Lanre Emmanuel’s Post

Newcastle United Football Club gearing up for stadium expansion decision Newcastle United will make a decision on expansion of the club’s St James’ Park home in early 2025, members of the Fan Advisory Board (FAB) have been told. The FAB is a nine-person supporter board that was officially unveiled in November 2023 as part of the club’s wider Fan Engagement Plan. During last Monday’s online meeting, a number of representatives from FAB were joined by Chief Operating Officer, Brad Miller, Chief Commercial Officer, Peter Silverstone and senior representatives from the club’s supporter services, communications and commercial venue teams. Miller delivered an in-depth update on The Premier League club’s stadium feasibility work to FAB members. As part of a comprehensive presentation, the club outlined that the study has now entered a crucial second phase, with more detailed analysis currently taking place to investigate project-related risks and opportunities before a decision stage in early 2025. Miller said: "This is an exciting but extremely complex project, and I’d like to thank supporters for their patience as we conduct this key phase of the feasibility process. We aren’t quite at a decision-making stage yet, but we are targeting the early part of 2025 to complete the next essential tasks. "We know what a transformed St. James’ Park would give us and we now have a significant amount of data and feedback on our stadium footprint and surrounding area, so we are several steps forward. "But it is also clear that this option has several risks associated with it, so we need to fully analyse those risks against the opportunities to reach truly informed and intelligent outcomes." Newcastle United has taken on CAA ICON to conduct a feasibility study of future options for St. James’ Park. For the full story, go to: https://lnkd.in/e-BwPuRn #NUFC Commercial Venue Director, Yvette Thompson, sits on the SVB LIVE Expert Council. #sportsbiz #sportsindustry #stadia #StadiumDesign #fanengagement #footballbusiness #PremierLeague #PremiumExperience #SportsVenueBusiness Sports Venue Business #SVBLIVE John Sheehan Cassandra Calleja The Sports Networker David Hall

Old Trafford v New Trafford - The never-ending debate ⚽️ For over 100 years, Old Trafford has been the stage for some of Manchester United’s greatest moments. It’s more than just a stadium; it’s a symbol of the club’s identity and rich history. But as much as nostalgia tugs at the heart, it’s clear that the stadium is no longer fit for purpose. Leaking roofs, broken toilets, narrow seating and outdated facilities aren’t what the fans or the club deserve. The latest report from the Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force outlines a seriously bold vision for the future: - A 100,000-seater, world-class stadium - £7.3bn added to the UK economy - More than 90,000 new jobs created The task force, led by figures like Gary Neville, Andy Burnham and Lord Coe, strikes the perfect balance between fan interests, community needs and long-term growth. This is more than just a project for Manchester United, it’s an opportunity to redefine Greater Manchester’s as a centre for sports, entertainment, business and education. Whether we see a full rebuild or a renovation, this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to modernise, while respecting the club’s heritage. After all, this is a club that has rebuilt time and time again, proving that progress and legacy can go hand in hand. So what do you think? Is it time to let go of nostalgia and embrace something new?

No one would disagree that Manchester United have had a horrible season and one that they will want to forget. Yesterday highlighted the huge issue that has been facing them for years and indeed faces many clubs and that is the condition of the stadium. Over 4 cms of rain fell in 2 hours which would likely cause leaks in a number of stadiums. However what was clear was that the rain was streaming through large parts of Old Trafford and that considerable temporary repairs will need to be done in the next day or two to patch areas up before the game on Wednesday against Newcastle. It is clear that the stadium has had little investment for years. Further they wish to either redevelop the whole stadium. There in lies a significant financial challenge for them. Every penny spent on patching up the existing stadium is a ‘sunk cost’. Further dated corporate facilities are unlikely to generate the cash they have in the past as supporters look for more value for money. The new stadium even with a fair wind is likely to be 4 years away if not longer. This challenge is huge for Manchester United and indeed any team facing up to this. One hugely important lesson they must take on board is to make any new stadium flexible in terms of space as what is clear is that going forward expectations are likely to change on a regular basis and constant investment is needed from day one.

