Newcastle United chief executive David Hopkinson is set to meet fans face-to-face following the club's difficult autumn period, with two appearances scheduled before the end of 2026.
Hopkinson will first speak at the We Are United event on November 23 at the STACK, before spending time with the Newcastle United Supporters Trust on December 9 at St James' Park. The meeting, dubbed 'in the room with the CEO', will allow him to answer questions off camera and away from the media glare.
Stadium Questions Loom
Having assessed Newcastle's up-and-down season so far, Hopkinson will likely face questions on what happens next with the plan for the stadium, as no decision has been made yet. The purchase of Leazes Terrace and the move to sell the stadium leasehold to themselves have increased optionality.
NUST posted a message reading: "An exclusive opportunity for a small number of NUST members to spend time with David Hopkinson." The trust described it as a "Unique experience for NUST members to sit down with NUFC CEO for an open, informal conversation."
Frustration Over Lack of Information
The lack of information on the stadium is a bugbear for fans. St James' Park chief Brad Miller asked for a show of hands on a 'stay or go' two years ago. The former Manchester Airport supremo said then that it was a once-in-a-lifetime decision and Newcastle only wanted to write 'one cheque'.
Missed opportunities to make a major increase in capacity mean Newcastle are still behind others in the revenue race.
Previous Update and Future Dialogue
Hopkinson was last asked for a stadium update in August in La Manga when he told Chronicle Live, with PIF in attendance: "No. There's a pregnant pause in that answer. You guys are dogged, your constituents want to know. And we want our stakeholders to know. But in the moment, as we're trying to conclude a transaction, is not the moment to tell people, 'Here's what we're trying to do'."
He added: "Being fully transparent about what we wanted to do with Leazes Terrace would have been diametrically opposed to being able to actually conclude that deal. We want to be transparent, but that doesn't mean we can invite everyone into every part of the strategy."
The close of the year will see both Hopkinson and sporting director Ross Wilson hold dialogue with supporters, with questions on recruitment, summer sales and Eddie Howe's departure certain to spark discussion from fans.
