.
"Closer to home, we will work closely on the design and operation of a new fan zone area at St. James' Park, taking inspiration from Sela's incredible properties elsewhere," Eales revealed as the £25m-a-year Sela deal was confirmed.
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Newcastle co-owner Amanda Staveley has been consistent with her belief that St James' Park needs improving both inside and outside. Vast changes have been on the terraces and pitch, with attention soon turning to the surrounding area following the decision to repurchase the private land.
"We love St James' Park," the part-owner said at MIPIM, the world's largest real estate conference, earlier this year. "We luckily bought Strawberry Place and we have been talking to architects about what we can actually do.
"We desperately need to invest in the stadium. It's just the most incredible place, but it needs to be fit for purpose. We create so much magic in that stadium every day and every time there is a game on, Sky love coming. The broadcasters love it because they get real content. There's that sense of excitement that we have to build and deliver because a lot of people can't visit St James'."
