Things could be worse....
Newcastle United have announced their stadium will be known as the
sportsdirect.com @ St James' Park Stadium
for the immediate future.
The news comes after an announcement from owner Mike Ashley that the stadium sponsorship rights were up for offer from prospective businesses.
Managing director Derek Llambias told BBC Newcastle:
"We will showcase Sports Direct until the end of the season.
"I'm sure we're going to get a sponsor in for next season."
Ashley angered supporters of Newcastle United late last month when he announced the club's plans to rename the stadium for commercial purposes, having taken them off the market.
And Llambias admitted the club could have dealt with the announcement better, but is confident the plans are in the best interests of Newcastle United.
"We could have worded it better, and that's why we came out yesterday to explain what we're trying to achieve," he said.
"With the renaming it was always going to be whatever brand it was,
at St James' Park.
For the remainder of this season, we already have sportsdirect.com on the Gallowgate so we'd like to take that branding through the rest of the stadium."
And Llambias was also keen to express that the existing St James' Park name was to stay a feature of the site, and believes supporters will see a tangible impact if the scheme is a success in the future.
"In our reign, absolutely, it's just adding to it," he added.
"If it brings in a good chunk of money to the club, that goes straight to the team, it's a revenue we should look at."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...ed/8342406.stm
Newcastle United have announced their stadium will be known as the
sportsdirect.com @ St James' Park Stadium
for the immediate future.
The news comes after an announcement from owner Mike Ashley that the stadium sponsorship rights were up for offer from prospective businesses.
Managing director Derek Llambias told BBC Newcastle:
"We will showcase Sports Direct until the end of the season.
"I'm sure we're going to get a sponsor in for next season."
Ashley angered supporters of Newcastle United late last month when he announced the club's plans to rename the stadium for commercial purposes, having taken them off the market.
And Llambias admitted the club could have dealt with the announcement better, but is confident the plans are in the best interests of Newcastle United.
"We could have worded it better, and that's why we came out yesterday to explain what we're trying to achieve," he said.
"With the renaming it was always going to be whatever brand it was,
at St James' Park.
For the remainder of this season, we already have sportsdirect.com on the Gallowgate so we'd like to take that branding through the rest of the stadium."
And Llambias was also keen to express that the existing St James' Park name was to stay a feature of the site, and believes supporters will see a tangible impact if the scheme is a success in the future.
"In our reign, absolutely, it's just adding to it," he added.
"If it brings in a good chunk of money to the club, that goes straight to the team, it's a revenue we should look at."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...ed/8342406.stm
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