Newcastle United announce welcome change to St James' Park next season

Newcastle United recently released a video announcing a host of improvements which will be undertaken over the summer at St James' Park and the training ground.

A total of £30 million of improvements will be made to the two sites while plans for a new stadium and training ground continue to move at a glacial pace.

As part of the renovations, over 1,700 seats in the Leazes West Corner will be converted to a safe standing area.

The change comes after consultation with fan groups over the decline in atmosphere inside the ground in recent years.

All rise!

Newcastle United announced the change via the official website and social media, and has made it clear that fans who prefer not to stand can opt to switch to another area during the seat move window.

Supporters who wish to move into the safe standing blocks in Leazes West Corner L7C, L7D or L7E can do so during the seat move window (Mon 1–Fri 5 June), subject to availability.

The seat swaps will not just be to accommodate the changes to Level 7 and safe standing; these are available throughout the stadium, subject to availability. The seat swaps can only be made by appointment via the click here.

Will safe standing increase the noise?

The new safe standing area will be in place from pre-season onwards and is designed to improve the atmosphere inside the ground, which many fans feel has been suffering over the last couple of years.

Many fans blame a new focus on corporate hospitality for killing the match atmosphere, so it remains to be seen how much of an impact another safe standing area will have on the noise inside the ground.

If it helps bring the boiling atmosphere back to St James' Park, then we're all for it. It has felt that the atmosphere has been sorely lacking of late, although there hasn't been much to shout about this season, so that won't have helped.