Backroom & executive staff

[TheBrownBottle]

Good news at last in this space.  He’s got quite a few important senior positions to fill, and needs to actually give his employer a regular kick to wake them up.  Fingers crossed we now get some stability and competence upstairs. 

[Pata]

Maple Leafs/Raptors, Real Madrid and Knicks/Rangers. Looks a really good hire on paper.

[Stifler]

23 minutes ago, loki679 said:

That's his dad.

 

Don’t worry, I got it.

[PauloGeordio]

23 minutes ago, TheBrownBottle said:

Good news at last in this space.  He’s got quite a few important senior positions to fill, and needs to actually give his employer a regular kick to wake them up.  Fingers crossed we now get some stability and competence upstairs. 

https://www.smry.ai/proxy?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2Fathletic%2F6581173%2F2025%2F09%2F04%2Fdavid-hopkinson-newcastle-united-who-is-he%2F

 

Looks like the guy that can do this and more!

 

 

 

 

Edited September 4, 2025 by PauloGeordio

[The Bonk]

This is a big win for the club, as I stated in the PIF thread, he's a level above Eales in terms of pedigree: 

 

His time at MSG:

 

1 hour ago, Pixelphish said:

I think to ultimately be successful, PIF need to be comfortable empowering him to sign off on at least some decisions that currently sit with them. 

 

I'm sure that points already been made but I can't be arsed reading everything.

 

He wouldn't be here if they haven't relinquished most of their oversight. 

 

39 minutes ago, NG32 said:

He will have his work cut out helping rectify all the damage Mike Ashley did the club and its brand). 

Ashley had done a proper hatchet job on us. 

 

He did the same with MLSE and was a key component in making the organization one of the most valuable in NA.

I'm genuinely excited about his appointment for our club, he's no mug and will be taken seriously by other CEO's in the league with his background and expertise. Here's my take on the future:
 

Pro's:

• He will grow revenue, he's done it everywhere previously and will do it here.
• Is an incredibly astute professional, he won't be a fan engagement guy directly like Staveley, Mehrdad, drinking with boys Eales (which is what we need to get to the next level as a club IMO)
• He'll sort out operations, ticketing, partnerships will grow, especially on a global level through his connections.
• We won't be railroaded by other owners or the league, this guy knows how to influence people, figureheads.

Con's:

• Things are going to get more expensive. The more we win and remain in the top spots of the league, cost to match day going fans will increase. 
• We'll be playing in more meaningless summer tournaments and one off games that have lucrative sponsorships. 
• There will be supporters that say the soul of club has been decayed and commercialized, which sucks, but is inevitable if we want to reach the top.
   

I'd wish him luck, but don't think he needs it. 

 

[PauloGeordio]

2 minutes ago, The Bonk said:

This is a big win for the club, as I stated in the PIF thread, he's a level above Eales in terms of pedigree: 

 

His time at MSG:

 

 

He wouldn't be here if they haven't relinquished most of their oversight. 

 

 

He did the same with MLSE and was a key component in making the organization one of the most valuable in NA.

I'm genuinely excited about his appointment for our club, he's no mug and will be taken seriously by other CEO's in the league with his background and expertise. Here's my take on the future:
 

Pro's:

• He will grow revenue, he's done it everywhere previously and will do it here.
• Is an incredibly astute professional, he won't be a fan engagement guy directly like Staveley, Mehrdad, drinking with boys Eales (which is what we need to get to the next level as a club IMO)
• He'll sort out operations, ticketing, partnerships will grow, especially on a global level through his connections.
• We won't be railroaded by other owners or the league, this guy knows how to influence people, figureheads.

Con's:

• Things are going to get more expensive. The more we win and remain in the top spots of the league, cost to match day going fans will increase. 
• We'll be playing in more meaningless summer tournaments and one off games that have lucrative sponsorships. 
• There will be supporters that say the soul of club has been decayed and commercialized, which sucks, but is inevitable if we want to reach the top.
   

I'd wish him luck, but don't think he needs it. 

 

No he looks to be the real deal.

[Stifler]

12 minutes ago, The Bonk said:

Con's:

• Things are going to get more expensive. The more we win and remain in the top spots of the league, cost to match day going fans will increase. 
• We'll be playing in more meaningless summer tournaments and one off games that have lucrative sponsorships. 
• There will be supporters that say the soul of club has been decayed and commercialized, which sucks, but is inevitable if we want to reach the top.
   

I'd wish him luck, but don't think he needs it. 

All of those are coming in anyway, and they always were when the takeover happened.

I’d argue that if Ashley got us back into the Premier League after what would have been his 3rd relegation, then ultimately match day tickets would increase in anyway.

