Newcastle announce half-price ticket initiative
Published 10:32 24/10/11 By MirrorFootball
Newcastle have moved to boost attendances at St James' Park by offering half-price season-tickets for the rest of the season.
From 2pm today, existing season-ticket holders will be able to buy additional season tickets at 50% of the price.
Fans who purchase the extra season tickets will be able to watch the club's remaining 14 Barclays Premier League games at an average cost of less than £15 while children will be able to attend for £2.64 per match.
The offer means a standard Gallowgate season ticket, that would have cost £558 at the beginning of the season, now costs £207.
Although Newcastle sit fourth in the table after an impressive unbeaten start, they are yet to fill the 52,339-capacity St James' Park once, with this season's average crowd currently standing at 46,111.
Managing director Derek Llambias hopes the offer will help boost attendances at home matches and make the ground a fortress.
Llambias said in a statement: "We have been delighted with the tremendous start we have made to the season so far, and the fantastic support of our fans.
"What we'd like to do now is encourage even more supporters to come to St. James' Park and get behind the team.
"The atmosphere of a full house at Newcastle United is hard to beat and I know from talking to (manager) Alan (Pardew), his coaching staff and the players just how much it lifts the team and can give us the edge.
"We also know how difficult it is for many people to afford to follow the team, especially in the current economic climate.
"Our aim is to make supporting Newcastle United as affordable as possible for as many people as possible. On top of the 10-year price freeze we introduced in the summer, this is another initiative we are sure will be popular."
While some Newcastle fans have welcomed the initiative, other season-ticket holders are unhappy that they have had to pay full price for a ticket that can now be bought for half the price with just five home games of the season gone.
Newcastle defended the move this afternoon, however, insisting that filling the ground was an important goal for the club.
"I think it's in everyone's interests - existing season ticket holders as well as any new season ticket holders we get through this initiative - to get the ground as full as possible," said Simon Esland, Newcastle's head of customer services.
"This is an additional benefit for season-ticket holders so they can buy additional tickets more cheaply than usual.
"This is a deal aimed at existing season-ticket holders who want to bring their son, daughter, husband, wife or a friend to the ground. Those who are not applying through an existing season-ticket holder still have to pay full price.
"I would hope that the majority of supporters would support the initiative to get more people coming in to the stadium."
Some fans may decide to wait until this stage of next season before buying a season ticket in the hope that they will be able to buy a ticket at half price.
Esland said there was no guarantee that Newcastle would run the scheme again next year, however.
"I understand that (point of view), but there is no commitment from the club at all to repeat this offer," he added.
"This is not necessarily an ongoing thing. We will take a look at how it performs as an offer and then we will make that decision after that. People who have tickets should take up the offer now."
