Fan zone and events to boost football fever as city hosts Euros games

A HUGE fan zone is set to be built on Newcastle’s Town Moor when the city hosts Euro 2028 games. St James’ Park has been selected as one of host stadiums for the UK and Ireland’s staging of the 2028 UEFA Men's European Football Championship.

- DANIEL HOLLAND

And fresh details are now emerging of Newcastle's plans for a massive festival of football that summer.

Five group stage fixtures are expected to be held at St James’ Park during the opening weeks of the tournament, according to local authority documents.

But football fans flocking to Tyneside will also be able to enjoy a fan zone with capacity for 15,000 to 20,000 people, which will be erected on the Town Moor, as England’s men bid to replicate the success of Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses.

The fan park will screen all matches from the entire tournament live, not just those being held in Newcastle, and will also be the venue for a series of concerts and shows throughout the month-long event.

A report from the North East Combined Authority (NECA) describes the fan zone as “appealing to the entire population of the region” through a diverse mix of activities, including family events and “football-related interactive experiences”

It is predicted that being a host city for the Euros will provide a £117.7m boost to the North East economy, with hopes that it can cement Newcastle’s status as a major event destination and attract a massive influx of tourists.