Newcastle United chiefs swung open the doors of a conference room at the Hyatt Regency hotel and offered full communication to supporters based in the Middle East and the fans who have made the 3,200-mile journey from Tyneside.
Co-owners Amanda Staveley and Jamie Reuben were on stage, alongside CEO Darren Eales, club ambassador Shola Ameobi, head coach Eddie Howe and assistant Simon Weatherstone, captain Jamaal Lascelles, Jacob Murphy and Sean Longstaff and all spoke to fans in an epic Q and A session. In what proved to be the perfect build-up to the eagerly anticipated friendly clash against Al-Hilal, the finale of the club's venture to Saudi Arabia, fans were told to expect the type of ambition that had previously been dismissed at St James' Park.
Toon supporters were thanked for their loyalty and patience by the owners after the four-year wait for the takeover to go through. Fans may be far away from home but the journey that the club is on is nothing short of remarkable.
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From relegation candidates this time last year to Champions League contenders, regardless of what happens this season Newcastle fans have the only thing they have ever really asked for - a club that tries. Well, United are certainly trying now, on all fronts too.
Communication, recruitment, coaching, fan engagement, on the commercial side and on the field. It feels like it's all happening again at St James' Park. CEO Eales addressed fans and echoed his previous stance from the round table with journalists last month when he said the club must "look through the lense of fans" in order to make the right business decisions.
Yet the event wasn't just about fans getting to chat to players, staff and coaching members, Eales made it clear that the club's new look board wanted feedback. Fans were given A3 pieces of paper on each table to write down ideas and feedback before the sheets were collected by club officials at the end.
On the table we were sat at, the plea was to "stay at St James' Park" and that's something the owners are eager to do. Newcastle are eager to make the most of their global fan base too.
Supporters from Dubai, Doha, Kuwait, Bahrain, Riyadh and Jeddah were all present while others who had travelled from Tyneside. The overwhelming feeling around is that fans are excited about their football club again.
It may be 25 degrees outside but there was also warmth in the room as Staveley and Reuben are applauded on to the stage before a meet and greet with fans. Ameobi is roared to his seat with references of days gone by with his goals against Sunderland - something that still means so much to him.
But Ameobi also knows how the good times roll in the Champions League, the big stage he was introduced to as a youngster. In the past talk of returning to that big stage was played down and the suggestion of playing like the Entertainers or Sir Bobby Robson's team was dismissed as "unrealistic".
Not now though. Howe has put together an entertaining brand of football and those at the top want to see more of it.
History appears to be something the owners want to celebrate. But there is trust in the coaching staff and no interference from a technical point of view.
As far as ambition is concerned the sentiment is: "There's more to come." It is about "the journey" and there is belief that Newcastle can get there from those at the top - but patience is a major factor in the club's new strategy too.
And fans are more than happy with that. Then it was on to the head coach in former Bournemouth boss Howe.
Howe spoke warmly about the fans and how he is settled in and the reception he's had in the last 12 months. His vision is mirrored by the board, to make Newcastle great again.
Then it was the turn of the players in Longstaff, Murphy and skipper Lascelles - all three who have lived through the takeover. All three know there were times when things weren't so easy, but all three have proven there is a future for anybody prepared to fight for it.
The day was rounded off by a signing session from the manager and the players. Then fans get the opportunity to mingle with each other.
As fans hold up their flags there is a triumphant roar: "Howay the lads!" It feels like Newcastle United are finally going places again and it's an amazing thing to stand and witness.
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