The FAB consists of supporter representatives and is a key part of Newcastle United's ongoing commitment to structured, strategic fan engagement.
During Monday's online meeting, a number of representatives from FAB were joined by Chief Operating Officer, Brad Miller, Chief Commercial Officer, Peter Silverstone and senior representatives from the club's supporter services, communications and commercial venue teams.
Peter Silverstone provided FAB members with an insight into the club's growing commercial department, which has added 12 new club partners since last summer, introduced a new website and app, and recently launched the new St. James' STACK, presented by Sela.
At the FAB's request, the club summarised the due diligence process that goes into building out a successful commercial partnership, which is supported by 'big four' professional services firms, and outlined plans to attract even more leading brands to the club's family of partners in future.
STADIUM FEASIBILITY
Brad Miller delivered an in-depth update on the club's stadium feasibility work to FAB members. As part of a comprehensive presentation, the club outlined that the study has now entered a crucial second phase, with more detailed analysis currently taking place to investigate project-related risks and opportunities before a decision stage in early 2025.
Brad said: "This is an exciting but extremely complex project, and I'd like to thank supporters for their patience as we conduct this key phase of the feasibility process.
"We aren't quite at a decision-making stage yet, but we are targeting the early part of 2025 to complete the next essential tasks.
"We know what a transformed St. James' Park would give us and we now have a significant amount of data and feedback on our stadium footprint and surrounding area, so we are several steps forward.
"But it is also clear that this option has several risks associated with it, so we need to fully analyse those risks against the opportunities to reach truly informed and intelligent outcomes.
"We are challenging our appointed design team, and ourselves, to make sure our eventual chosen route delivers a fantastic fan experience - one that represents the fans, city, region and club, and aligns with the long-term ambitions of our ownership group.
"But it must provide an investable return, and not least deliver strong revenue growth to increase our PSR headroom, which, as everyone knows, means we can invest more in football.
"Part of the process is also to understand alternative options so that we see the bigger picture and, again, find the right balance between risk and opportunity. This is a once-in-a-generation investment, so we don't want to look back in years to come, as a club or as a city, and regret an opportunity missed.
"Our objective is to select a scheme that is deliverable, affordable, and sustainable, so we are investing this time to make sure we are only going to spend money on the project where it will make the biggest difference - to fan experience, revenue, competitiveness, investment in football and operational efficiency.
"All this requires a robust process that leaves no stone unturned.”
Representatives of the FAB asked a number of critical questions throughout the presentation relating to the feasibility study, which the club will consider as the decision-making process continues.
Brad continued: "We are very grateful to the members of FAB for taking on board some of the detail behind our reasoning, and we look forward to their continued input as we move this historic project forward in the near future."
