PIF and RB Sports & Media

[AyeDubbleYoo]

1 minute ago, Shadow Puppets said:

 

Well that's a bit over the top, surely.

 

I completely understand the reasons that people are upset, but it seems relatively unnecessary to get so emotional about something that will likely be fixed in the coming weeks. I highly doubt that any of this was premeditated. It seems on the surface to me to be an error of judgement, not malicious. It'll be dealt with.

Well, if that’s the case then they should say so tomorrow. They have the backlash now. 

[Likelylad]

Yeah, I definitely get that. It did need sorting mind as it was almost impossible to build loyalty points from 0 as people got tickets & points then just shifted the ticket if they couldn’t make it. Certainly looked like abit of a closed shop to a degree.

 

I’d love to get to more games but living in Manchester and having a long term lass. It’s just not possible fiscally and personally. I’m just a fan. No better or worse than anyone else. Whey except Steve Wraith. 

 

 

Edited August 1, 2023 by Likelylad

[HaydnNUFC]

1 minute ago, jack j said:

Aye it works both ways like

I've been in that boat myself where I'm "protective" over my loyalty points and get on the defensive when I see posts saying scrap them or put them on a rolling basis or put half into a ballot etc

 

I think some of the "away fans" as you put it get angered by people saying they're points shouldn't mean fuck all

 

Doesn't mean that they should be taking joy in this today like. Cos its a shambles

 

I've been one who's mulled over a slight change to the points system over the last year or so but the more I've thought about it this summer the more I've wanted it kept as it is as there's no viable solution imo. A ballot will take tickets away from fans with points, not corporate; punishing fans with points to allow those without to go is categorically wrong. A ballot should come from corporate's sizeable allocation but we all know that won't happen.

 

Regardless many of those without points, such as myself, actually only want to get to around 2 or 3 aways a season. I was able to get to those I wanted to go last season. Some may see that as cheating the system and it is really, but the bottom line is many of those twisting about points are likely the same and only want to get to 2 or 3 aways season. Maybe a generalisation but who knows.

 

From what I've heard from mates who are fans of clubs who have them, I don't want ID checks brought in. They seem lenient/half arsed from the Man City (a) announcement today so maybe that's a slight positive.

[bobbydazzla]

13 minutes ago, AyeDubbleYoo said:

I’m not even thinking about the season now, actually not excited about the Villa game at all. 

Same.

 

As petty as that sounds.

 

I absolutely loved the section I was in last season, made friends with those around me, was with a group of like minded people who wanted to stand and be vocal, bought a ticket in the same area, often the same seat, for every game. 

 

Now I feel proper deflated that I almost certainly won’t get to be there again this season. And if I do get a ticket for a game I could end paying over the odds to be given a seat in some parts of the ground that I’ve been in before and really disliked.

 

 

 

Edited August 1, 2023 by bobbydazzla

[RS]

 

13 minutes ago, AyeDubbleYoo said:

I’m not even thinking about the season now, actually not excited about the Villa game at all. 

Hilarious!  Obviously nobody’s ever pissed in the pocket of your donkey jacket in the Gallowgate. That’s truly upsetting. 

[Likelylad]

1 minute ago, RS said:

 

Hilarious!  Obviously nobody’s ever pissed in the pocket of your donkey jacket in the Gallowgate. That’s truly upsetting. 

I was at Villa Park one year & someone pissed in me pocket, I was furious..

[RS]

Just now, Likelylad said:

I was at Villa Park one year & someone pissed in me pocket, I was furious..

Spoil your entire season though?

[OverThere]

Good grief this thread. Hopefully they fix it so when you win a ballot you get to choose your seat from what's left or pass if nothing suits. Pretty much that is all can be done.

 

I think in the next 2 years we will be talking about a new stadium, no other way around this new reality.

 

 

Edited August 1, 2023 by OverThere

[cubaricho]

7 minutes ago, OverThere said:

I think in the next 2 years we will be talking about a new stadium.

