Newcastle United Turn Down Offer To Pay For Advertising That Sports Direct Get Free
Last week I wrote an article about making an offer to sponsor some of the advertising boards around the ground and I nominated Sir Bobby Robson’s Charity to be advertised. May I start off by saying thank you to everyone who made an offer to help. The offers altogether were in the region of about £3,000 EVERY HOME GAME!!!!!
This followed Newcastle United directors stating in the minutes of a fans forum;
‘The club explained that the advertising boards in question were installed with Sports Direct branding as a showcase for unused space. Sports Direct don’t pay but it would be sold if other advertisers wanted the space.’
After my original email to the club and 5 unanswered voicemails left for people in the marketing department of the club, I heard nothing back. That is until now…
I was contacted by someone high up in the marketing department of the club (I have their name but won’t publish it here) and this is exactly what I was told;
“The club hold back ALL advertising boards, both L.E.D and normal boards, for official partners who pay a lot of money to keep them there”.
The person instantly dismissed me when I spoke of the Sir Bobby Foundation and said that is something they would not do. Not once was a price discussed in this very short phone call so they did not want to know if I was willing to pay £1 or £1million per board, that didn’t matter to them.
So basically the club has lied (shock horror) in either their recent meeting with NUST & Co at the Fans Forum, where they stated “Sports Direct advertises for free”, or alternatively to me on the phone when they said, “official partners pay a lot of money to keep them there”.
Please note he did say that official partners included Thomas Cook and Puma.
You can follow the author on Twitter @Ginola87
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