Sam Fender St James’ Park gigs – Local economy cash figure boost announced | OneFootball

Around 150,000 Sam Fender fans flocked to St James’ Park for his three shows this month.

Newcastle City Council have now released an official announcement, putting a figure on the boost to the local economy thanks to the gigs.

They estimate that the Sam Fender shows at St James’ Park boosted the local economy by around £16.5m.

Newcastle City Council and other local partners stating that the intention is to try and attract as many other major events to the city/region, to further boost the local economy.

I think it reinforces as well, the value of Newcastle United to Newcastle City Council and the region overall, especially with St James’ Park located in the city centre.

For example, last season there were 25 home matches played during the season at St James’ Park by Newcastle United, plus two pre-season friendlies. So 27 massive boosts to the local economy and with Champions League (at least four home CL games) added next season, potentially an even bigger year of NUFC-inspired local economy boosts lies ahead.

Even if all those matches happened BUT at an out of town situated new Newcastle United stadium, that would be a huge blow to the city centre and the local economy overall. As I think even with the same numbers of people you would find far more of them just travelling to the match/event and then heading straight home, rather than with the current SJP city centre location it very much encourages people to spend more time AND money on Tyneside.

It just makes it even more important that we see ASAP plans announced for a far bigger capacity Newcastle United stadium next door to the current St James’ Park location. So that far more fans can attend matches (and other events, gigs etc), the club can be far more financially powerful and able to compete better on and off the pitch, plus of course the far wider benefits for the region and local economy.

Newcastle City Council official release – 25 June 2025:

‘A spectacular trio of Sam Fender concerts at St James’ Park helped boost the local economy by approximately £16.5million, figures show.

The North Shields star held three unforgettable concerts in Newcastle last weekend, attracting approximately 150,000 spectators to see him play at the home of his beloved Newcastle United.

The Thursday, Saturday and Sunday performances helped boost the local regional economy by approximately £16.5m with bars, restaurants, hotels and other attractions in Newcastle and across the region benefitting from the bumper crowds.

Cllr Abdul Samad, Newcastle City Council Cabinet Member for Culture, Music and Arts, said: “Sam Fender, St James’ Park and a sea of black and white made for an unforgettable weekend showing Newcastle at its brilliant best.

“It was fantastic to see such an incredible atmosphere across the city as partners once again came together to show nowhere knows how to put on a show quite like Newcastle.

“Time and again our city region has shown its capacity for hosting such large-scale events, and this is a very welcome boost to our hospitality trade during what are challenging times, and I hope it can help us attract even more incredible events to the North East in the near future.”

Ian Thomas, Chief Operating Officer for NewcastleGateshead Initiative, said: “What an incredible weekend! The city was a buzz with pride as Sam’s three, unforgettable homecoming gigs once again shone a spotlight on Newcastle and the North East.

“It was fantastic to see every corner of the city bustling and businesses both in Newcastle & Gateshead and further afield benefiting from the influx of fans eager to share this moment with Sam and his band. Animating our towns and cities is key to attracting visitors, particularly those staying overnight.

“We recognise that the trading conditions our visitor economy businesses are facing are challenging and we will continue to work with partners across the region to attract more large-scale events, support local talent like Sam to reach for the stars and ensure the impact of these events is felt long after the final encore. “

Stephen Patterson, CEO of NE1 Ltd said: “The city is still basking in Sam Fender fever. What a fabulous three-day takeover. Sam’s sell-out homecoming concerts created an amazing festival feel that engulfed the city, lasting the whole week and beyond. This wasn’t just about the music, it was a cultural moment.

“Sam is a local hero with a worldwide fan base, and the concerts turned the spotlight on the city and created boom time for Newcastle, providing a multi-million-pound boost to businesses, with shops, bars and restaurants teeming with customers all week.

“St James’ Park was the ideal venue for the homecoming hero and demonstrated our ability to put on a great show.

“We need more events of this calibre and are committed to working with key partners and stakeholders to attract new events and visitors.”

“Well done Sam, and well done Newcastle.”