Yuppppp

[Kid Icarus]

1 hour ago, Wandy said:

I'm actually shocked at my own reaction to this and how much it has completely pissed me off. Not only at the club's actions but also the appallingly smug reaction to it from some of our fanbase. I might cool down over the coming days but right now it's killed any enthusiasm I had for the coming seaaon. If I dont feel on the same page as the club and our own support then I'm wondering what's the point of it all.

 

You might be having your canon moment re our fans tbh  I think there are a canny few on here that had that during Hull at home in 2014.

[Dr Jinx]

It’s the way of things.. look at Ticketmaster with their fucking “dynamic pricing” model. Charging over €900 for a vip ticket to Coldplay. Some chump will pay it and justify the whole thing.

 

I don’t go to many games, certainly not as much as I’d like to. So when I do I don’t mind paying a bit extra to ensure I get one.

 

But can also see why regular match goers would be pissed off too. They’ll repent soon.

[TheBrownBottle]

33 minutes ago, Likelylad said:

I was at Villa Park one year & someone pissed in me pocket, I was furious..

[Dr Venkman]

10 hours ago, Wandy said:

 

Yeah, facebook and twitter has been full of absolute cockends, saying if you aren't prepared to pay the £74 for a ticket then don't bother entering the ballot. Absolute cunts the lot of them.

Welcome, I’ve disliked the majority of our fans for years 

[LV]

I’d really avoid Facebook and Twitter mind if you want to retain any faith in humanity

[Dr Venkman]

On a more serious note, I’ve had this chat with many sensible fans of different teams over the years. More or less, every fan I’ve spoken to thinks they have a claim on the stupidest fans in football. I think what it boils down to is that football is so mainstream popular, and people in general are unbearably stupid, so with football you notice it more. More fans equals more knackerjobs. I’ve said for many years that our fans are our greatest asset and biggest problem, depending on the circumstances. 

[r0cafella]

Arsenal extend with emirates @50m per year. We should have got more from Sela we need to stop being pussys and actually take the premier league to task. 

[Wullie]

11 hours ago, Kid Icarus said:

 

You might be having your canon moment re our fans tbh  I think there are a canny few on here that had that during Hull at home in 2014.

 

The last time I was in the stadium.

[gbandit]

Disliking a lot of your own fans does have a big impact on how you feel about football or it does for me at least. Football is a collective experience in the ground and a lot of the enjoyment can come from that shared experience. When you realise that you’re sharing it with a lot of knackers it can take the shine off

[Bondedcrown]

16 minutes ago, gbandit said:

Disliking a lot of your own fans does have a big impact on how you feel about football or it does for me at least. Football is a collective experience in the ground and a lot of the enjoyment can come from that shared experience. When you realise that you’re sharing it with a lot of knackers it can take the shine off

Bit like reading this forum ! 

[TRon]

5 hours ago, gbandit said:

Disliking a lot of your own fans does have a big impact on how you feel about football or it does for me at least. Football is a collective experience in the ground and a lot of the enjoyment can come from that shared experience. When you realise that you’re sharing it with a lot of knackers it can take the shine off

 

A lot of the knackers can make the best atmosphere as well though. The knackers don't make for comfortable reading on social media, but I don't really use it much, it would do my head in reading that shit every day.

When I started going to football matches they used to be handing NF leaflets outside the ground, but it did get better, and it used to be jumping in the Gallowgate back then.

[The Prophet]

18 hours ago, Wandy said:

 

Yeah, facebook and twitter has been full of absolute cockends, saying if you aren't prepared to pay the £74 for a ticket then don't bother entering the ballot. Absolute cunts the lot of them.

 

That's not an NUFC fan thing, that's a general British public thing. "I'm alright, so fuck the rest of you" is an attitude more prevalent than ever.

[Dr Venkman]

9 minutes ago, The Prophet said:

 

That's not an NUFC fan thing, that's a general British public thing. "I'm alright, so fuck the rest of you" is an attitude more prevalent than ever.

