Newcastle United CEO David Hopkinson responds to fan concerns over ticketing transparency at St James’ Park
Newcastle United chief executive officer David Hopkinson has addressed growing supporter concerns regarding ticketing procedures at St James’ Park, emphasising that mutual trust between the club and its fans is “essential to our success.”
His comments come after the Newcastle United Supporters Trust (NUST) released an open letter urging the club to demonstrate “unambiguous transparency” amid what it described as “growing mistrust” over how tickets are distributed.
Following Hopkinson’s appointment last month, the club launched an investigation into ticket sales surrounding the Barcelona Champions League fixture, resulting in the cancellation of 103 season tickets linked to unauthorised resale activity. A subsequent Daily Mail report claimed Newcastle had been aware since 2015 that tickets were being resold via a third party to Scottish schools.
The Supporters Trust, which has repeatedly raised the issue, warned that the lack of communication from the club was deepening frustration and division among fans.
In their statement, NUST wrote:
“The information we are requesting is reasonable and in the public interest. Sharing it would show the club’s respect for its supporters and commitment to fairness. Without transparency, no ticketing system can be trusted.”
They urged the club to release data detailing how tickets are allocated, stressing that clarity would help rebuild confidence between fans and decision-makers.
Since issuing their letter, the Trust confirmed that they have held productive discussions with Hopkinson, praising his openness and willingness to engage.
Hopkinson responded:
“I’ve really valued my conversations with Lisa Mole from the Supporters Trust. It’s been vital for me to understand the deep bond between this club and its supporters, and Lisa has been instrumental in helping me appreciate the Trust’s role. These discussions have been built on mutual trust and openness. I’m fully committed to keeping supporter voices at the heart of everything we do because that relationship is key to our success.”
The Trust welcomed the dialogue, stating that they will continue to push for greater transparency and fairness, particularly regarding ticket allocation — an issue of significant importance to the Newcastle fanbase.
“We’re encouraged by this constructive start,” NUST added. “Our goal remains ensuring fairness, clarity, and accountability in how tickets are distributed. We’ll keep supporters informed as discussions
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