As a city, Sheffield isn't blessed with an obvious focal point. But for two weeks every year, in the run up to the May bank holiday, the World Snooker Championship takes centre stage. As Kyren Wilson closed in on a deserved victory in an improbable final, thoughts turned to how many more times the shepherdess trophy might be lifted at the Crucible Theatre. Barry Hearn has made it clear, in no uncertain terms, that sentiment will not cloud any decision on the future of The Crucible and has openly used his platform as a sales pitch to invite an offer from the highest bidder. History is vital to sport: it provides context and identity. Idiosyncrasies are what makes sport special. The Colosseum and Rome are inextricably coupled. Here's the solution: 1️⃣ 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐚 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐞  Retain the Crucible as Snooker's Centre Court, doing away with the two-table setup but preserving all of the atmosphere. Work with Sheffield City Council to build or identify a neighbouring venue (there is literally another theatre next door) to instantly double the number of tickets available and create a central tournament hub for fans. 2️⃣ 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 Genuine fans will always miss out at an intimate venue. But make sure tickets are going to the people who attend by understanding your data. Nobody wants to see empty seats, which there were in every session. And yet try to buy tickets for 2025 now from Sheffield Theatres, having launched on general sale yesterday, and you'll find sparse pickings beyond the highest tier of hospitality. A failed rocket launch might be a good place to investigate untaken spaces. 3️⃣ 𝐄𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬  The WST should work with directly with players to identify what would help them perform at their best and feel supported. Fund improvements by selling the prestige of association with the historic venue to Eastern sponsors and consider backstage opportunities that Formula One harnesses so well to drive digital engagement by framing the sport around personalities. It's only a game but... you better believe I'm right 🎶 #sheffield | #sportsbiz | #sportstech

Ashton Gate Sporting Quarter Development to break ground in 2025 Ashton Gate Ltd has confirmed this week that the legal challenge which delayed the start of the Sporting Quarter and Longmoor Village developments has been dismissed by the High Court and with no further right to appeal. The Honourable Mr Justice Lavender ruled that there were no special circumstances which would allow local waste company ETM to have more time after the legal deadline to challenge the planning permission for Longmoor Village, so dismissed its case before it was even heard. Speaking on the ruling, Martin Griffiths, Chairman, Ashton Gate Stadium, said: "I’m delighted that the ruling in the High Court means that two very significant development projects for Bristol can finally be restarted. "It has been hugely frustrating to have these multi-million-pound investments into South Bristol so delayed, but we are pleased that Justice Lavender dismissed the case, and we are now able to pick up where we left off a year ago. "We have now re-started the project team for the Sporting Quarter and hope to break ground next year." Ashton Gate was finally granted planning permission in August 2023 for a Sports & Convention Centre and hotel to be built next door to the stadium. This will see a home for the Bristol Flyers Basketball Club at BS3 in a multi-purpose 5,000-seater arena. Bristol Flyers CEO Lisa Knights said: "This has been a long-time coming and Flyers cannot wait for it to get started. Since 2018, when these plans were first unveiled, the sport of basketball has grown massively in the UK. With sell-out crowds consistently at our current home of SGS College Arena, having a bigger, purpose-built venue will ensure the financial sustainability of the Flyers and an exciting future for basketball in Bristol and the South West." For the full story, go to: https://lnkd.in/efcTAtRb Mark Kelly, CEO, Ashton Gate Sporting Quarter, was one of 60+ C-suite speakers at last month’s 2024 SVB LIVE Conference & Exhibition, during which he shared insights on the “Building Blocks: Optimising New Build & Renovations Projects” panel session alongside representatives from Connacht Rugby, Everton Stadium, and Principality Stadium Experience/WRU. #arenas #Bristol #sportsbiz #sportsindustry #SportsVenueBusiness #SVBLIVE Sports Venue Business John Sheehan Cassandra Calleja The Sports Networker

In this week's column, I ask: What could a sports economy look like if we moved beyond tired sports stadium districts? There's a lot more our local governments could do to innovate on the "rec" side of parks and rec. Read more: https://lnkd.in/ePM6h3b8