[HaydnNUFC]

5 hours ago, gbandit said:

Disliking a lot of your own fans does have a big impact on how you feel about football or it does for me at least. Football is a collective experience in the ground and a lot of the enjoyment can come from that shared experience. When you realise that you’re sharing it with a lot of knackers it can take the shine off

 

Almost all of that for me is from social media but this summer has been beyond the pale, mirroring the shambolic communication and implementation of stuff from the club. The fall out from the ticket lark with the prices, to the patter after the release of the CL packages, to the holier-than-thou elitism from some fans, to the 'can't afford it don't buy it, it'll sell anyway' & 'it'll help FFP' patter and this ballot stuff.

 

At games though, mainly aways (2/3 last season I've been to in the away end on my own), I've never felt more looked after and amongst the camaraderie from our fans as I have at those games. Home games in the pubs before and after likewise but I get a stronger feeling of that at aways. Social media however is the total antithesis. Burnsie, the fans who come out with that patter listed above, fucking weirdos like Gallant, sanctimonious wannabe ITKs such as that Baz prick et al, all as embarrassing and hatred inducing as the last.

[Bally21]

25 minutes ago, TRon said:

 

A lot of the knackers can make the best atmosphere as well though. The knackers don't make for comfortable reading on social media, but I don't really use it much, it would do my head in reading that shit every day.

When I started going to football matches they used to be handing NF leaflets outside the ground, but it did get better, and it used to be jumping in the Gallowgate back then.

God I remember that, mid 80s - they used to setup a stall at the corner of the west stand (Milburn now) and the Gallowgate end, sort of where Bobby Robson statue is now. Mad when you think it about it, but good riddance to them.

 

Gallowgate end back then was mental, especially the "corner" and the " scoreboard".

[Miggys First Goal]

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-united-cco-peter-silverstone-27441759

 

Quote

Newcastle United's commercial supremo Peter Silverstone has opened up on life at St James' Park - and admits it is a "privilege" to be working for such a loyal fanbase.

 

The Glaswegian was one of the high-profile hires of the Saudi-backed regime and played an integral part in taking Newcastle over to the United States this summer to help push the black and white brand across the Atlantic. Just three days after the Magpies landed from the States, the former Arsenal and Brazil national team supremo caught up with Chronicle Live ahead of this weekend's Sela Cup at St James' Park.

 

Tickets for the Sela Cup can be snapped up here and Silverstone believes that the tournament is a great example of what the club is all about these days as Eddie Howe gets the chance to test the team against Serie A and La Liga opponents, and the club's women's team also get the opportunity to play in front of a crowd. Fans were queuing for tickets at the box office this morning, but as things stand cash turnstiles are also in operation on both Saturday and Sunday.

 

But speaking to Chronicle Live about all things United, Silverstone gave us the lowdown on:

 

*United's view on stadium expansion and what lies in store next

 

*The club's global brand and success of US tour

 

*United's relationship with Castore and beyond

 

*Importance of pre-season and Sela Cup to club revenue

 

Newcastle are currently taking a look at all the options for possible expansion but will not relocate from St James' Park. And so a feasibility study is currently ongoing.

 

Silverstone, in his first big interview since being appointed CCO at St James' Park, told Chronicle Live: "Until you've run a feasibility study on what is possible, and the propensity is to spend, you can't make comment.

 

"All we know is that we have a huge over-demand for tickets at the moment. With that comes great responsibility, we are very lucky and privileged to come into a club where everything sells very quickly.

 

"But we realise with an event like the Sela Cup we need to work a little bit harder. We need to work out what this tournament means to Eddie Howe and the players."

 

Silverstone leads the way in a growing commercial office at St James' Park that has been expanded since the takeover. Reflecting on the prospect of more seats, he said: "We are lucky in that we have a sold out stadium both from a hospitality and general admission perspective. Now we have to assess how much is that demand.

 

"It's easy to make comments and say we could sell 150,000 seats a week but you need the data and insight to back that up before you make capital investment."

