‘NO ALCOHOL’ ZONE TO STAY
STADIUM PLANS:
WALES’ rugby internationals at the Principality Stadium will have a permanent alcohol-free zone, it has been confirmed.
A total of 4,200 seats behind the posts in the North Stand have been part of a trial, with fans unable to take in alcoholic drinks in one of the biggest changes for Welsh rugby matches in recent years.
Now it’s been confirmed the zone is here to stay after rugby bosses reflected on the trial’s results.
The experiment first got under way for Wales’ 2018 autumn internationals,
the move following on from a number of alcohol-related incidents of anti-social behaviour.
It was in place for all four of those autumn fixtures, Judgement Day events last year and this year, and had already been confirmed for Wales’ Rugby World Cup warm-ups against England and Ireland in August. It wasn’t in place for the Six Nations games against England and Ireland which took place in February and March, due to the feeling that sold-out matches reveal less about buying choices. The trial was also ongoing when tickets for this year’s tournament were on sale.
The Welsh Rugby Union says the alcohol-free zone will now be upgraded and enhanced as it becomes a permanent feature at all WRU-owned events at the stadium, starting with Wales’ clash with the Barbarians in November.
The alcohol-free zone will then be in place for the home games in the 2020 Six Nations title defence against Italy, France and Scotland, the first time in the Championship.
Existing debenture holders will also be offered the opportunity to relocate to the new area, while further investment in the zone’s infrastructure is planned.
The WRU announcement was made as tickets for next year’s Six Nations games and November’s Wales v Barbarians match go on sale at Welsh rugby clubs, before a public sale of any remaining tickets in September.