The tourism impact that NUFC has on the city

[Stratsie]

Alright guys,

I know us students get bad press but before you click off this page please could you spare a minute reading through what I have a got to say and hopefully, i could gain some opinions what true fans think and not what the media/club thinks. I am writing a piece about the link between the Premier League and its impact on tourism within Newcastle.

Therefore, I am answering the following questions:

1) Does Newcastle see an increase of tourism on match days compared to other days of the week/other times of the year?
2) Is it just those from the Newcastle area coming to match days or are you finding that more fans from further afield are travelling to Newcastle to the game?
3) Are these fans spending money within the city thus increasing revenue?
4) Is Newcastle better off being within the Premier League in regards to tourism or doesn't it matter which division they are in? (i repeat tourism reasons haha) For example, would it be similar attendances no matter what.

I fully understand how busy you guys maybe, but if I can even the slightest information/opinions from yourselves and your experiences, I would be very grateful, even if its just what you see from a week in week out basis.

Thanks for taking your time out to read this,

Stratsie.

[PTÄO]

I don't live in Newcastle, so can't really answer your questions, but I can tell you that the only reason I have ever been there is for football.

[Speedo]

1) Does Newcastle see an increase of tourism on match days compared to other days of the week/other times of the year?

What is certain is that on match weekends, we see 2000 extra people come to the city, spend money on beer, hotels and nights out, plus I'm sure more in Asper's and so on.

2) Is it just those from the Newcastle area coming to match days or are you finding that more fans from further afield are travelling to Newcastle to the game?

In terms of home fans, I think we have a limited number of non-North-Eastern ones, but, as I said above, the away fans will bring money with them. Many, I'm sure, will stay for the weekend, so I expect it'll be something like £50k per game in income for the region (2000 fans, £25 each).

3) Are these fans spending money within the city thus increasing revenue?

Probably.

4) Is Newcastle better off being within the Premier League in regards to tourism or doesn't it matter which division they are in? (i repeat tourism reasons haha) For example, would it be similar attendances no matter what.

I think there'd definitely be a difference - all clubs sell out their away allocations in the Prem, but fewer do in the lower leagues. Certainly, below the Championship the difference would be huge. There are more smaller clubs in even the Championship though: can you imagine Bournemouth bringing 2000 to SJP? I can't.

[biggeordiedave]

I want to make it clear that this is pure speculation by the way. You'd probably have to go to local businesses or the council to get a definitive answer.

1) It sees a lot of external visitors but I would imagine a large proportion of home fans live within a reasonable travelling distance and do not have to stay over. I would also suggest Newcastle sees a lot of tourism during the summer months between football seasons.

2) I know there are a few on here that travel long distances but as above, I would imagine most live within 20 or so miles of the ground.

3) Certainly. Bars are all packed and as Speedo says, the casinos will do well. Fast food joints, buffet places and chain restaurants always look busy on match days too.

4) Definitely. More home fans and more away fans. I have a feeling if we got relegated again, a lot of people wouldn't go back.

[bodacious benny]

1) Every away team brings a following. If the visiting team is from further afield I.e. Swansea, Norwich, Southampton then there's a high likelihood that lots of away fans will stay in Newcastle and spend money on hotels, food, drink, strippers etc. In the home end as well there will always be some fans who are travelling from further to watch the game and stay in the city for a day or two.

2) As mentioned above, away teams bring fans into the city. There will always be a small % of home fans from slightly further away.

3) Yes - as per point 1.

4) Yes - PL teams generally have larger fan bases and bring more fans with them.

[seatonsluicetoon]

I'd be interested in your definition of tourism because, to me, tourists are people who visit somewhere to see the more cultural sights. Obviously I'm aware how much of an important part the club plays on the town but I would say your bog standard away fan isn't hanging about afterwards to go to the Baltic or take pictures of the bridges. If your question is about increase in revenue for local businesses then absolutely they benefit, but I would highly doubt many visiting fans or travelling home fans would class themselves as tourists or would engage themselves in 'touristy' activities. As Speedo and Dave said, it's more about food and drink and, within that, it's about getting fed and watered, not about seeking out the no. 1 trip advisor restaurant.

[ALF]

I don't live in Newcastle, so can't really answer your questions, but I can tell you that the only reason I have ever been there is for football.

This.

[TJR]

1) Does Newcastle see an increase of tourism on match days compared to other days of the week/other times of the year?

An extra few thousand football fans. Most tend to make a weekend of it as well if they aren't from close by. Although in the grand scheme of things I don't think football contributes an awful lot as Newcastle is already one of the most popular tourist destinations and every weekend loads of them are always out and about regardless of it being a match day.

2) Is it just those from the Newcastle area coming to match days or are you finding that more fans from further afield are travelling to Newcastle to the game?

Away fans always come from further afield (unless its the derby) as we are located miles away from every other premier league team (except Sunderland). Newcastle tends to be a popular away day for most fans (if its a weekend game) as well as a lot tend to make a weekend of it and a lot of clubs therefore sell out there allocations. We also get a lot of away fans going to Sunderlad games staying in Newcastle as well.

3) Are these fans spending money within the city thus increasing revenue?

Yes, pubs, clubs, restaurants, shops, hotels, gregg's etc will all be making loads off them. Like other tourists football fans tend to splash out when they are on away fays so that'll only benefit the city

4) Is Newcastle better off being within the Premier League in regards to tourism or doesn't it matter which division they are in? (i repeat tourism reasons haha) For example, would it be similar attendances no matter what.

The home attendance would be similar as shown last time we werevin the Championship, we averaged greater attendances per game than the majority of Premiership clubs. The away allocation tends to suffer though due to a lot of Championship and lower league clubs not being supported in numbers as large as a lot of Premiership clubs.