Newcastle United could build ‘80,000-capacity’ new stadium – Keith Wyness
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness has insisted Newcastle must look at a capacity of between “70-80,000” if they build a new stadium.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, the 66-year-old – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – insisted that is a “magic number” to “stay competitive” in the Premier League.
As per iNews (6 November), Newcastle are now in “advanced stages” of their stadium feasibility study – paving the way for “concrete progress” in 2025.
The Magpies are considering both redeveloping St James’ Park and building a new stadium around their famous existing ground.
Newcastle’s stadium currently holds 52,350, the eighth-largest football stadium in England – and is sold out regularly.
Newcastle need ‘80,000-seat’ stadium to ‘stay competitive’, says Wyness
Wyness insisted the Magpies could sell out a stadium with a capacity of 80,000.
He told Football Insider‘s Insider Track podcast: “I think Newcastle have got to look at a capacity of between 70-80,000.
“That’s where they’ve got to aim, and certainly they could fill that every week.
“Going back to Everton, they’ll be getting 50,000+ in every week – that puts them in the top ten of the Premier League. But soon, you won’t be in the top ten unless you’ve got a capacity of over 70,000.
“It’s becoming a magic number to get to. Newcastle have got to aspire to that and stay competitive.
“It’s getting more and more expensive for other clubs to redevelop their stadiums, and they probably need a nation state like Saudi Arabia to make it happen at this scale.
“I’ve been involved in stadium projects and costs can double and triple very quickly.
“Ukraine, lockdown – all these situations can become involved and make it a very difficult thing to embark on.
“It’s not easy, so I wish any club wanting to do it good luck.”
In other news, Newcastle told to complete Jonathan David signing after dazzling update.
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