The streets are blue, the crowds are roaring…after a 22-year wait, Ipswich Town Football Club (ITFC) fans are finally celebrating the Club’s glorified return to the Premier League after securing promotion during a 2-0 win against Huddersfield in the final game of the season.
Even if you’re not a football fan, it’s hard to deny the incredible impact that promotion will bring for the whole of Suffolk. As a business with a long history in Ipswich and Suffolk, we’re excited to see the Town reap the economic and community benefits of being in the Premier League.
The power of positivity
Promotion to the Premier League is estimated to bring in around £600 million a year to the town*, with more crowds enjoying Suffolk’s hotels, bars and restaurants on every matchday. But before the next football season begins, the power of positivity is already at play as people feel motivated to spend their pennies and enjoy more leisure time in town while we’re all feeling the buzz.
The positivity and economic benefit extend far beyond the pitch, empowering the business community to take on new challenges, to reach for growth, and to lean in to the successful spirit of our ITFC players. Positivity generates positivity, and we expect we’ll see a raft of fresh opportunities and creative ideas come to – and from – our town as a result.
Map for success
ITFC will be a new face in the Premier League table, attracting attention from fans of top-flight clubs around the UK and internationally. Our presence in the league will no doubt support an increase in domestic tourism, with visitors keen to explore all our county has to offer while learning about our proud footballing heritage.
With Ipswich positioned on the map as an up-and-coming destination, this will drive more opportunities to raise the profile of businesses and charities in all sectors, not just tourism. We could see Ipswich attracting new business names and big retailers, while inspiring growth for our homegrown brands too, including an increase in online searches and traffic to Suffolk websites from visitors. A boost to our town’s profile could, in turn, attract more business talent, university students and families looking to enjoy the benefits of a thriving town.
We could also expect to see increased support for local journalism with a wider audience taking interest in the local news and sport.
The long-term impact this will all have for Ipswich and Suffolk is almost impossible to quantify.
So, there are plenty of reasons why we should all be singing the blues this summer! A promotion for ITFC is a big promotion for the whole of Suffolk, businesses and the community.
At PLMR Genesis we’re grateful to have shared this fantastic football season with our clients, partners, local charities and businesses through our corporate box. Thank you to all who joined us.
*Terry Baxter, Ipswich Central Business Improvement District https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2024-05-06/ipswich-promotion-could-bring-600-million-to-the-town
