A singing section of the ground and more family seats are among the changes announced today by Newcastle’s Chairman Chris Mort, as the club introduced their season ticket plans for next season, 2008-2009.
Chris Mort - right in Toon with Newcastle’s supporters
Renewal forms are being mailed out and will be delivered next week. Included will be a price freeze for season-ticket holders who are willing to sign up for tickets for the next 3 seasons.
That’s sounds like a decent deal, with Kevin being at the club for the next 3 seasons. 
The most interesting change is the introduction of what is being called the Leazes Corner.
Prices there start at £390 for adults – and they are for fans who are willing to sing and generate a generally noisy atmosphere.
Another good change by the club, and most welcome, and they have almost tripled the size of the family enclosure – where season tickets will cost just £300 for adults and £100 for children.
That’s a great move by the club, who recognize it’s the youngsters who are the future support for the club.
On a personal note, I remember going with my Dad to St. James’ in the late 40s and early 50s, way before I was 10 years old, and being warned because I kept running after the ball when it went out of touch.
That was at the Leazes end when they had those big concrete barriers that took some getting over, to get onto the field, particularly when you weren’t too big to start with.
The new plans were revealed by chairman Chris Mort after feedback from numerous Newcastle supporters. It’s probably one of Chris’ final acts before he is expected to step down later this summer.
These are good moves by Mort, and show how much he got in touch with the real fans while he was Chairman.
Chris Mort said today:
“Over the course of the year I’ve spoken to lots of fans about how we can improve things at St James’ Park.â€
“Two themes have regularly cropped up in those conversations.â€
“One was somehow creating a section in the ground where like-minded fans – who enjoy singing – can come together to generate a great atmosphere and get behind the team for 90 minutes.”
“The other issue was getting more of our younger fans into the ground.â€
“And I really think with the changes we are making for next season we’ve been able to deliver on both.â€
“We want Leazes Corner to be a place where the noise and backing for the team really causes a stir, and we’ve purposely reduced prices for fans to sit in that section of the ground.â€
“The larger family enclosure, with reduced prices, furthers our commitment to looking after young supporters.”
“Something we started last season with the ticket initiatives for the friendlies, and which we continued with the 10-game season tickets after Christmas.”
The increased family enclosure will move to Level 7 in the Milburn Stand, and away fans will be moved to accommodate the new hopefully very noisy Leazes Corner.
Any fan willing to pay 3 seasons up front will also get a 10% deduction on the 3 seasons, another good deal.
Additional changes will see the expansion and relocation of the Press Box in the Milburn Paddock. That’s to house the increased number of journalists, as we challenge for the league and also for the European games we’ll be part of. Another good move.
Finally, a club statement said:
“Any fan who is moving as a result of these changes will NOT have to pay a higher price – even if they are moved to a more expensive area.”
The club are finally listening to their customers, the loyal Newcastle fan base, and these seem to be very good changes made by the club. We can hear a lot of fans saying - “and about time”
In business, you can’t go too far wrong if you listen to what your customers are telling you - and that’s exactly what Chris has done - we knew he was an excellent businessman. Â
The deadline for 2008/09 season tickets will be Tuesday, June 17.
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73 responses so far ↓
1 toontoon // May 23, 2008 at 15:59
Great idea this singing section, but my seat is where the away fans are!!! What will happen?
2 ED // May 23, 2008 at 16:01
wall virginity!
the plans sound gd tho…
no doubt we will soon hav a depressing story about another player that got away to counter this one.
3 Petworth (DC) Mag // May 23, 2008 at 16:02
Anyone here planning on getting tix in the Leazes Corner?
I am seriously considering finding a job on Tyne-side, crossing the pond, and joining the choir!
4 Geordie Gerrard7 // May 23, 2008 at 16:07
leave your stamp by bringing us gomez or turan and veloso
5 Eric // May 23, 2008 at 16:08
This news shows the direction NUFC is really going. Just shows what a load of tripe the Daily Mail and others peddle about what they think is going on in the club! Let’s hope Mort’s replacement is as enlightened - but please no roulette wheel on the centre circle!
6 OzZyMagpiE // May 23, 2008 at 16:12
blah blah blah any news of potential signings lads?
7 Geordie Gerrard7 // May 23, 2008 at 16:13
ozzymagpie- i would love if i could tell you some good news mate……. but i cant!
