Rugby:Dublin is in line for a major economic boost next year when the Irish capital becomes the epicentre of European club rugby with the staging of both the Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup finals in May 2013.
Tournament organisers, ERC, announced today that the RDS, home of Leinster rugby, will be the venue for the Amlin Challenge Cup final on Friday, May 17th, 2013 with the Heineken Cup showpiece going ahead the following day at the Aviva Stadium. Tickets for both will go on sale to the general public next Monday.
A total of 5,000 of the tickets, which are on offer at €75 (Category 2 seats) and €99 (Category 1 seats), will be available to previous Heineken Cup final early purchasers this afternoon. The public allocation for both 2013 finals will go on sale on Monday, May 21st at 12.00 noon with full details on www.ercrugby.com
Research following the Cardiff 2011 finals showed that the economic impact to the Welsh capital from the 83,000 fans who attended the games amounted to €30 million. It is the third successive year that a city will host both European rugby finals following Cardiff (2011) and London (Twickenham and The Stoop, 2012).
The research also demonstrated that over 84% of fans who attended the finals were from outside Wales with 61% staying at least one night in the host city, while those who attended both finals stayed even longer.
With both 2013 finals being played in close proximity, up to 70,000 supporters will have the opportunity to visit the city and savour what has become a captivating weekend festival of European club rugby.
Next year will be the third occasion that the Heineken Cup final has been staged in Dublin, and with Leinster and Ulster meeting in Saturday’s historic showdown at Twickenham, there is certain to be an Irish name on the trophy when the final returns to the capital in 12 months.
Next year will be the first time that Dublin has hosted the Amlin Challenge Cup final. The tournament which features clubs from up to eight European countries could see an Irish involvement in the knockout stages as every season three Heineken Cup clubs qualify for the Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-finals.
“The decision of the ERC Board to stage both the Heineken Cup and the Amlin Challenge Cup finals in Dublin reflects the hugely positive impact Irish clubs and fans have had on European club rugby,” said ERC Chief Executive, Derek McGrath.
“ERC has already begun working with Fáilte Ireland, the IRFU and our local partners to ensure that the ten thousands of supports who will visit the city will enjoy a hugely positive experience of everything Dublin has to offer.”
ERC, with the support of Fáilte Ireland, has further incentivised loyal fans of European club rugby by offering a special value ‘Dublin 2013 Golden Ticket’ package for next year’s finals weekend which includes admission to both the Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup finals as well as a one-day Dublin Pass which gives the user free access to over 30 tourist attractions in the capital.
Speaking at the event Keith McCormack, Head of Events at Fáilte Ireland, said: “As the national tourism authority we are delighted to be working with ERC to ensure that Dublin takes full advantage of this promotional opportunity and we will be doing everything we can to encourage more people to not only come for the rugby but to spend a few days discovering all that the city has to offer.”
2013 ERC Finals
Friday, May 17th, 2013:Amlin Challenge Cup final, RDS, Dublin
Saturday, May 18th, 2013:Heineken Cup final, Aviva Stadium, Dublin