 

Another much-discussed subject within the fanbase is United's partnership with Castore. On the relationship with Castore, Silverstone said: "We are in partnerships, your current partner is your best partner, it's always the way. In relation to these types of deals, there is information we can't share. We will never discuss how long our deal with Sela or Noon is for example unless some brands want to talk about the term of the deal.

 

"Our focus is to sell as much kit with Castore as possible. They have created three beautiful kits with our new sponsor on them, our fans really like them. My job is to maximise that partnership. You don't just throw your toys out the pram when you make the Champions League. That's not the way contracts work. I hope we are never treated like that by a partner. The kits they have made are incredible."

 

Newcastle signed a new kit sponsorship deal with Sela earlier this year, Silverstone said: "There is always a time in a partnership when you don't talk about the next one. We could have announced Sela before the term with Fun88 ended, we didn't.

 

"We waited until the new kit was launched as it was more impactful. But I don't think it would have impacted on Fun 88, everyone knew it was coming to an end. There is always a point where you announce what comes next. But you still want to do it sensitively."

 

Newcastle will show off their Castore kits this weekend against Fiorentina and Villarreal for their final pre-season preparations. Reflecting on pre-season Silverstone said: "Pre-season for a club of our current stature and current ambition has three vital elements to it. The most important one being football preparation and what does Eddie Howe, Dan Hodges (performance) and Jason Tindall what do they want and need for pre-season.

 

"If you take that as very simple, they will say matches, ideal training preparations, that's really all they care about and that's fine. Then the second part if brand building, fan engagement or fan growth, so how do you marry the vital preparation of fitness with building a brand with fans you don't normally get to see.

 

"Then the third part is, given my role, and that football players (signings), don't grow on trees, you need to generate revenue. So trying to marry those three elements is challenging but vitally important."

 

Getting fixtures right for pre-season is vital, and Silverstone spoke of his experience with Brazil at the 2014 World Cup. He said: "I've obviously got enough experience with my time of managing the Brazil national team and moving them matches to China vs Argentina, Italy or Switzerland or wherever it may be, and I always like to think I was doing that with football and commercial reality in mind.

 

"I did feel there was going to be a headline in the Daily Record, being from Glasgow, of: 'Young Scottish guy masters World Cup victory of Brazil!' "Unfortunately, Brazil got beat 7-1 off Germany.

 

"People were saying, why is there a guy wearing a Brazil top with a Portuguese Scottish accent crying? Ultimately, the one game I didn't prepare for before the World Cup was Brazil vs Germany, couldn't get the commercial negotiation right and ultimately failed in the preparation.

 

"The point being I really do consider all those factors. So here at Newcastle this summer, we have found a game close to home, Rangers, that allows us to generate revenue and get vital preparation, and a great game in front of a full stadium."

 

Newcastle are just back from the US after three great games against Aston Villa (3-3) in Philadelphia, Chelsea (1-1) in Atlanta and Brighton & Hove Albion in New Jersey (2-1). That followed a 2-1 win over Glasgow Rangers, commenting on the importance of America, Silverstone said: "I am a Rangers fan so taking them home was fantastic. That then allowed us to jump on a plane without much travel to get there, generate strong revenue and play in the Premier League Summer Series.

 

"Why did we go to Premier League Summer Series? "One from a capacity perspective, because we don't have the team to deliver a full service tour to promote our own games us like Arsenal or Man United did, they had 80,000 at the Met Life (New York).

 

"We needed the brand support from the Premier League. We are one of the 20 clubs, there's no top six or seven, I believe we are one of the top 20. It's a feeling or principle that is not shared amongst the top six. And even when I was at Arsenal I had that view.

 

"We are much stronger as a collective than we are individually. We have the ability as a Premier League to pull away from the other leagues, Saudi aside which is a different topic, but we should be leaving Serie A and La Liga in our slipstream and pushing ahead.

 

"By playing against Juventus in the US there is no brand benefit to the Premier League nor to Newcastle, why shine the Premier League light on them? I wanted to play in the PL Summer Series, I said to Premier League we should play in the US and not just Asia. "Finally we got it together."

 

 

 

 

Edited August 2, 2023 by Miggys First Goal