8 chennai toon // May 23, 2008 at 16:21
ozzymagpie are u from australia
9 Newcastle United. // May 23, 2008 at 16:22
This is brilliant. Everyone shut up about signings for now lets talk about who’s renewing and where etc.
Leazes Corner here i come.
10 ED // May 23, 2008 at 16:30
does anyone know the age boundries for adult?
thanks
11 Bill F // May 23, 2008 at 16:32
Ennui, ennui and even more ennui.
12 ED // May 23, 2008 at 16:32
and please no sarcastic comments. I was wondering the price for 16 year olds as we get charged adult prices for certain things (bus, cinema) but not for others.
13 Bosck // May 23, 2008 at 16:56
not that i want to be a pessimist, but if the leazes corner season tickets are cheaper how are they gonna monitor if people are actually singing or just signing up for the cheaper tickets in that area.
i am sure that most people who buy them in that section will do so honestly to sing non stop, but some will do so just for the cheap tickets.
14 obafemimartins // May 23, 2008 at 16:57
i will be renewing my season ticket in the john hall stand
15 Andy C // May 23, 2008 at 17:04
I feel sorry for the people currently sitting at the ‘glass’ end of the leazes - the only place they can move to is ‘leazes corner’ and the view there is definatly not as good. And also the leazes corner is supposed to be the singing section and the people being moved there dont currently make much noise from the ‘glass’ end so will they now sing?/do they want to sit in a singing section?
I thought there was already a singing section - to the right of the away fans on level 7 leazes. This noticeably improved the atmosphere last season and is helped by the close proximity to the away fans, which will now be lost. It wouldve been easier to let everyone know that this is the singing area and swap people who didnt want to sit there anymore with people that did.
Also I thought the whole point of having the away fans in ‘leazes corner’ was because they are the worst seats in the ground. Now NUFC fans have to pay to sit there.
I think this move has more to do with saving money on stewarding than anything else.
16 OzZyMagpiE // May 23, 2008 at 17:28
yea chennai toon i’m livin in perth,Western Australia now.. but was born in Ontario, Canada.
Whatz up?
geordie gerrard i hope u could mate.. was gutted abt the modric saga n juz hopin not to be for turan…. i kno we’ve got to get over modric n all.. itz juz dat.. in e postion we’re in, such players are diamonds in a rough and we shud snap em up asap…. juz hate the anxiety…was feelin the same way when Wor Al was decidin btwn us and da mancs =p
17 daiv // May 23, 2008 at 17:33
It would be nice if he left some money to buy players. So far its all talk and no product. Come on Ashley get your hand in your pocket or get out. I’d rather be in debt and he spent £100M on players. It looks like he’s getting the finances in order so he can sell up and make a profit. He must be the tightest owner in the Prem.
18 Andy C // May 23, 2008 at 17:36
Judge MA on signings at the start of the new season not 5 minutes after the last one finished.
19 daiv // May 23, 2008 at 17:42
Andy C
Fair point. I smell a rat thats all. All the senior management really support other teams, so what is Ashley and his mates doing at NUFC? Never saw him at NUFC (with or without shirt) before he bought the club.
20 faustino // May 23, 2008 at 17:47
TBH why every fan in the place isn’t singing is still a f*ck*n mystery to me it really is.
21 Marat18 // May 23, 2008 at 17:50
that’s a really boring day today.
just a thought - Galatasaray president and ArdaTuran’s agent were quite loud in the first few days, not we have not heard any single word from them.
May be Dennis Wise and Jimenez just said them to shout up and do the bussiness propely?
22 daiv // May 23, 2008 at 17:51
Faustino
Too many old disillusioned fans in the ground. They couldn’t raise a cough.
23 daiv // May 23, 2008 at 17:54
Faustino
WE SELL TOO MANY SEASON TICKETS TO THE SAME OLD DEADBEATS AND THE YOUNGER SUPPORTER CAN’T GET A TICKET OR CANNOT AFFORD A SEASON TICKET. WE SHOULD SELL LESS SEASON TICKETS BUT THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN …MONEY TALKS.
24 Geordie Gerrard7 // May 23, 2008 at 18:24
oh suprise suprise, another day with no news.
25 NUFCFAN // May 23, 2008 at 18:28
werent there plans to rise the capactiy to 60 thousand?
