Can no one else see that it makes sense?

Exactly have we spent a penny of the Andy Carroll money, or is that funding the new Sports Direct Shop that is replacing Shearer's.

 

Money is Ashley's God, he puts it before everything.

 

We're getting no money from this renaming though, that's why we're pissed off. To say it's there to "showcase the opportunity for name ownership" is laughable, were companies unable to comprehend the idea of renaming of a stadium and needed an example first? He's put it there to advertise Sports Direct for free and as a bonus, to hurt us.

 

The big argument here (particularly between wizard and JPF) hinges on whether or not we get a new sponsor to take over Sports Direct. Its one we don't know the answer to so isn't worth descending into name calling until we find out.

I personally am not as annoyed as many are. I'm not a fan of the move by any means, but at the end of the day its unlikely to make any difference whatsoever. I can only think of one sign up at the moment saying St James Park, and I go nowhere near it on my way in, I just know the name of the stadium anyway (its St James Park by the way). The matchgoing crowd will always call it St James Park, and that'll be passed down for generations if it even needs to be, if it isn't thats a failure on our part not the board. Theres no such thing as the Leazes End, its the Sir John Hall Stand. For the majority of the 90's the Gallowgate was the Exhibition Stand. What did the fans keep calling them? There is no Sports Direct Arena, its St James Park.

The Metro Station will remain the same, the signs in the city will point to St James Park, and Jeff Stelling has already confirmed he's still saying St James Park. If a multinational wants to sponsor it and have its name on the infobar before Super Sunday or the international broadcasts that doesn't affect me in the slightest unless I'm watching an away game on a dodgy stream (where I probably won't be able to read it on a horrible lo-res screen anyway...).

Financially it makes perfect sense (if a new sponsor comes in, see paragraph 1), and unlike most I do trust the club in that respect. I've no issue at all with Ashley eventually paying off his loan, especially if we end up with a debt free sustainable club, so any revenue coming in is fine by me (within reason, I wouldn't take a tripling of my season ticket price, but his ticket deals have been fantastic frankly), and if Chelsea of all teams are considering the same I think we'll be the tip of the iceberg and more will follow. As someone has already said no money has been taken out of the club, and 'the Carroll money' (that mystical separate pot o'gold) is still there in part to be spent. The club wasn't held to ransom in Summer for overpriced players and signed top players at good prices, and look where we are. No problem whatsoever with our transfer dealings.

If next Summer we're still the Sports Direct Arena and our team is decimated I'll eat my words, but I very much doubt that will be the case. My conclusion is its not fantastic, but it is the way the league is going and I don't think we're powerful enough a club to deny that extra income. It won't affect how I feel about that glorious grey lump of concrete whatsoever.

 

This

I think companies understand what naming a stadium is all about, it's been done before and no one needs MA to show us by calling it SDA.

Banging on about buying players with the revenue is a promise that has already been made and broken.

MA just needs to cut the carp and say he's doing it for free advertising, and if he does sell the rights there is no gurantee that the money will be re-ivested in the club.

Like I said before if MA wants to increase revenue how about getting behind the team and push for a higher league position (because realistically we aren't going to finish 3rd), more prize money potentially leading to europe etc. It seems he's happy to settle with PL football and will maximise every other revenue potential (regardless of the consequences) before investing in the team (when i say invetsing i mean adding to the team not replacing players he has sold, before anyone mentions cabye,santon, marveux etc)

 

Isn't he already doing that though? Its signings this summer and last that have got us to 3rd, if thats reinforced in January we'll be well above the 17th that some predicted (not me, pessimists!). If he was happy to settle for PL football we'd have signed no one, played Shola and Best up top, Smith in the middle and Guthrie right wing and battled for survival. The numbers that came in outweighed those going out (even considering deadweight that weren't playing like Kuqi and Campbell) in both quantity and quality. I don't see how that isn't investing in the team, unless you'd have preferred to have Bryan Ruiz on the bench for no reason?

 

I like to put things into perspective. Look at what happens in some parts of the world (natural disasters, famine in East Africa etc etc etc) - if the worst we have to complain and moan on about is this then we're pretty lucky if you ask me. Our issues, concerns, 'injustices' etc are worth absolutely zero in the grand scheme of things.

 

They do the same. They could have been born a mackem

 

Any one arguing against Ashley with points about how money won't be used and another sponsor won't come in .. Free SD advertising etc... Cant you Just support the club, get behind the owner who has done a mint job so far....

.I haven't agree with all his decision but we've been proved wrong most. We've got better players, better youth prospects, were better financially (apparently?) and in the long term we seem to be going in the right direction commercially.

When you look at other PL clubs they'd love to have an owner like Ashley. Some toon fans are embarrassing

 

The money is irrelevant for me. For me the money he makes or the club makes from it is neither here nor there. The important factor is respecting the clubs heritage. Some things should simply not have a price tag. It is the difference between a football club and a normal business.

As a side note, despite their recent progress eventually in the right direction, they have again displayed the failings in their knowledge of football with the inexplicably poor timing of this decision. This should have been done in the close season, last or next. The current good feeling because of some sterling work by the coaching staff did not need this.

He just can't help himself for some reason.

 

But they havent renamed it for bringing in more money. They have changed the name to somehow 'entice' someone to invest. As it stands our stadium is named after a piece of sh*t chav fest sports crap for no money whatsoever. Their is no reason to change it. Are MA and DL incapable of negotiating a deal with a company behind closed doors like every other f*cker who runs a football club?!!!!

Its pointless. Embarrassing. Sickening etc etc.

 

How does it all affect us? We're still going to call it St James's? We're still 3rd in the league, the council are refusing to change the signs to the ground, it affects us in no way whatsoever.
People just wanting another reason to have a bitch.

 

Yea thats right Alfie, all we want to do is bitch. We love it. We live for it. (sarcasm)

Whereas you on the other hand love bitching at people who do 'bitch'. You love it. You cant get enough. Look at people who say the obvious and share their fully justified discontent....and then bitch at them for doing so, in turn making yourself out to be something 'different' and special.

You bitch more than any of us...at us!

Bitch.

 

My wife has left me, for my best mate. Now THAT'S a bitch!

 

Gotta be tough chap and hope you're OK. You'll miss your best mate but you can make new friends.

 

Cheers, mate, but HE WAS ALSO MY GOLF PARTNER!!!!!

 

Well said...although IF someone does buy the rights then it could be quite lucrative for you guys, seems like a good way to earn extra revenue without having to do much. The supporters will still call it SJP anyway so don't think it really matters all that much.

Also, and I hate to say it, but you guys have played some decent honest football this season and shows what can be done on a limited budget. Cabaye, Tiote, Ba and Collocini have all impressed me and Taylor has done well too. I don't think you will finish in the top 4, but top 8 is realistic. Hopefully come the end of the season we will be on your tail but so far it is looking like you will finish higher up the table than us.

 

****ing Hell! What a bitch. Hope you're okay boss. Sod 'em both

 

I cant help see that him naming it is a way of taking the heat of any prospective bidders. But really if the Council are against it whos going to bid