Ulster expected to take over Aviva
Ulster chiefs predict they will have more than 35,000 fans at the Aviva Stadium for their Heineken Cup semi-final against Edinburgh later this month. Within two hours of tickets going on general sale yesterday, 12,000 were snapped up, mostly by fans of the northern province.
Ulster Branch chiefs have also ring-fenced 20,000 tickets for season ticket holders (they have 3,500 season ticket holders who will be allowed to purchase multiple ticket options). Opponents Edinburgh have asked for just 3,000 tickets for the April 28 clash in Dublin.
Ulster’s commercial manager Fiona Hampton explained: “It’s fantastic in terms of the fans who have been very loyal to us. We’re hoping the Aviva will be filled predominantly with white shirts. There has been a huge uptake on the general sale tickets which went on sale at noon. We are sure it’s been all Ulster fans who have been on booking their seats and if I was a betting person I would say we will have around 35,000 in the stadium.’’
Hampton is also expecting massive spin-offs for the province in terms of revenue and exposure as they advance in the tournament.
She explained: “Being in the Heineken Cup is very lucrative for clubs because it’s essential to grow the commercial side of the business. It boosts the sale of jerseys and it grows the general support. That’s how Leinster can fill an 18,000 capacity stadium every week. That’s why Munster have one of the biggest sales of jerseys anywhere in the world. It’s all done through success in the Heineken Cup. It is great our season ticket holders now see the benefit of being a season ticket holder.
“They got priority booking for the quarter-final when tickets were scarce. We took up our full allocation of 6,400 at Thomond Park and the further you go in the competition the rewards increase for everybody.”
© This appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Wednesday, April 11, 2012
