Saudi Airlines – otherwise known as SAUDIA – are the ‘frontrunners’ to replace FUN88 as our new front-of-shirt sponsor, according to Football Insider.
The Jeddah-based giants became the club’s Official Tour Airline Partner for 2022/23 prior to our warm-weather training camp in Saudi Arabia back in December.
PIF-owned airline Riyadh Air have been mentioned in the Middle East as an emerging option, but Football Insider report that SAUDIA are the current favourites, with a new sponsor imminent now our £5m-per-year package with FUN88 is due to expire this summer.
The report adds that any deal with the Saudi giants could be worth up to £30m-per-year if stadium naming rights are included in the deal.
Elsewhere, it’s believed Amanda Staveley has been left ‘frustrated’ by Castore, as the club are ‘locked’ into a £5m deal lasting for ‘several seasons.’ Newcastle could look to buy back their rights from the sportswear brand, although this would only be financially viable if a far more lucrative replacement was lined up.
In comparison to other clubs, the traditional ‘big six’ all earn at least five times that amount from their respective kit deals, with Man United earning £75m a year from Adidas.
While this remains an ongoing obstacle, our new front-of-shirt sponsor – whoever that may be – will provide a welcome boost to our commercial revenue, even if St James’ Park naming rights would cause controversy within the fanbase.
Hopefully the Castore issue is resolved in the near future and Newcastle can finally start to use our newfound financial powers to their full potential.
As the national carrier of Saudi Arabia officially owned by the government it doesn’t make a lot of sense for Saudia to sponsor us.
As a new airline, “independently” owned by PIF, and looking for a leg up, Riyadh Air would be the sensible option.
An airline sponsorship makes huge sense. With Etihad and Emirates deals raking in somewhere between 40 and 70 million a year, PIF could pour funds into the Toons coffers without anyone reasonably questioning it.
Daveys **** mate(Quote)