In what has been described as a ‘red letter day’ the new owners of the Newcastle Jets have made a number of significant announcements including a shirt sponsor and ticket reductions at home games.
New chairman Ken Edwards announced on Friday a series of extremely positive measures designed to engage the Newcastle community. The first involves a shirt sponsor in the shape of the Hunter Medical Research Institute.
But instead of the sponsor giving the Jets money, the Newcastle club has pledged to give the institute $5000 for every home goal the Jets score and $2500 for away goal. With 22 games left this season that should equate to over $100,000.
In addition the Jets have also announced that it will be now cheaper for fans to attend home matches at EnergyAustralia Stadium.
Firstly, general admission tickets for 2010 Games will now just be $10. A family reserved season pass (two adults, two children) will just be $100 for the remaining 11 home games. Children 15 years old and under will be admitted free for the rest of the season. Finally, for the Jets home match against the Melbourne Heart on October 31 10,000 people will be admitted free.
“This is a red letter day for the club,” Edwards told the media at the Jets new head office in Newcastle.
“We have been talking about community and it is a real community partnership with the HRMI and we have released what we think is a very attractive ticketing package for families… and we have more to come.”
“We have said from day one that we think it costs families too much to attend football regularly and we can now translate that into the providing an opportunity for families to attend all our games for just $10 a family and put them in a reserved grandstand seat – that is unheard of in Australian sport.”
Edwards re-iterated that to take advantage of the ticketing offers fans had to register on the Jets website. He also said that they weren’t concerned with securing a major shirt sponsor at this stage.
“It will come later after we have reconnected with the community and created a program that gets kids involved,” he said.
Jets club captain Michael Bridges said the direction for the club is the most exciting he has ever been involved with in all his years of playing football around the world.
“I have never been involved with anything of this magnitude. There has been such a dramatic change and it is just going to be incredible to be a part of,” he said.
“It is making a real statement and has set the standard and these guys are walking the walk.”
“It has also given the players a real incentive on the park to live up to expectations as well as bang in some goals for charity.”
In team news, the Jets will head into Saturday night’s clash with the Roar in Brisbane without Bridges who is recovering from knee surgery. Defender Nikolai Topor-Stanley, midfielder Ben Kantarovski and Jobe Wheelhouse will also be missing.
However, forwards Marko Jesic and Jeremy Brockie will return to the squad for the match and Bridges assured fans the team is ready to take on the Roar.
“The boys have got a boost from all of this and it is inspirational, and it has happened at a great time for us.”
“Now we are playing for our future and to be part of this team and it starts now.”