I honestly think we are only a few years at most away from £100 normal ticket prices. That goes for the whole of the Premier League as well.

 

[Pixelphish]

24 minutes ago, The Bonk said:

This is a big win for the club, as I stated in the PIF thread, he's a level above Eales in terms of pedigree: 

 

His time at MSG:

 

 

He wouldn't be here if they haven't relinquished most of their oversight. 

 

 

He did the same with MLSE and was a key component in making the organization one of the most valuable in NA.

I'm genuinely excited about his appointment for our club, he's no mug and will be taken seriously by other CEO's in the league with his background and expertise. Here's my take on the future:
 

Pro's:

• He will grow revenue, he's done it everywhere previously and will do it here.
• Is an incredibly astute professional, he won't be a fan engagement guy directly like Staveley, Mehrdad, drinking with boys Eales (which is what we need to get to the next level as a club IMO)
• He'll sort out operations, ticketing, partnerships will grow, especially on a global level through his connections.
• We won't be railroaded by other owners or the league, this guy knows how to influence people, figureheads.

Con's:

• Things are going to get more expensive. The more we win and remain in the top spots of the league, cost to match day going fans will increase. 
• We'll be playing in more meaningless summer tournaments and one off games that have lucrative sponsorships. 
• There will be supporters that say the soul of club has been decayed and commercialized, which sucks, but is inevitable if we want to reach the top.
   

I'd wish him luck, but don't think he needs it. 

 

 

Thanks Bonk. Informative and exciting.

[Nine]

Great appointment, this is huge as we all know that we have lacked structure at the top big time. 
 

 

[The Bonk]

1 minute ago, Stifler said:

All of those are coming in anyway, and they always were when the takeover happened.

I’d argue that if Ashley got us back into the Premier League after what would have been his 3rd relegation, then ultimately match day tickets would increase in anyway.

I honestly think we are only a few years at most away from £100 normal ticket prices. That goes for the whole of the Premier League as well.

 

 

I agree, but expect bigger than expected increases and there will be uproar when it comes. The Toronto Maple Leafs haven't won since 1967 and they are the most expensive ticket in the NHL. Ask your family in Hamilton how many Leafs games they get to a year? I bet it's 1 or 2 at most if they're big fans.
 

Newcastle is a 1 club city and Hopkinson will exploit that if the data backs up what fans are willing to pay BUT, that will mean the product on the field is going to warrant those price increases. 

[The Bonk]

6 minutes ago, Pixelphish said:

 

Thanks Bonk. Informative and exciting.

 

No worries! I'm in the excited camp too.

[Ghandis Flip-Flop]

1 minute ago, The Bonk said:

 

I agree, but expect bigger than expected increases and there will be uproar when it comes. The Toronto Maple Leafs haven't won since 1967 and they are the most expensive ticket in the NHL. Ask your family in Hamilton how many Leafs games they get to a year? I bet it's 1 or 2 at most if they're big fans.
 

Newcastle is a 1 club city and Hopkinson will exploit that if the data backs up what fans are willing to pay BUT, that will mean the product on the field is going to warrant those price increases. 

Forgive me but is Toronto not significantly more affluent than Newcastle though?

 

Also compare and contrast SJP in the game vs Liverpool to Anfield in their game vs Arsenal, do we really want to sacrifice that USP, especially given the relatively low percentage that ticket revenue represents to the clubs financial position?

[The Bonk]

1 minute ago, Ghandis Flip-Flop said:

Forgive me but is Toronto not significantly more affluent than Newcastle though?

 

Also compare and contrast SJP in the game vs Liverpool to Anfield in their game vs Arsenal, do we really want to sacrifice that USP, especially given the relatively low percentage that ticket revenue represents to the clubs financial position?

 

Yes, most affluent city in Canada and very expensive to live in.

Hopkinson's start came in ticketing, he's going to get creative there eventually. If he can generate more revenue from it, he will. Expect more 'tourist support' as the club gets larger and more exposure globally. This includes people like me who have ties to the area via family and don't mind paying through the nose when I go to a match as I only go every few years when I'm over visiting.
 

[RUHRLYASLEEVESUP]

Here we gooooooo

[BoSelecta]

Glad we’ve got someone competent in but all the chat about ticket prices going up is canny sickening; PSR really is a fucking disgrace incentivising clubs to bleed their fans dry. Plenty will

be priced out and the atmosphere will suffer unless they address it head on. 

[Ghandis Flip-Flop]

Just now, The Bonk said:

 This includes people like me who have ties to the area via family and don't mind paying through the nose when I go to a match as I only go every few years when I'm over visiting.

