St Johnstone CEO Fran Smith has revealed that Celtic fans could be granted additional access to stands at McDiarmid Park from the 2024/25 season if home support does not increase. [RecordSport]

James Forrest
3rd December 2023; McDiarmid Park, Perth, Scotland: Scottish Premiership Football, St Johnstone versus Celtic; James Forrest of Celtic celebrates after he shoots and scores to make it 3-1 to Celtic in the 93rd minute

The potential shift comes as the Perth club faces economic realities, balancing the need to grow match-day revenue against maintaining a strong home fan presence.

Currently, fans of the Glasgow giants occupy two stands and a section of the Geoff Brown Stand during their visits. However, if St Johnstone supporters fail to fill the remaining areas, this allocation may be expanded. Smith noted the financial benefit of accommodating more visiting fans, suggesting the club could generate an additional £75,000 per match—money that could fund a new signing or other key investments.

The club is also exploring options such as reallocating home fans to different stands or adjusting season ticket packages to include or exclude Celtic and Rangers matches.

As discussions with the board and fan groups continue, the decision will likely be scrutinised by St Johnstone supporters, eager to see their home advantage preserved while understanding the fiscal pressures their club faces.

It is a no-brainer on the business side for clubs. £75k extra at least four times a season is massive for clubs in Scotland.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.