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bradleyloweryfoundation.com
The charity uses it to let terminally ill children and their families have a fun day out at the football.
Poor from SAFC and it's not often I say that ...
- Thread starter Smug in Boots
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The charity uses it to let terminally ill children and their families have a fun day out at the football.
Very odd behaviour from the club. The talk is about the connection to the fans being the best it’s been then proceed to throw that away by becoming more business-minded/ruthless regardless of the damage.
If there’s no room at all for sentimentality and doing the right thing then it’s hugely disappointing. They have misread the room badly.
If there’s no room at all for sentimentality and doing the right thing then it’s hugely disappointing. They have misread the room badly.
I dont see how not giving a box away is shocking behaviour tbh.
We need too up our game when it comes to getting more money into the club and not giving away a box which is probably about 30 grand a season helps imo.
We need too up our game when it comes to getting more money into the club and not giving away a box which is probably about 30 grand a season helps imo.
I’ve read the article and it isn’t as bad as I expected, however let’s see if there is any fall out or bad publicity following this announcement.
https://www.sunderlandecho.com/spor...adley-lowery-foundation-corporate-box-8335964
Sunderland have made changes to their long-standing corporate box arrangement with the Bradley Lowery Foundation, with the Premier League club set to withdraw the complimentary executive area that had been made available to the charity for several years.
The Echo understands the box, which has been used by the foundation since before the 2017-18 season, is set to be sold to a new customer as part of a wider review of the club’s corporate hospitality offering. The move comes amid strong demand for premium matchday experiences, with Sunderland currently holding a waiting list of around 35 potential clients for corporate boxes. It forms part of a broader effort to maximise hospitality revenue as the club adapts its commercial strategy following promotion back to the Premier League.
The facility had been used to host disadvantaged families, providing matchday experiences that would otherwise have been out of reach. Over time, it became a central part of the foundation’s work supporting children and families facing serious illness. Under revised arrangements, Sunderland will continue to offer hospitality access to the Bradley Lowery Foundation in a different format. This will include a table of 10 for six fixtures across the season in the Montgomery Suite, allowing the charity to host up to 12 families.
The club has also offered two additional games for smaller groups of four, in the Boardroom or the Charlie Hurley Suite, providing a quieter setting for more vulnerable children. The Echo understands that while the executive box arrangement has come to an end, Sunderland have indicated they will continue to support the foundation in other ways where possible. Gemma Lowery, Bradley’s mother and co-founder of the charity, said the change marked the end of an era but welcomed the club’s ongoing backing when contacted by The Echo.
“It is sad to see the box go, as it really does mark the end of an era in Bradley’s name,” she said. “That said, I am incredibly grateful to everyone at Sunderland for continuing to support us in other ways. I’m really pleased that we can still offer a hospitality experience to families because over the years, it has been so special to see people who wouldn’t normally have the opportunity enjoy such an amazing day.”
Sunderland have made changes to their long-standing corporate box arrangement with the Bradley Lowery Foundation, with the Premier League club set to withdraw the complimentary executive area that had been made available to the charity for several years.
The Echo understands the box, which has been used by the foundation since before the 2017-18 season, is set to be sold to a new customer as part of a wider review of the club’s corporate hospitality offering. The move comes amid strong demand for premium matchday experiences, with Sunderland currently holding a waiting list of around 35 potential clients for corporate boxes. It forms part of a broader effort to maximise hospitality revenue as the club adapts its commercial strategy following promotion back to the Premier League.
The facility had been used to host disadvantaged families, providing matchday experiences that would otherwise have been out of reach. Over time, it became a central part of the foundation’s work supporting children and families facing serious illness. Under revised arrangements, Sunderland will continue to offer hospitality access to the Bradley Lowery Foundation in a different format. This will include a table of 10 for six fixtures across the season in the Montgomery Suite, allowing the charity to host up to 12 families.
The club has also offered two additional games for smaller groups of four, in the Boardroom or the Charlie Hurley Suite, providing a quieter setting for more vulnerable children. The Echo understands that while the executive box arrangement has come to an end, Sunderland have indicated they will continue to support the foundation in other ways where possible. Gemma Lowery, Bradley’s mother and co-founder of the charity, said the change marked the end of an era but welcomed the club’s ongoing backing when contacted by The Echo.
“It is sad to see the box go, as it really does mark the end of an era in Bradley’s name,” she said. “That said, I am incredibly grateful to everyone at Sunderland for continuing to support us in other ways. I’m really pleased that we can still offer a hospitality experience to families because over the years, it has been so special to see people who wouldn’t normally have the opportunity enjoy such an amazing day.”
I hope people that slagged the club off straight away as usual can see that they havent done any wrong here!!!
The BLF didn’t want the arrangement to end as far as I’m aware, just my opinion but it looks as though they’re putting a brave face on it. Someone more cynical might believe that putting disadvantaged children away ‘in a quiet corner’, away from high paying corporate clients, is more financial than caring.