 

I’m not necessarily against this as long as it's kept at a reasonable ratio, hell it’s likely the only way I’ll get to the odd game these days too. But I feel that Liverpool have got that particular experiment wrong and have gone too far in favour of the day-trippers. And the experience and atmosphere that they’re apparently selling has diminished as a result. It’s fine when they’re winning, but it alienates the fans that are there through the thick and thin IMHO.

[Miggys First Goal]

We cookin’!

[Virtua Stiva]

Build a big enough stadium and you should be able to give out plenty of cheaper seats. Well, in an ideal world. Make the tickets next to the away fans £20 a pop and assemble the radgies into that section again

[Optimistic Nut]

4 hours ago, TK-421 said:

To be honest, I thought Eales had already left. Thought he'd gone around the same time as Mitchell. 

 

I'm still clinging to the hope he unveils the new stadium plans before he officially leaves as his parting gift/legacy to us and this is why he's held on for so long before departing. 

 

 

Edited September 4, 2025 by Optimistic Nut

[woody]

22 minutes ago, The Bonk said:

The Toronto Maple Leafs haven't won since 1967 and they are the most expensive ticket in the NHL. Ask your family in Hamilton how many Leafs games they get to a year? I bet it's 1 or 2 at most if they're big fans.

I was gonna say, as a former sports reporter this has been the complaint I’ve consistently heard about MLSE. Everything costs much, much more.

 

That being said, the Leafs and TFC are willing to flash the cash for the on-field product obviously just haven’t backed it up with their play 

[Mole]

30 minutes ago, The Bonk said:

 

I agree, but expect bigger than expected increases and there will be uproar when it comes. The Toronto Maple Leafs haven't won since 1967 and they are the most expensive ticket in the NHL. Ask your family in Hamilton how many Leafs games they get to a year? I bet it's 1 or 2 at most if they're big fans.
 

Newcastle is a 1 club city and Hopkinson will exploit that if the data backs up what fans are willing to pay BUT, that will mean the product on the field is going to warrant those price increases. 

Isn't one of the main drawbacks of Toronto the city in general that EVERYTHING is expensive? That's what I've been told by Canadian friends, although they might just be ranting and using me as the vehicle for it tbh

 

Edit: I see you already confirmed this in a previous reply.

 

 

Edited September 4, 2025 by Mole

[Super Duper Branko Strupar]

1 hour ago, TheBrownBottle said:

Good news at last in this space. 

[The Bonk]

13 minutes ago, BoSelecta said:

Glad we’ve got someone competent in but all the chat about ticket prices going up is canny sickening; PSR really is a fucking disgrace incentivising clubs to bleed their fans dry. Plenty will

be priced out and the atmosphere will suffer unless they address it head on. 

 

I'm speculating off of personal experience, but it's a bet I'd be willing to make and have odds in my favour.

 

12 minutes ago, Ghandis Flip-Flop said:

I’m not necessarily against this as long as it's kept at a reasonable ratio, hell it’s likely the only way I’ll get to the odd game these days too. But I feel that Liverpool have got that particular experiment wrong and have gone too far in favour of the day-trippers. And the experience and atmosphere that they’re apparently selling has diminished as a result. It’s fine when they’re winning, but it alienates the fans that are there through the thick and thin IMHO.

 

He's pretty good at looking into fan engagement from my experience in working with his previous organization. It'll be a consideration when evaluating ticket revenue. 
 

7 minutes ago, woody said:

I was gonna say, as a former sports reporter this has been the complaint I’ve consistently heard about MLSE. Everything costs much, much more.

 

That being said, the Leafs and TFC are willing to flash the cash for the on-field product obviously just haven’t backed it up with their play 

 

Yup. I mean, look at this shit:

 

That's resale PER SEAT (Stubhub) and only get's you one season as the resellers own the license for the seat which I'm sure are at an insane price these days.   

 

 

 

Edited September 4, 2025 by The Bonk

[The Bonk]

3 minutes ago, Mole said:

Isn't one of the main drawbacks of Toronto the city in general that EVERYTHING is expensive? That's what I've been told by Canadian friends, although they might just be ranting and using me as the vehicle for it tbh

 

 

 

 

They aren't wrong.

[Pata]

Matchday income is pretty irrelevant in the big picture, ticket prices will go up but not to a ridiculous level IMO. 

 

That Athletic piece about his hiring has a table with revenue breakdown. Our matchday income in 23-24 was £50.1m, ’big six’ average was £105.3m but Man City and Chelsea had only £75m and £80m. New stadium with better corporate facilities should take care of that difference.
 

The room for growth is the commercial income, our £86m is tiny compared to the ’big six’ average of £274m. City with their cooked up deals are at £344m ffs.

 

 

Edited September 4, 2025 by Pata