Does anybody have any idea as to what the average ticket to a toon match is worth to Newcastle? For example, there are estimates here in Seattle that every ticket sold to a baseball game generates about $60.00 for the team - average ticket $25, food and drink $25, souveniers $10. It may be a bit more than that now, but that's probably pretty close. Are there any similar estimates for Newcastle matches?

-- Anonymous, September 02, 2000

Answers

Good morning John and welcome to the BB`s, fraid the Buff can not help you with this one, no match on so it will be quiet over the week-end, you may have answers on Monday

-- Anonymous, September 02, 2000

John,

To be honest, outside of the 'toffs' areas I doubt the return to the Club is much more than the price of the ticket (#20-25).
Maybe half the punters will buy a programme - #1.50 a shot, I think - and another half will spend maybe #2 at the refreshment kiosks. All in all I'd be surprised if the 'extras' amounted to more than #2 per punter on average.
To be honest, I feel this is an area that's badly neglected by the Club. There are no facilities for buying souvenirs/hats/scarfs etc., and I don't think you can even buy programmes inside the ground. The organisation of the refreshment areas is poor and the selection of available food in particular is limited.
While in pro sports stadia in the US the 'extras' are brilliantly organised to efficiently hose as much money as possible out of the punters pockets, over here it still seems to be a poorly organised after-thought.

-- Anonymous, September 02, 2000

Clarky is right, however, there wasn't much scope for the club to make a profit out of souveniers etc until now. With all Season ticket holders at each game, there was no real desire to buy a T-shirt scarf etc on every visit, punters would simply use the b&w shirt & scarf they used two weeks previous. However, now with more opportunitys for day-trippers to get in, there is more chance. I know when I used to get to home games regually (about once a month after a 600 mile trip) I'd be a kid in a sweet shop in the old supporters shop at the Haymarket. For the spurz match (which was my first home game since January) I came away with bits & bobs that I didn't know I needed. In addition, those with season tickets are very much in their routine of meeting up in town, having a few jars & with military precision get to the ground in time for kick-off. For us who only get in a few times a season, we want to finnish our beers get to the ground early & (sad I know) look at the ground a bit while getting excited about a pint glass with the badge on it.

It is a much neglected area, I was surprised at how unprepared the refreshment kiosks were, no staff - I know the students aren't back yet & they are the most likely to be prepared to work an afternoon on Saturday but we still have high unemployment in the North-East.

-- Anonymous, September 02, 2000

Caterers will often work out what is known as a 'spend per head' figure. When I worked at Sutcliffe's, this figure was simply the till's takings divided by the number of passengers. It was about #2.60 in those days.

-- Anonymous, September 02, 2000

Personally I usually average 3 pints per game at the ground and the odd infrequent burger & chips. Every 6 mths or so shirts bairns shirts/jamas etc. I don't normally buy programmes or the geordie jackpot. So over the year it probably comes out at #38 per game spent at the ground.

-- Anonymous, September 04, 2000