European Club Rugby has explained its decision to hold this month’s Amlin Challenge Cup final, involving Bath Rugby and Northampton Saints, at the Cardiff Arms Park.
The ERC has been slammed by fans of both sides, who will vie for the silverware on Friday, May 23, after they were allocated just 1,000 apiece this week.
The remaining 10,000 have been on general sale since September, although the ERC says it has now released 400 extra tickets to the participating club.
A statement on ercrugby.com read: “For the 2010-11 season and onwards, the Board of ERC decided to locate its two finals in the same city with a view to creating a unique weekend celebration of rugby to be enjoyed by fans from across Europe.
“Highly successful Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup finals weekends have been staged in Cardiff, London and Dublin since that decision was taken, and next month all roads lead to Cardiff once again for the 2014 finals at the Millennium Stadium and Cardiff Arms Park respectively.
“Recent Amlin Challenge Cup finals have attracted attendances of 9,376 for the 2012 match at the Twickenham Stoop, of 12,236 for the 2011 decider at the Cardiff City Stadium, and of 9,260 for the 2009 game, again at the Twickenham Stoop.
“It has been ERC’s policy to attempt at all times to fill venues to as close to capacity as possible so that players and supporters alike can benefit from the sort of atmosphere which is reflective of a European final.
“On that basis, the 12,125-capacity Cardiff Arms Park was the most suitable choice from the available venues for this season’s Amlin Challenge Cup final.
“Tickets for the match have been on public sale since September 2013, and that public allocation sold out last month following the quarter-finals weekend.
“ERC is in contact with Bath Rugby and Northampton Saints, and is aware of the demand for tickets from supporters of both clubs for the match on Friday, May 23. We had created the facility to increase capacity to over 12,500 based on demand and we are now putting up to 400 additional seats into the Arms Park which will be made available to fans of the participating clubs.
“Details will be communicated to Bath Rugby and to Northampton Saints shortly.â€
Article source: http://www.espnscrum.com/wales/rugby/story/222617.html
ERC releases 400 extra tickets to Bath Rugby and Northampton Saints fans for ...
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