Connacht Rugby is to retain the unique atmosphere of the Sportsground for its first-ever knock out game in the Heineken Cup, Against Leinster in April.
The two-leg tie will see Connacht stay at home in front of a capacity crowd of 8,000 before then travelling to Dublin for the return.
No decision has been made yet on whether Leinster will switch from the RDS to the Aviva Stadium and add another 34,000 to the potential capacity for fans.
The games will come off the back of what will hopefully be a successful Guinness Six nations for Ireland.
“Fundamentally for us, we love playing in the Sportsground and the atmosphere that’s generated there,” said senior coach Pete Wilkins.
The likelihood is that the game would attract multiple of those who will be able to be there.
Depending on the timings of matches and the broadcast arrangements it may be possible to create a fan zone with big-screen access to ramp up the excitement across the city for what should be a very special occasion, and an opportunity to copper fasten Connacht Rugby’s engagement with fans both old and new.
Sport for Business Perspective
There’d be more short term money from switching but the long term benefit of creating a memory that will potentially last for generations is one that Connacht management have clearly seen the benefit of and good luck to them.