Did Ashely stop that? - was really looking forward to seeing the glass around the threee stands,
26 Steven1979 // May 23, 2008 at 18:29
not lose ur belief fella..
may be we’ll have a Friday surprise tonight..
27 Andy C // May 23, 2008 at 18:37
..
28 macitect // May 23, 2008 at 18:42
Good stuff CM has done!
Can’t believe how affordable tix are!!! (NHL tix here in Montreal start at $5,000 for anywhere that you can actually see the puck from).
Signings and transfers - chill guys! The big boys at the club have said that they are serious about making NUFC successful on and off the pitch. I think they have given proof that they are serious about it. Slow and steady wins the race. You guys say you want success but with all these comments it seems many are simply after drama. Business is best done quietly. If NUFC are serious about certain players then I think, given what we’ve seen this season, they’ll pursue them seriously without overpaying. If none of your dream signings happen then wait for some of the lesser known signings to exceed expectations.
29 Geordie Gerrard7 // May 23, 2008 at 18:45
may well do, but whats the chances ey? very slim
30 NUFCFAN // May 23, 2008 at 19:01
The sad thing is i miss the drama - it all added to the excitement of transfers.
To be fair though i like the fact that its not like that anymore too, its more professionsal now.
The only thing that i really want to know, to which i speak on behlaf of everyone here is the direction/calibre of player the toon are targeting.
Not hearing anything apart from poor journalism makes it hard, and frustrating
e.g. One story we are competing with bolton and wolves the next spurs, chels, barca, madrid.
31 Marat18 // May 23, 2008 at 19:01
but real Big Boys are not always so quiet.
for example last season Bayern Munich finished 4th in the league and failed to qualify to CL. Then their president said: “expect big signings this summer, funds will be found.”
AC Milan bosses say: this summer we will sign few star players (Flamini is signed already, Drogba and Ronaldinho probably to follow).
Peter Kenyon made the same statement.
That’s like in Pulp Fiction movie:
I don’t wanna hear about no ifs. All I wanna hear from Mike Ashley is: “You have nothing to worry about, there are funds available. We know that we are short of midfielders and gonna sign some quality.”
And then in ideal world Mike Ashley goes public and says: “You have nothing to worry about, there are funds available. We know that we are short of midfielders and gonna sign some quality.”
32 Taiwantoon // May 23, 2008 at 19:05
Don’t really think any dream signings would happen. I am just hoping the board to support KK all the way in the transfer market espercially after the excuse of last summer. Just wanna to see commitment really.
33 lee // May 23, 2008 at 19:30
i honestly dont think well make to many big name signings it will probably just be players who know one has heard of though thats not to say they wont be good and it doesnt matter whoi we sign as long as we do well next year as for the news on the stadium i yhink it is a good thing if any one wants to know a bit more about this log on to toon ultras.com anfd for the few that have not heard about them no they are not a hooligan group
34 Steven1979 // May 23, 2008 at 19:31
if we are really after players like Wokes or Remy or Shorey, our transfer funds for this summer should be really short and depressive..
we’ve enough players like them in our team that they rarely come to the bench or first team..
it makes no sense..
but it shows Ashleys concept and plan..they will buy someone just for show..nobody needed..cheap and crap..
like smith&co..
35 Toon1978 // May 23, 2008 at 19:51
Smith was a good player at MANURE but has went down hill dramatically. The kid needs another chance IMO but we still need to bring in some top players.
36 toonoholic // May 23, 2008 at 19:53
turan , veloso , ashravin , gomez , kompany
(dream)
and then we can think of spending 1 mn on others .
37 Steven1979 // May 23, 2008 at 20:04
I am watching Tuolon tournement..Italy-Turkey..
LB from Turkey number 7 Caner Erkin..amazing kid..take a look if u can..
38 NUFCFAN // May 23, 2008 at 20:35
Toonaholic big fan of your dream team. However still not convinved with ashravin. But on the whole like it.
however think we can drop the David Dein signing. As there are stories about Frank Arnesen;
However, football chief Frank Arnesen is under pressure, according to sources. (tribal - which means its likely to be lies)
but Arneson is good at what he does - Frank Arnesen - hes awesome would be a big fan if got him.
