Following the release of the Fans Forum minutes yesterday, Newcastle fans have been left angered by the club’s decision NOT to extend St James’ Park – with their justification for this appearing to make no sense whatsoever.
Considering our consistent 50,000 plus attendances in the Championship and week on week sell outs in the top flight this season, there have been calls to extend the Gallowgate – however this clearly fell on deaf ears last week.
The club indicated that extending the Gallowgate would “not make sense commercially” and that it was said their view was “likely to remain unchanged in the short and medium term and potentially the long term.”:
Here’s their ‘justification’ for saying no and refusing to alter their stance – something which has left NUFC fans frustrated and pretty perplexed:
“The club reiterated its stance that outlaying what could potentially be tens of millions of pounds to expand would be unwise financially. The club stated that there is demand for tickets for ‘bigger’ games but that this is not always the case for other matches, when demand tails off. The club highlighted Saturday’s match against West Bromwich Albion, which had originally sold out. The visitors returned a block of seats on Level 7 in advance, however those tickets were being sold in very small quantities each day, indicating that demand was not especially high.”
Some incredible ‘reasoning’ here.
Here’s what NUFC fans have had to say in response to these barmy claims from the club:
Fans Forum on tickets & expansion: “Demand is not especially high.”
St James’ Park: The second best average attendance across the whole of Europe! #NUFC pic.twitter.com/mmRibOzPq5
— Tommy Longworth (@Tommy_Longworth) May 3, 2018
A club that sells out 50k+ attendances in the Championship and in the bottom half of the PL tells the world there isn't demand to expand SJP. It's laughable if it wasn't so tragic. Ashley is a cancer gnawing at the heart of #nufc #ashleyout
— Michael Martin (@tfMichael1892) May 2, 2018
Lack of ambition at #nufc
Discussing a game with no context, against the 20th placed side in the league (which sold out) as an example of justification of lack of demand, is demoralising
— Alex Hurst (@tfalex1892) May 2, 2018
Absolutely howling at #NUFC fans not buying tickets that were originally intended for away fans quick enough is exemplar of “not enough demand for tickets”
This club is barking mad.
— Rafferty's Jukebox (@PercyArmsDisco) May 2, 2018
Releasing blocks of tickets and them selling ‘slowly’ (but actually selling)
Selling the shittest tickets slowly is NOT a reasonable explanation for not expanding the ground. It’s not remotely relevant
— Alex Hurst (@tfalex1892) May 2, 2018
An honest answer to the Q of expanding SJP would be
1. The owner doesn't want to invest in the growth of the club
2. The lease on the land at Strawberry Pl is worth more to him personally than expanding SJP— Michael Martin (@tfMichael1892) May 2, 2018
Makes no sense to expand a ground that is full every week? Right. Classic #NUFC – when in a position of strength we stand still. Which in effect means we move backwards https://t.co/402HwboVzI
— Alastair Campbell (@alastair10) May 3, 2018
A pathetic response from the club. Ashley refusing to spend again? Well there’s a surprise.
We’ll never reach anywhere near our potential under his cancerous tenure.
We need to be rid of Ashley asap , he’s a cancer to our club .
Jack(Quote)