Around 1,000 fans gathered in the STACK fanzone outside St James’ Park for a public meeting with the club’s top brass

19:49, 01 Dec 2025Updated 20:38, 01 Dec 2025

Newcastle United CEO David Hopkinson in front of the Sir Bobby Robson Statue at St James’ Park

Newcastle United CEO David Hopkinson has broken the club’s silence on the future of St James’ Park.

Just 12 months ago, the two options of staying at St James’ or moving to a new stadium were put to the fanbase by stadium chief Brad Miller. Miller had previously spoken of wanting to write just one cheque discussing both a St James’ upgrade or a new ground with “more seats.”

An update in early 2025 was promised, but supporters have stayed patient and hung on every word of the Canadian CEO tonight. In the session with supporters, Hopkinson stated he wanted to close the gap on Barcelona and Real Madrid, and that the club must strive to be “best in class” and get more “global follower growth”.

Hopkinson, speaking at the We Are United event in the shadow of St James’ Park, said: “We’re not ready to yet. What is clear, to be at the top consistently we need to grow revenues.

“That means we need world-class facilities, where we can generate those revenues.

“SJP today is incredible where we sit in 2025, we need to look at other opportunities, whether renovated or reimagined.

“We are working on it every day. I know there is a lot of pressure.

“We have not made that decision. We are working on it every day.

“I know there is pressure: ‘When, when, when’. It won’t be today, may not be tomorrow. This is a complex project, a project that will be the most ambitious this club has ever taken on.

“To get ahead of ourselves is counter-productive. I know that won’t be a popular answer.

“I am aware of that.”

Hopkinson said communicating with the supporters will be “critical”. He said: “I know what world class looks like but how it looks in this community we are learning. We are not quite crystal clear what that looks like at this moment.”

Hopkinson was also asked why the club doesn’t have a training ground sponsor and stated he hoped they would this time next year. But added: “We have to get the right deal. We haven’t had that yet.

“We have to get our big block sponsorships right. It is a huge opportunity here. We know how to do this, we have a good team, we need to go and get it done.”

Hopkinson also spoke about the club’s 100-day review which he began conducting in autumn.

Hopkinson said: “It has attracted some attention but I was always going to do a diagnosis. I said when I first arrived, I’d do some talking and listening.

“The output of the 100-day plan, 85 days in, the plan is finished and submitted to the ownership for Monday. From top to bottom, people have contributed to what we want to see – a bright future.

“I am here to focus on where we go here. Our success will be measured by trophies. We want more. We need to be focused on why we can’t, and why we can. We have to have a high-performance football organisation. We have to have a best-in-class business operation to support us.”

Hopkinson added: “We want the same things you want. Which is as much success for Newcastle United as possible.

“We take that duty seriously. It is a privilege we have to earn. Talking openly is how we will build that trust.”

Also speaking on stage was new sporting director Ross Wilson who joined the club from Nottingham Forest.

Wilson said: “One thing me and David both share is this is the most exciting project in Europe. It was incredibly to say no to this.”

Hopkinson had previously made it clear that he would like the Magpies to stay in a central location.

The ex-Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Knicks and La Liga supremo told the official website: “Each team I worked for was the most important thing in that community.

“And the arena or stadium is situated in the centre of the city. I haven’t worked for one where it was in a suburb, 15 miles from downtown. That is really important.

“Where ScotiaBank Arena is in Toronto, or where the Bernabeu is in Madrid, right on Castellana.

“Where Madison Square Garden is, the absolute heart of Manhattan. Where St James’ Park is in Newcastle. Location matters.

“What’s clear to me is how much the pride people in Newcastle have for their community is expressed as love for Newcastle United. That’s awesome. That’s energising. That’s exciting. That’s what matters. Not every team in every community can claim that.”

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