Stack and NUFC team up with fan zone
Newcastle United and the ambitious leisure operator have revealed images of the project, intended for Strawberry Place.
Billed as St James’ STACK, powered by Sela (the club’s shirt sponsor, a Saudi Arabian events group), images were shown at a consultation event at NUFC’s Magpie Suite this week.
If approved, the development would give fans a food, drink and entertainment option before and after matches at St James’ Park, as well as creating a midweek leisure destination in the city with a brand that is now familiar on the North East social scene and beyond.
Following the success of a “meanwhile use” operation at Pilgrim Street where the HMRC super-campus is now being developed, the leisure business has moved on to open operations including STACK Seaburn, sometimes but not always following its initial model odf using shipping containers to quickly build destinations.
Over the course of this year, the business has advanced plans to open destinations in Whitley Bay’s former Empress Ballroom and Durham’s former M&S, while in the North Werst it has followed plans for a Carlisle operation with a major swoop for Hatch, a container scheme developed by Bruntwood, a deal revealed just this month.
At St James’, the classic model will be used, with repurposed shipping containers placed around a central plaza and main stage area. The partners said there will be a “carefully curated events and attractions designed for families”.
The Strawberry Place land, close to the stadium’s Metro stop, is part of a plot sold by the club’s former owner Mike Ashley, before its new ownership reacquired it.
The venue as viewed from Gallowgate. Credit: Newcastle United/Digitalcrush