As people have said, time will tell. I just believe it looks bad and I wonder what Jermaine Defoe will think of it …
… to me it sounds like, ‘Here you go kids you can sit at this table, something you’ve probably never experienced before and which you’ll never forget’.
After all there’s nothing young children like more than sitting around a table in a strange room.
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Removed duplication
On one hand we are in the big league now and need every penny we can get to stay there but on the other Bradley Lowery foundation is such a great charity)
On one hand we are in the big league now and need every penny we can get to stay there but on the other Bradley Lowery foundation is such a great charity)
It’s either a question of finances or it isn’t.
If it’s simply money the club need just give me until the end of the season and I’ll have coordinated, with the help of the thousands like you, the annual finance to maintain this box.
How can the club refuse …
… unless they have another reason?
I couldn't agree more on this.
Ive seen figures of £30K to £50K per season for the box (idk the actual cost).
Even it is was £50k, in the bigger scheme of things is £50k worth doing this for, I really dont think it is.
Im sure that if the box was to be reserved for the BLF but at cost, im sure that would be covered by donations.
I bet the fans would raise that for next season, then take into account some players would donate (Defoe for example), i have no doubt the cost could be covered.
I wouldnt even be surprised if some local companies or wealthy individuals would pay it and donate it back to the BLF.
If any donations are required to keep it in the BLF, count me in.
Seems strange this one as if it’s 50k for the season some of the players, KLD and Defoe probably have that in the wallet right now. For the club to go there with this one doesn’t sit well with me because on one hand you talk about the connection with the fans and then the other it comes down to money. I get it about the money because we are in the big boys league but ffs we will get millions of pounds for staying up and other marketing initiatives.
If I was head of marketing I would say to KLD I have got this 50k boss leave the BL box for the purpose it is being used for. If things are that lucrative for these boxes let’s push ahead with the stadium extension. I know these arguments on both sides on things like this but you should never forget where you came from. I don’t think Sunderland is an area where there is vast wealth compared to other major city’s in the world. We are grass roots fight them on the beaches area. Our hearts went out to Bradley Lowery and the support was given to him as one of us. Let his family keep the box…there’s other battles to fight.
If I was head of marketing I would say to KLD I have got this 50k boss leave the BL box for the purpose it is being used for. If things are that lucrative for these boxes let’s push ahead with the stadium extension. I know these arguments on both sides on things like this but you should never forget where you came from. I don’t think Sunderland is an area where there is vast wealth compared to other major city’s in the world. We are grass roots fight them on the beaches area. Our hearts went out to Bradley Lowery and the support was given to him as one of us. Let his family keep the box…there’s other battles to fight.
No single person made this decision alone so two, or more, people are responsible.
They've therefore had a discussion and decided how to inform the family and then how to spin it to the supporters.
As we've gone along with everything, almost without question, they must've believed they could simply slip this by us.
They're wrong and now they've tried to pull a fast one that level of trust is gone ...
... it shows how intelligent people can become so convinced of their infallibility that they even managed to fool themselves.
They've arrived at a point whereby they've desperately wanted the box for a client. However, the fact the BLT offered to pay for it wasn't a favourable option for the club. If they'd accepted that offer they'd know that, at some point, it would emerge that they had decided to sell the box to the charity at the market value.
Much easier, they thought, to claim they're supporting the charity but ‘in a better way’for all concerned. Thanks to a good friend, who kindly invited me into the 'Monty Suite' I spent a matchday in there ...
... 'thrilling' it certainly isn't and only Monty's presence made it memorable.
As with the BCB affair I think this will escalate to the point whereby only a statement from the owner will suffice.
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I wonder if the decision maker who was involved in the tickets cancellation for the mags game was also involved in this?
I would like to hope whoever has made this decision, that it is overturned and the club agree to this one box being for the BLF, for as long as the BLF want it....which I sincerely hope they still do.
That little lad was an inspiration to everyone who seen him. Bloody hell, I even changed my opinion of Diego Costa because of that little lad.
Bradley's memory lives on in all of us, and the work the BLF does is priceless.
Some things are worth way more than the cost associated to them, this is very much one of them.
This just makes me feel sad and a bit empty. I thought we (the club) were better than this.
Can you imagine if that lot up the road had done this? We would be slagging them off for ever more.
So much right, yet somehow so much wrong
Can you imagine if that lot up the road had done this? We would be slagging them off for ever more.
So much right, yet somehow so much wrong
I thought it was £25,000 a match not a whole season. That’s only about roughly 50p each even if it’s every home game.
If you can organise something that would be great.
Or could there be another reason?
My guess (and it is a guess) is that the 50k will be the cost of the box, but all the corporate stuff like drinks / meals etc will be on top which would probably at least double it. Then the chance to get new sponsors in etc. Not saying what's happening is right, but it'll be more at stake than £50k.