Fans back at Twickers!
ENGLAND PLAN FOR 20,000 AT BARBARIANS MATCH
RugBY is leading the way with the introduction of fans into stadiums as england announced they aim to accommodate up to 20,000 for their Barbarians match at Twickenham next month.
Crucially, the game is expected to earn the rFu around £1.5million although they aimed for £3m match-day revenue in June when originally they hoped around half the 82,000 capacity could attend.
Despite the downgrade due to public transport restrictions, the BaaBaas game on October 25 could be the best- attended sporting event in europe since march.
Concluding their current deal for england matches, Sky Sports will broadcast the game but as Sportsmail has previously reported they will have to bid again for the ‘eight Nations’ autumn Tests. Tickets are available to those who had seats for the postponed June match, then there will be a priority booking window for ‘ First XV’ members. if tickets remain they will go on public sale.
Top hospitality packages are up to £249 pererpermal
person and normal tickets are priceded at £50, £40 andd £ 20 with £ 10 children’s tickets as before.
The rFu will run a limitedcapacity test event before the Barbarians match.
rFu CeO BiBillll Sweeney said: ‘ We continue to workk closely with the government and the local authority on the return of sports fans to the stadium. The numbers of fans able to attend, given social distancing requirements, will be significantly lower than normal and subject to final agreement from government.’ england head coach eddie Jones added: ‘This game will be an important start to the autumn ffor us. We are excited to represent engengland. We will tratrain and prepare well and are looking forward to bbeing back at Twickenham Stadium.’ To manage the largest crowd seen for months there wiwill be stringent meameasures in place at TwTwickenham — from digdigital tickets, to the mandatory use of face masks when moving around the stadium, to ‘extensive queuing lanes’ outside the ground and a one-way system within it. While all this is subject to final
BATH approval from public health authorities, this weekend Premiership rugby will see its first match with fans present as 3,500 are due to be at Harlequins v Bath.
‘From a playing point of view it’s a positive reinforcement of the strides the club has made off the field,’ said Quins boss Paul gustard. ‘it can only be a positive that we’ve got a home fixture with 3,500 fans. it can be a factor towards a performance. We’re delighted.’
if the Quins match goes well other Premiership clubs are hoping to stage their own supported events.
Bristol are hoping for up to 9,000 fans at ashton gate for their european Challenge Cup quarter- final against Welsh region the Dragons on September 18.
as match-day revenue makes up a third of most clubs’ income they are desperate for a further return to normality.