Are you a fan of the game known as soccer in North America, and football elsewhere? Whether you’re cheering for your local team or watching international tournaments, this sport connects fans around the world with exciting matches and a rich history.
Before Embarking On a Large Project
I’ve been spreading the word lately about conducting feasibility studies before initiating large, complex projects.
A colleague recently recommended an article about an ongoing sports feasibility study. The article, titled “Newcastle looking to ‘understand alternative options’ in stadium study”, is from the BBC.
For those of you who are not soccer/football fans, Newcastle United Football Club is a popular club out of the UK. They are so popular that they run a lottery type of system to get tickets for their games. Thus, when they decided to expand the stadium, it was a big deal for both the club and their fans.
They decided to conduct a feasibility study to determine the best course of action for the project and are working through a detailed analysis to look at all project-related risks and opportunities. They know that expanding their current location at St James’ Park has many risks associated with it, and they are trying to find the right balance between risk and opportunity.
Feasibility and Project Size
With a project of this size and significance, it makes a lot of sense to have a feasibility study, but what about smaller projects? You may wonder if your project is complex and important enough to warrant a feasibility study. It’s true smaller projects may not need a feasibility study, however it’s important to still analyze all risks and opportunities before jumping straight into the project.
A common question I hear is: What defines a small project in my company? For some businesses, this is determined by the project’s duration, budget, and the involvement of only an internal project team.
However, the criteria for project size can vary across departments, and can be established and standardized by working with senior project managers and leadership.
Home of the Magpies
In the BBC article, I especially loved this quote by Newcastle United’s chief operating officer Brad Miller, “Part of the process is also to understand alternative options so that we see the bigger picture and, again, find the right balance between risk and opportunity. This is a once-in-a-generation investment, so we don’t want to look back in years to come, as a club or as a city, and regret an opportunity missed.”
St James’ Park location has been the Magpies home since 1892. And why are they called the Magpies, you may ask? I had to look this up. The team is called the Magpies because their traditional home kit features black and white stripes, resembling the feathers of magpie birds from the crow family.
Fan Advisory Board Meetings
The feasibility study is being discussed with their Fan Advisory Board (FAB) that meets regularly with fan supporters and senior club executives.
Such advisory boards are crucial for large projects, and direct collaboration with fans ensures structured and strategic engagement for the club.
Miller told the FAB that they are dedicated to guaranteeing all funds allocated to the project will maximize impact—enhancing the fan experience, increasing revenue, improving competitiveness, investing in football, and boosting operational efficiency.
“All this requires a robust process that leaves no stone unturned,” Miller said.
Feasibility studies, like projects, vary in size, length and complexity, but the lessons remain; before you build, and invest in any size project, you need to evaluate and analyze all risks and opportunities.
I’m eager to see the results of their feasibility study!
With 20+ years project management experience, Barbara Kephart has led projects across industries like medical software, clinical trials, and cybersecurity. With experience teaching technical project management and stakeholder engagement, Barbara is dedicated to helping companies pivot, prioritize, and complete projects with Chief Project Officer-level expertise, project professionals, practical training, and hands-on management—without the executive-level price tag.