Newcastle United sponsor Sela have projected an infamous banner on a grand scale to promote a show that will celebrate the club and its city.
The club’s front-of-shirt sponsor projected a nearly exact copy of a banner that was displayed in 1997 as Newcastle faced Monaco away in the UEFA Cup – now known as the Europa League.
Shone on the side of the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art for all to see on Tuesday night, the telephone number at the bottom of the banner was the only amendment to the iconic original.
Fans who decide to call 0191 486 2200 are greeted with a message in a Geordie accent, which says: ‘Hello there. We don’t have that BMX for sale anymore, unfortunately… But what we do have is an invitation for you to come to the Quayside this Saturday night.
‘Sela, Newcastle United’s sponsor, would love it if you could assemble opposite the Baltic, where they are putting on special shows to celebrate our club, our city and our fans, after 10pm. You don’t want to miss out! See you on Saturday!’
The projection of Newcastle’s iconic banner was shone onto the side of the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art
It was reminscent of the iconic sign that was displayed in the away end at Monaco in 1997
The special event will come just a day after the Magpies’ kit launch which will see the club partner up with manufacturer Adidas for the first time in 14 years.
The German company were Newcastle’s kit supplier the night they travelled to the Stade Louis II, where the joke banner was first shown.
The Magpies, led by Kenny Dalglish, lost to Monaco 3-0 on the night, but the match is remembered more for the sign than what happened on the pitch.
The marketing ploy from Sela, a live events and entertainment company, comes after their recent Unsilence The Crowd initiative.
Special shirts sponsored by the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) were worn against Tottenham, in April, a bid to improve the matchday experience for deaf fans.