Yahoo News Newcastle United notes from Oz: The unexpected eight-figure global cash injection for Magpies
Newcastle United could bank the best part of around £10million by the time their post-season and pre-season tours are wrapped up this summer.
It's estimated that Newcastle will bank over £3million from the tour of Australia with two lucrative friendly games against Tottenham Hotspur then the Australian A-League all stars later this week in Melbourne. Club officials are set to meet up with supporters who have made the trip Down Under on Thursday night with a dedicated evening set up in between both fixtures.
READ MORE: Newcastle's 29-man Australia squad in full as key men left at home and youngsters given chance
The trip to Japan is also set to be a lucrative affair for the Magpies as they face two high profile friendly games against Urawa Red Diamonds and Yokohama F. Marinos in Tokyo. Just like the fanbase here in Australia, there will be fans lined up to greet the players and staff for the J League International Series 2024 with money pumped into the event by Japanese mobile phone company Docomo.
The club's CCO Peter Silverstone said before the trip: "The bigger we build our brand, and the more profile and activation we do, the more other partners want to partner with us.
"Most importantly, the more we do globally to build our brand, the more people want to be associated with us and follow and support our team. Unlike people who are born in Newcastle, who I would hope will always be Newcastle fans, if you’re born in New York or Riyadh or Beijing or Shanghai, then you don’t have a local connection. You follow a club that you relate to, whether that’s the colours of the strip, players, activations like ‘Unsilence the Crowd’, what the city means to you – a whole host of things.
"It’s really important we grow that global audience and relevance, to then bring in increased commercial revenue."
By the time both trips are done, Newcastle could have picked up the best part of £10million from both tours in match fees, sponsorship and merchandise money.
Pleasant conditions in Melbourne on day one
As if to welcome travelling Newcastle fans and players it was initially a grey day with rain showers thrown in as Tuesday got under way here in Melbourne.
It was still 12 degrees and mild, but not in the eyes of locals with leaves on the ground and autumn in full swing. Many had their coats but it actually felt like a good day of weather compared to what we are used to in Newcastle.
As the clouds cleared the conditions felt even more favourable and you could easily sit outside and drink a coffee. A high of 15 degrees is reported on match day for the build-up to game one!
Nick Pope raring to go in Oz
Nick Pope's season goes on after a six months of injury torment. The keeper is looking forward to playing and feels that with Newcastle over the line things are looking up.
Pope, in Melbourne with the squad and set to feature against Spurs tomorrow night, said: "We are pleased to get our side done. That is what we aimed to do so it was nice to get over the line.
"Personally I have been training a few weeks now so feel ready to play. They have been top drawer putting in so much hard work. We have to be thankful to the staff."
