St Johnstone have announced a significant overhaul of ticket allocations for their home matches against Rangers and Celtic at McDiarmid Park, sparking a shift in how fans will experience these high-profile fixtures.
Traditionally, both Rangers and Celtic have brought large travelling contingents to Perth, often taking up significant sections of the stadium.
However, under the club’s new ownership, changes are afoot. Owen Webb, who recently took over from long-time owner Geoff Brown, has wasted no time in making his mark by altering the seating arrangements ahead of the visits of the Glasgow giants.
Celtic are due to visit McDiarmid Park on September 28th, with Rangers following suit in December. In anticipation of these fixtures, Webb issued a statement addressing St Johnstone supporters directly.
“Dear Saints fans. I wanted to take this opportunity to communicate directly with you about the important matters of matchday attendance and our plans moving forward for matches against Celtic and Rangers,” the statement begins, highlighting the new owner’s intent to prioritise the club’s loyal fan base.
“Your unwavering support as part of our loyal fan base is the cornerstone of our success. With that in mind, I want to emphasise our commitment to making McDiarmid Park a true fortress for our team, particularly when hosting Celtic or Rangers.”
Historically, St Johnstone have allocated the entire East Stand to visiting fans, displacing some of their own supporters to the Geoff Brown Stand.
This practice, while accommodating larger numbers of travelling supporters, has often diluted the home atmosphere. Under the new ownership, this approach is set to change.
The statement continues: “We have sometimes allocated the East Stand to visiting supporters and moved supporters to the Geoff Brown Stand.
“We have also allotted more seats than necessary in the Geoff Brown Stand to opposing fans. Under our new policies, to be announced later this week, opposing fans will be limited to the Ormond and North stands and one section of the Geoff Brown Stand which is legally required to accommodate disabled seating.”
This new strategy marks a clear intent to give St Johnstone fans a greater presence in their own stadium. The aim is to create a more intimidating atmosphere for visiting teams while fostering a stronger sense of home advantage.
“For this initiative to be successful, we need you – our dedicated fans – to turn out in force,” Webb urged. The club is also planning improvements to enhance the matchday experience for home supporters.
“We are putting extra provisions and planning in place to enhance your matchday experience, including improvements in accessibility, safety, parking, and stadium services.”
In light of recent incidents involving fan behaviour, both home and away, St Johnstone have also reviewed their terms and conditions for entry to the ground. “These updated guidelines are designed to ensure a safe and enjoyable environment for everyone,” the statement added.
Finally, Webb emphasised the importance of fan input in shaping the future of McDiarmid Park. “We will be gathering feedback through a working group, which will include fans and representatives from the club and the police.”
In conclusion, the new owner thanked fans for their continued dedication, signing off with a rallying call for their match against Celtic: “Together, we can make McDiarmid Park a venue where every Saintee feels at home.”