European Rugby Cup : Cardiff 2008 Heineken Cup final sales top 36,000

Cardiff's Millennium Stadium

Cardiff 2008 Heineken Cup final sales top 36,000

22 January 2008, 3:42 pm

Over 36,000 tickets have been sold for the 13th Heineken Cup final being played at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday, 24 May (5.00 pm).

The confirmation of the quarter-finalists after last weekend's Round 6 matches - including Welsh regions Cardiff Blues and the Ospreys - produced a surge of more than 5,000 tickets being snapped up within hours of the teams booking their places in the knock-out stages.

And, with 15,000 tickets reserved to be shared between the finalists - along with allocations to partners, hospitality and stakeholder distribution - less than 10,000 are left for public sale.

"We are delighted with the advance sales for the final in May," said ERC Chairman Jean-Pierre Lux. "We have already staged four hugely successful finals in the City of Cardiff and it is exciting for the eight clubs still in the tournament to be aiming to play at the magnificent home of Welsh rugby.

"Following on from the successful partnership model adopted for Cardiff 2006 final two years ago, ERC will be working in partnership with the WRU, Millennium Stadium, Welsh Assembly Government and Cardiff Council to create a festival of European Rugby for the Cardiff 2008 Heineken Cup final weekend.

"We had a world record crowd for a Rugby Union club match of 81,076 to see London Wasps beat Leicester Tigers last May with fans from all over Europe creating a wonderful atmosphere. Working with the WRU we are once again setting a full house at the Millennium Stadium and another memorable occasion as our target for Saturday, 24 May."

Tickets are on sale through Ticketmaster (UK tel: 08448471530, outside UK 0044 208 6165111 and through www.ticketmaster.co.uk). Tickets are priced at £20, £35, £45 and £55 with concession prices for juniors at £22, £24, £32 (booking fee applies).

2006 HEINEKEN CUP FINAL "WORTH" OVER £25 MILLION TO WALES

The 2006 Heineken Cup between Munster and Biarritz Olympique at the Millennium Stadium had an economic impact of over £25 million on the Welsh economy.

Research produced by the Welsh Economy Research Unit, part of Cardiff Business School, reported that Cardiff had benefited by £17.7 million and the rest of Wales by £7.4 million.
The report on the 2006 Heineken Cup final declares it "can be considered the most important single day event at the stadium to date in terms of spectator impact."