THE AVIVA Stadium is set to become a sea of Leinster blue come the end of April after Toulouse only took up a fraction of their allocation for the Heineken Cup semi-final showdown on April 30th.
Sales of tickets can be a bit of a guessing game and are obviously a moving target, but Toulouse have only taken up in the region of 4,000 of their allocation of around 22,000, which will leave supporters of the defending champions considerably out-numbered when the sides meet on the last Saturday of the month (kick-off 3.30pm).
The ticket allocation for both teams is split 50/50 after corporate and tournament organiser requirements. Based on previous semi-final encounters that could be around 6,000.
Put another way, the French visitors will have taken up less than 20 per cent of their allocation and their travelling support could, in theory, be outnumbered by as much as 10 to 1.
All of which bodes well from a Leinster fans’ standpoint as whatever tickets are left over, if any, will go on general sale this Friday.
Leinster season-ticket holders have had priority access to purchase two tickets each since Monday (11th) up until 5pm today which are being sold on Ticketmaster through use of a unique password on a first come, first serve basis.
Leinster’s semi-final allocation is double the number of season ticket holders so all will be guaranteed at least two tickets and over 15,000 were understood to have been sold by yesterday morning.
In addition, a family season ticket holder will be given one password, allowing the individual to buy up to eight tickets.
As it is an ERC play-off game, tickets for season ticket holders will not be pre-assigned or available via Leinster Supporters’ Season Ticket accounts, as is normally the case. This means tickets they receive from Ticketmaster might not necessarily be for the same part of the stadium if they attended the quarter-final.
After last weekend’s bruising 17-10 quarter-final win over Leicester, the ticket demand for the semi-final is sure to be high, with Leinster hosting the four-time champions and looking to pave a way to the final for a chance to repeat their own European success of 2009.
Ticket prices range from Category A Premium, starting at €70, and drop to the bottom Category 4 Stand tickets at €30. Family tickets (two adults, two children only) cost €120, with designated schoolboy/schoolgirl tickets €10.
Elsewhere, Munster Rugby will offer reduced ticket prices for their Amlin Challenge Cup semi-final clash with Harlequins at Thomond Park on the same day as Leinster’s semi-final.
In another bumper Saturday for Irish rugby, Munster’s game against the English Premiership side will serve as a curtain-raiser to the Leinster game, with kick-off in Limerick at 1pm. Tickets will cost €40 (Cat A), €30 (Cat B) and €20 for terrace, which marks a 20 per cent reduction compared to previous Heineken Cup prices.
In February, Munster announced they would reduce ticket prices for the 2011/12 Magners League season, but have now brought those reductions into use for the latter stages of the current season. It also means if Munster host any of the play-off matches in the Magners League the same reductions will apply.
“In February, we decided on the new pricing structure for next season and believe it is more appropriate to introduce the reduced prices now rather than hold with current season prices,” said Glyn Billinghurst, Munster rugby sales and marketing manager.
“We recognise the marvellous support that we receive and hopefully it will encourage people to fill Thomond Park on Saturday, April 30th for the Amlin semi-final.”
NO O'CONNELL RETURN SEASON OVER FOR SECONDROW
GIVEN the high stakes later this summer at the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, Paul O'Connell's ankle ligaments are expected to keep him out of Munster's end of season matches if they qualify for the Amlin Challenge Cup final on May 20th or the Magners League grand final a week later, reports Johnny Watterson.
The charismatic secondrow injured himself on April 2nd playing against Leinster and time is now against him. The May 20th date for the Amlin Challenge final would be less than seven weeks and the Magners League eight weeks from the time of the injury.
It is thought O’Connell’s availability, which would be decided by Munster in consultation with the IRFU, is unlikely.
Ticket pricing
Heineken Cup semi-final
(Leinster v Toulouse,
Aviva Stadium, April 30th, 3.30)
Cat A Premium €70
Cat B Premium €60
Cat 1 Stand €50
Cat 2 Stand €40
Cat 3 Stand €35
Cat 4 Stand €30
Family Tickets
(Two adults, two children) €120
Schoolboy/girl €10*
(*only available in designated sections and not available for adults to gain admission on match day).
Amlin Challenge Cup semi-final
(Munster v Harlequins, Thomond Park, April 30th, 1pm)
Cat A €40
Cat B €30
Terrace €20
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