But still players over board at the moment
39 Steven1979 // May 23, 2008 at 20:47
italian number 7 Lanzafame is very good player too..turkish number 20 Yelen(Hansa Rostock) is a good defensive mid..I think Italian striker Pelle no:19 can be a new Ibrahimovic..
i check the Turkish LB number 7 Caner(19 years old)..He plays in CSKA moskow..they paid him 2 years ago 4mn. lol
40 Geordie Gerrard7 // May 23, 2008 at 21:08
noooooooooooooo news agaaaaaaaiiiinnnnn!
41 Ashton // May 23, 2008 at 22:01
lorik cana any one ?
42 toonoholic // May 23, 2008 at 22:12
does anybody fancy Chris Eagles as a good CM or is it just me ?
43 Tom_Toon // May 23, 2008 at 22:16
Definitely just you.
44 toonoholic // May 23, 2008 at 22:17
NUFCFAN , ashravin wld be an immense signing . If we cld fit in a team like this
turan ashravin veloso bentley
it wld be a shot for title
but i have a soft corner fot nzogy , duff and milner along with butt joey and emre . so i wld take 2 out of those 4 players.
if we sign bentley , we cld actually think of a 4-3-3 without a targetman . use obas pace in the ST spot .
45 toonoholic // May 23, 2008 at 22:18
Tom toon he is better than many of the midfielders we already have , as per form.
and if he was our youth academy product , he wld be worshipped by now .
i wonder why u dont like him?
46 Angryman the angry fantasist // May 23, 2008 at 22:20
Ban season tickets. Pay on the turnstile.
47 NUFCFAN // May 23, 2008 at 22:36
toonaholic that midfield would be so good to watch however still think you would need a tall brut in there is you were to play Bolton, Chelsea etc as they wouldnt be strong enough.
i would love Bentley and veluso. More than the others.
Not that it would happen but has anyone heard what and where Diego is doing this summer? Would love to see him in the premiership.
48 ToonKing // May 23, 2008 at 22:38
same old lads ??
49 GazzaToon // May 23, 2008 at 22:52
you guys are just so unrealistic about the players we are going to sign! why would arsharvin or bentley come to us? were not in europe and seems like were no longer offerin massive wages (which is a good thing) but means thats 1 less thing that will attract a bigish name to us!another thing is we do not need to think about competing for the top, top players as we wont be competing against the top 4 for a league place next season!! i think we should just sign 1 or 2 top quality players such as turan. and the 3 good squad players as realisticly if we had players such as milner and n zogbia fit and playing well then they are good enough to get us into a top 6 place next season! and if we achieve this we would then be able to spend more money next summer and would have european football to attract the bigger names!
50 Newcastle United. // May 23, 2008 at 23:18
The Magpies are believed to be willing to pay £11million for the Turkish international, and his agent admits the Galatasaray star would be interested in a move to St James Park.
“He has three-years left on his contract and any club interested must make an offer, but that has not happened yet,” Ahmet Bulut told Sky Sports. “If any club found an agreement then we would have to talk.
“But if Newcastle reached an agreement than Arda would be open to such a move. He would love to play in England - that is not a secret. We know there is interest, but I have not heard from anyone.â€
51 Marat18 // May 23, 2008 at 23:32
GazzaToon
I would say Arshavin is a very realistic target. And Bentley probably too.
Arshavin - cannot see any CL clubs to be interested in him, so it lefts only UEFA cup to be offered as european football, but is it his goal? He can play in CL with Zenit, and just won UEFA cup. But he wants to play in better league, and we can offer it to him. UEFA cup is advantage (for MC, spurs, Everton), but it’s not decision-making advantage.
Bentley - as it seems today, nobody is interested, and Blackburn is not in UEFA cup for next season, so there is a chance.
IMO.
52 Tom_Toon // May 23, 2008 at 23:39
Wouldnt mind some Russians: Progrebnyak, Arshavin, Sychev, Bilyaletdinov (favoured target), Bystrov, Zhirkov, Anyukov, Denisov, Zyryanov, all good.
53 daiv // May 23, 2008 at 23:47
Give Alan SMITH time and he will come good. The lad’s confidence must be shattered reading all the stuff we write on this blog. If we wroite positive thgings about him, I’m sure he could be a top player again.