📢 We are happy and proud to continue our partnership with Wycombe Wanderers Football Club. WWFC is the only UK club that does 100% #subscription. Ryan Isaac and his team have made significant strides in transforming the #fan #experience into a more #digital and supporter-focused approach. This collaboration has provided enhanced data and clearer communication channels, benefiting the club immensely. 📲💙 The #subscription #season #ticket model has ensured financial stability and facilitated the #growth of digital ticketing. This advancement is evident at Wycombe's Adams Park stadium, away games, and two Wembley Stadium finals, where nearly 40,000 digital tickets were efficiently and securely delivered to the Chairboys fans. 🎟️ ✅ Over 50% of season ticket holders have embraced the subscription model, offering lifelong season ticket benefits through manageable monthly payments. ✅ The WWFC website has undergone a digital transformation, ensuring seamless functionality and optimal support for the fans. ✅ The data-driven marketing approach ensures the messages reach the intended supporters. ✅ The integration process into away clubs' systems has been smooth and effortless. ✅ Customizable away ticket templates have been implemented to provide tailored information. ✅ The complexities of importing barcodes have been eliminated! When an away club purchases a ticket, the barcode is instantly incorporated into the WWFC home access control system. ✅ Bid farewell to the days of chasing email updates for away ticket sales! WWFC now possesses an immediate, comprehensive record of #sales, categorized neatly by stand. 🎟️ The outcome? An impressive 100% of tickets were successfully sold within the system, coupled with a noteworthy 90% turnout on matchday! This fixture also marked one of the pioneering fully #digital events held at Adams Park. Is #subscription the future? Yes. ✅ Is subscription a #lifesaver for fans when dealing with increasing living costs and inflation? Yes. ✅ Is subscription easy to implement for a club, and does it improve the fan journey? Yes. ✅ Does subscription reduce the workload for the ticketing office? Yes. ✅ Can subscription help the commercial department to forecast the club's revenue streams? Yes. ✅ A special thanks to the team in Wycombe for their outstanding collaboration over the past few years. Here's to many more successful years ahead! ✨ Looking forward to seeing you in September, Ryan Isaac and Ben Brown! NewC Sport #Announcement #Partnership #Extension

The resolution of Manchester United’s ownership saga was one of the defining sports business moments of 2024. Here’s Berkida Ventures’ take on what this means for the future of football ownership and investment. What do you think is next for the business of football? #SportsBusiness #FootballBusiness #SportsInvestments #GlobalSports #BerkidaVentures

🚀 Football’s Financial Game is Changing – Here’s What You Need to Know I just dove into the Deloitte Football Money League 2025 report, and wow – the numbers are staggering! 🏟️💰 If you’re a football fan or just curious about the business of sports, here are some jaw-dropping insights you don’t want to miss: 1. Real Madrid Makes History Real Madrid has officially become the first club to break the €1 BILLION revenue mark – hitting €1.045 billion! 🎉 This is thanks to their stadium upgrades and next-level commercial strategies. 2. The Revenue Powerhouses The top 5 clubs are pulling in some serious cash: -Real Madrid: €1.045 billion -Manchester City: €838 million -Paris Saint-Germain: €806 million -Manchester United: €771 million -Bayern Munich: €765 million 3. Where’s the Money Coming From? The top 20 clubs collectively generated €11.2 billion (up 6% from last year). Here’s the breakdown: -Commercial: 44% (€244 million) -Broadcast: 38% (€213 million) -Matchday: 18% (€103 million) 4. Matchday & Commercial Revenue on Fire -Matchday revenue grew by 11% (€2.1 billion), thanks to bigger stadiums and premium ticket sales. -Commercial revenue hit €4.9 billion, fueled by sponsorships and non-football events like concerts. 5. Women’s Football is BOOMING The top 15 women’s clubs collectively surpassed €100 million in revenue for the first time (€116.6 million) – a 35% increase! This is a clear sign of growing investment and interest in women’s sports. 🌟 6. Stadiums Are the New Goldmines Clubs like Liverpool and Olympique Lyonnais are seeing major revenue growth from modernized stadiums and fan-focused experiences. It’s not just about the game anymore – it’s about the entire experience. What does this mean for the future of football? 🤔 Are we heading toward a future where clubs are as much about entertainment empires as they are about sports? And what does this growth mean for smaller clubs and the global game? Let me know your thoughts in the comments! ⬇️ #Football #SportsBusiness #DeloitteReport #RevenueGrowth #WomensFootball #FootballFinance

No More “Arlington Bears”? 🐻 Chicago Bears Unveil Plan for New Domed Stadium on the Lakefront The Bears spent almost $200 million more than a year ago to buy the site of the Arlington International Racecourse from Churchill Downs in Arlington Heights. However, plans for a $5 billion stadium complex on that 326-acre site have stalled after the team wasn't able to reach an agreement over property taxes with local schools in the area. Because of this, the Bears provided the first renderings of what they are calling a "state-of-the-art, publicly owned enclosed stadium" along the lakefront on the site of what is currently a parking garage and lots for Soldier Field.The new stadium would have a fixed dome that would allow the city to host Super Bowls, World Cup soccer, NCAA Final Four games, Big Ten championship games, and even local or state high school football championship games. The new stadium would also allow the Bears to host more concerts and potentially even have musicians use the stadium for weeks-long concert residencies. What are your thoughts? Would you rather have the new stadium in Chicago or Arlington Heights?