Celtic are making a late push to boost ticket sales for this Saturday’s pre-season friendly against Newcastle United, as Brendan Rodgers’ side prepare to play their first match at Celtic Park ahead of the new campaign.
The 3pm kick-off marks the beginning of their home pre-season schedule, but demand among the home support has been noticeably low.
Soccer Football – Scottish Premiership – Celtic v St Mirren – Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain – May 17, 2025 St Mirren’s Jonah Ayunga scores their first goal REUTERS/Scott Heppell
The game sees the return of competitive opposition to Paradise, but many supporters have opted to give it a miss. Unlike league matches, the fixture isn’t covered by season ticket packages, requiring fans to pay separately.
With financial pressures continuing to affect households across the UK and Ireland, that extra cost appears to have played a major part in the slow uptake.
Meanwhile, Newcastle United fans have snapped up their allocation in impressive numbers. The English side initially received 7,200 tickets, which were quickly sold out.
Celtic responded by offering thousands more, meaning over 10,000 away supporters are expected to travel north for the game.
While the club had hoped the return of first-team football to Celtic Park would generate a healthy turnout, the one-off nature of the friendly and timing during the summer break have contributed to the underwhelming ticket sales.
It’s also worth noting that Celtic played a behind-closed-doors friendly last weekend, and this weekend’s game will be supporters’ first opportunity to see Rodgers’ squad in person at Paradise ahead of the season opener.
Soccer Football – Scottish Premiership – Celtic v St Mirren – Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain – May 17, 2025 Celtic player celebrate with manager Brendan Rodgers after winning the Scottish Premiership trophy REUTERS/Scott Heppell
With just a few days remaining, Celtic are continuing to encourage supporters to attend, hoping for a more balanced crowd when the Magpies visit.
However, unless there’s a sharp late surge in sales, the away end could end up significantly fuller than the home stands, an unusual sight at Celtic Park, even for a pre-season fixture.
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