54 NUFCFAN // May 23, 2008 at 23:51
Marat 18
I am with you, i believe that alot of people keep putting these players on a pedestal. All the top four are really only looking at the top class ready to go players, and yes we arent in UEFA but the toon have alot of pulling power - i hope that we can pull a few shocks this summer
55 NUFCFAN // May 23, 2008 at 23:51
As for Alan Smith i have never rated him. He gets paid 60K to run around like a lunatic, and pick up bookings
56 paulthepom // May 24, 2008 at 0:03
ozzie magpie.i live in perth too.
57 Toonboy // May 24, 2008 at 0:34
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/article1202314.ece
More B/S from the sun
58 GazzaToon // May 24, 2008 at 0:37
Marat 18
i do agree with you with bentley but still dont think he would come to us as at the moment i do not think we can offer him more than blackburn can. maybe in a season or 2 the situation will be different.
as for arshavin i think if we could get him he could be a major signing although like i said IMO i dont think we will.
59 Rem // May 24, 2008 at 0:46
thing is i dont care who believes that stuff in the sun or mail or wateva, casue only retards read it. and their opinions never matter
60 Leo // May 24, 2008 at 0:59
i hope its compulsory singing area, and you get kicked out if your seen not to be involved in the maryments
61 D B F // May 24, 2008 at 1:21
i dont believe anything in the sun or mail, but to be honest it would not suprise me if owen and martins go as the board dont seem to be 2 keen on signing any of them up on new contracts, i am getting less and less confident in the backroom staff each day and i thin we need to see sum action in the next couple days wether it be new signings or re-signing our current players
62 Taiwantoon // May 24, 2008 at 3:34
Hope it’s not true, and it shouldn’t be. It would be difficult to replace Martins. (No top wage, no euro footy)
We might turn into a selling club, there are already signs of this.
63 OzZyMagpiE // May 24, 2008 at 5:09
paulthepom
ozzie magpie.i live in perth too.
wow whereabouts mate ?
64 NUFCFAN // May 24, 2008 at 7:46
of all the strikers of ours to sell surely martins is the last - should be
Smith (if we call him a striker)
Viduka
Owen
Then Martins if at all - he has to be the quickest in the prem. the other three are far easier to replace.
then
65 Ian // May 24, 2008 at 8:48
If the story about selling Martins is untrue, ie they have offered him to Liverpool etc then they need to step up and tell us, if Martins goes then my faith in this board has gone, Martins is the only striker we have to remain fit for two full seasons, his scoring record this year has been messed up by Sam Allerdyce, the ANC and that slight ankle injury plus being moved to a different role again by Kevin Keegan, not that the Keegan role is bad, it is just new to him. He is so reliable we must keep him, Viduka, Owen and Ashton are not reliable.
Dismayed if this is true, I do not place Martins as some sort of superman, however he is the most consistent striker we have by miles over recent years, he is virtually always available to play.
66 Hadji // May 24, 2008 at 9:00
Fat MA wants to sell Martins for 13 mill and then buy Olic for 7 mill.This guy is a fuc__n joke IF he wants to do this.
67 Geordie Gerrard7 // May 24, 2008 at 9:02
any good news?
68 TomPoon // May 24, 2008 at 9:06
Please no - DO NOT SELL HIM!!!
I will be gutted if we do. Even if we sign Turan & Velosa, we need to be keeping our best players.
You need to speculate to accumulate. A decent transfer fund (IMO about 40mil) should hopefully result in UEFA cup and at least half that investment will be immediately returned in ticket sales and TV revenue with a decent run.
69 Geordie Gerrard7 // May 24, 2008 at 9:12
its from the sun, why are you al getting worked up?
70 Danzo // May 24, 2008 at 9:13
shame Mort’s leaving.
71 daiv // May 24, 2008 at 9:17
TomPoon
Look at my blog 17 yesterday. Its all coming true. This guy MA is here like all the rest…for a profit. Ship him out.
72 ED // May 24, 2008 at 10:59
Daiv, I don’t believe MA is just in for the money, from the sounds of it we offered more money than spurs for modric, but he chose them instead. Why would MA offer those type of funds for a single player if he wanted a profit from the club? It seems the club’s structure now is so much better than the old regime, and the finances much securer.
73 CRAIGG // May 24, 2008 at 12:50
Like the singing area idea, It’ll Be like old times with some noise.
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