David Hopkinson releases hollow statement as Newcastle United announce fourth consecutive ticket price increase
This morning, Newcastle United fans were livid as the club announced yet another price increase for season tickets.
This is now the fourth consecutive year that the cost of tickets has gone up, and while there are groups like Stop Exploiting Loyalty already campaigning for fairer ticket prices, the move feels a bit tone deaf.
There's a feeling amongst fans, of all clubs, that the majority of fans are being priced out of the game as it is becoming more and more expensive to follow your club these days.
Ticket prices, all of the TV subscriptions you need to follow all of the televised games and the price of merchandise, particularly replica kits, all add up and can be a huge dent on the wallet.
It's little wonder people resort to buying knock-off shirts from abroad and relying on illicit streaming sites to watch the games on TV. Pretty soon, clubs are going to see increasingly empty stadiums if they don't stop squeezing the fans for every penny.
Nothing David Hopkinson could have said would get fans on the club's side
Regular season ticket prices will be hit with a 5% increase for next season, and hospitality tickets will go up as much as 15%. CEO David Hopkinson released a wordy statement to go along with the news in an attempt to justify the hike.
"I want to express my thanks to our supporters for their remarkable commitment. Our fans are the beating heart of Newcastle United and everything we are striving to achieve is only possible together.
"It is in that spirit of partnership and with deep respect for our fans that I want to be completely open about the decision to raise ticket prices. We fully understand this will not be popular news, and it is not a decision we take lightly. But the reality is that without making responsible increases, we cannot continue progressing or competing at the level we all expect and aspire to.
"In the current financial landscape, we must balance affordability for our fans with the need to generate the revenue required to remain competitive. After this adjustment, our general admission ticket prices will remain competitive in terms of value against other Premier League clubs, and we will also be offering the second-lowest price for a standard adult season ticket in the league.
"I also want to be clear about how we spend our revenue. The ultimate aim is to reinvest it directly into the areas that matter most: building a successful team, enhancing your matchday experience, and strengthening the infrastructure that supports long‑term success.
"At the same time, we're working hard behind the scenes to secure new commercial opportunities and operate more efficiently so we don't place unnecessary pressure on supporters.
"None of this works without you. Your passion, your unity and your unwavering backing are what move this club forward. We remain absolutely committed to building something special together - sustainably, responsibly, and with supporters at the heart of every decision we make.
"Thank you for everything you continue to give to power our progress."
Don't worry, you're getting some new TVs in the concourses
The news of the price increase comes after it was revealed that there will be work done inside St James' Park to improve the matchday experience over the summer, but a few bigger screens on the concourses isn't likely going to be enough to placate fans who are getting fed up with greedy clubs.
It's particularly annoying that fans are footing the bill for growth when, over four years into the new era, we still don't have sponsors for the training kit, training ground or stadium.
While it's highly unlikely anything is going to change the club's mind, we can imagine that any Fan Advisory Board meetings between now and next season are going to be rather spicy.
