With the European Championship (Euro 2028), set to be held in the UK in two years time, there are various cities that have been earmarked to host numerous matches.
Newcastle, of course, has been selected, with St James’ Park set to host four group matches and a potentially high stakes Round of 16 knockout match.
While these will for sure make for interesting viewing, visitors to Newcastle can look forward to much more than just the football, with the city offering up plenty of things to do.
One of the bonuses is that these games will be held in the summer; great news, due to the fact that Newcastle is generally very cold in the winter and, even in spring months, however, British summers can be substantially hot. Being in Newcastle will offer visitors the best of both; being in the north of England, temperatures are likely to be much more bearable!
Plenty To Do Around The City
Famous for its hospitality, Geordies are very good natured, so foreign visitors can look forward to being welcomed warmly, following the recruitment of 750 local volunteers for the tournament.
As such, these will be stationed around the city, while the Town Moor Fan Zone is set to be created, essentially, this being dubbed a “festival of football”; indeed, this is understood to have the capacity for between 15,000 and 20,000 people.
This won’t just be for ticket holders though; anyone can visit, with families and groups able to enjoy live music, food and interactive experiences as Newcastle looks to put its “best foot forward”.
Visitors and match goers will also be able to enjoy everything the city has to offer, which plays host to many cultural landmarks, including the iconic Tyne Bridge and the Newcastle Civic Centre.
Meanwhile, visitors can also enjoy different pockets of the city, including Grey’s Monument, Blackett Street and Old Eldon Square, while the Quayside is a vibrant visitor attraction that never disappoints with regular live music events, pop-up displays and light shows over the Tyne Bridge.
There is also bound to be a huge amount of digital interest in the tournament and for those who are keen on watching the games will have many different options to be able to do so, whether that be utilising social media, or it may lead some to explore new betting sites that offer specific Euro 2028 features and promotions.
Newcastle will effectively be on show for the whole world to see and there is no doubt that the city will be keen to represent itself in the best way possible.
Considerable Economic Impact
For Newcastle and the surrounding area, it is understood that the tournament will provide a substantial financial boost, in the region of £100 million, which will benefit hotels, bars, restaurants and smaller independent businesses as well, such as retailers and cafes.
With approximately 250,000 fans expected to descend onto Tyneside, it will likely mean that prime nightlife spots in and around the Quayside could be bouncing; essentially at peak capacity.
There are many city leaders, who are understood to be marketing Newcastle as a ‘tournament base’, indeed, emphasising its strong transport links (2.5 hours on the train to London and similar to Edinburgh), it means that it is effectively central when it comes to convenience.
It may also be appealing because fans might find that the prices in Newcastle are cheaper than those in London, Birmingham or Manchester, so this could also work in the city’s favour, attracting more of a diverse crowd.