Kingspan Stadium to host Guinness Pro12 final

[ratpack]

On the face of it, it does look like a daft decision.

However, if you cast your mind back about 14 years ago when the then ERC decided to announce that the 2001/2HEC final would be in Cardiff irrespective of who was in the final and people said that was daft, yet they still got a full house for that final. The thinking there was that they had to do it in order to grow the tournament. Yes they got burned the following season when the final was in Dublin and Toulouse and Perpignan contested the final, but that was the only year they got egg on their faces.

The thinking being that in order to make the final into a really big deal it needs to be at a predetermined venue. It's easier to promote the final as an event if you take this approach rather than having the usual two week timeframe to sell out the fixture.

[meinster]

This makes no sense at all.

Amen to that. Unnecessarily unfair on Glasgow and Ospreys, especially so late in the season.

Whatever the merits of the move to pre-determined location (I'm not convinced!), why change it now and, instead, announce it now for next year.

[desperado]

mad.

[Edna Kenny]

It would be interesting to know how long ago this was proposed. Presumably they have been working on this for some time if there was a tender process. The pro 12 rules (still on their own web site) state.

3.7. The Guinness PRO12 Final is provisionally scheduled to take place on the weekend of 29/30 May. Guinness PRO12 will determine the venue for the Guinness PRO12 Final however the Team that finished highest in the league stage competing in the Final will be able to propose a venue within its own Union's jurisdiction (which may include the team's own ground) to host the Guinness PRO12 Final, provided that the venue meets certain commercial criteria and has capacity for a minimum of 18,000 spectators

[meinster]

The thinking being that in order to make the final into a really big deal it needs to be at a predetermined venue. It's easier to promote the final as an event if you take this approach rather than having the usual two week timeframe to sell out the fixture.

The flip-side of that is the competition is a much lower profile competition, and there are less teams in contention each year (which leads to less of the "we'll go anyway" club tradition in ERC).

It would still be much harder to sell Glasgow v Ospreys in Kingspan with 14 months (it it was announced now for 2016 final) than the same fixture in Liberty with 2 weeks.

In fairness, Ravenhill will get a decent crowd of neutral locals (a lot more so than any Scottish/Welsh venue), but still .. this is all very hastily organised.

[fourthirtythree]

I'd book it for the RDS / Lansdowne probably. Cheap seats mind. But I wouldn't travel. And we used to book ERC final tickets whether we had any real hope of getting there or not.

[simonokeeffe]

league semis especially but also final have not had great attendences for the most part

decision seems a bit daft alright and would be unfair IMO for 1st place team to be possibly away to 3rd place team in a final say

Once idea was formed had to be in Ireland though, Belfast has some semblance of neutrality, short hop to Glasgow and good cultural links, 90 minute drive to Dublin, gives Munster fans something to complain about (unless extra flights put on)

not sure how many locals/neutrals will go

[rooster]

The league is only really getting going now so I would have thought it was better keeping the format the same as before. Wonder if they'll try and do like the Heineken Cup and sell tickets well in advance? I think the reward of a home semi and final for the team finishing top is just reward, it should be weighted in favour of the team finishing top.

The tickets are on sale from next Tuesday!!!

They are actually on sale to season ticket holders here from Monday and we can buy up to 4 per season ticket ! This could all end in tears.

[rooster]

The theory driving it is actually the timing of the Euro super duper cup and the resulting log jam of knockout fixtures very close together.

[simonokeeffe]

The theory driving it is actually the timing of the Euro super duper cup and the resulting log jam of knockout fixtures very close together.

not a hope in hell of pro12 team in the European final though

[johng]

The theory driving it is actually the timing of the Euro super duper cup and the resulting log jam of knockout fixtures very close together.

not a hope in hell of pro12 team in the European final though

Point is, Pro12 semi is now only a week before the final whereas previously it was 2 weeks (with the HC final in between). You can't sell a final in a week (and organise it, and market it etc.etc.) It was a struggle in 2.

Therefore we have to nominate a venue. Apparently Glasgow and Ulster were the only 2 bids. Not sure where Glasgow were going to put it as Scotst'n is too small.

[ratpack]

The theory driving it is actually the timing of the Euro super duper cup and the resulting log jam of knockout fixtures very close together.

not a hope in hell of pro12 team in the European final though

Point is, Pro12 semi is now only a week before the final whereas previously it was 2 weeks (with the HC final in between). You can't sell a final in a week (and organise it, and market it etc.etc.) It was a struggle in 2.

Therefore we have to nominate a venue. Apparently Glasgow and Ulster were the only 2 bids. Not sure where Glasgow were going to put it as Scotst'n is too small.

For the Glasgow Sevens it's much bigger though isn't it?? Perhaps that's what they were planning?

[kermischocolate]

[
Therefore we have to nominate a venue. Apparently Glasgow and Ulster were the only 2 bids. Not sure where Glasgow were going to put it as Scotst'n is too small.

For the Glasgow Sevens it's much bigger though isn't it?? Perhaps that's what they were planning?

Max is usually 15000 for the 7s so still too small.

Rumour here was the Scotland v Tonga AI was in Kilmarnock with a view to any potential Glasgow home semi/ final. By all accounts the SRU thought it went very well.

[kermischocolate]

The tickets are on sale from next Tuesday!!!

They are actually on sale to season ticket holders here from Monday and we can buy up to 4 per season ticket ! This could all end in tears.[/quote]

How many STHs do Ulster have please?

[rooster]

10.5 k season in Ulster

[footrush]

The league is only really getting going now so I would have thought it was better keeping the format the same as before. Wonder if they'll try and do like the Heineken Cup and sell tickets well in advance? I think the reward of a home semi and final for the team finishing top is just reward, it should be weighted in favour of the team finishing top.

The tickets are on sale from next Tuesday!!!

They are actually on sale to season ticket holders here from Monday and we can buy up to 4 per season ticket ! This could all end in tears.

+ 1

[neiliog93]

There\s a big difference between a European final and a Celtic League final, though.

[kermischocolate]

There\s a big difference between a European final and a Celtic League final, though.

Chances are in a European final you have 2 teams who haven't played each other that season. Or they are the top 2 teams in Europe and good for a neutral to watch.

My issue is the way they've done it- at least pick a neutral venue and don't completely nullify what teams are playing for half way through the season!

[simonokeeffe]

The theory driving it is actually the timing of the Euro super duper cup and the resulting log jam of knockout fixtures very close together.

not a hope in hell of pro12 team in the European final though

Point is, Pro12 semi is now only a week before the final whereas previously it was 2 weeks (with the HC final in between). You can't sell a final in a week (and organise it, and market it etc.etc.) It was a struggle in 2.

Therefore we have to nominate a venue. Apparently Glasgow and Ulster were the only 2 bids. Not sure where Glasgow were going to put it as Scotst'n is too small.

pro12 semis week before pro12 final?

[artaneboy]

The theory driving it is actually the timing of the Euro super duper cup and the resulting log jam of knockout fixtures very close together.

not a hope in hell of pro12 team in the European final though

Point is, Pro12 semi is now only a week before the final whereas previously it was 2 weeks (with the HC final in between). You can't sell a final in a week (and organise it, and market it etc.etc.) It was a struggle in 2.

Therefore we have to nominate a venue. Apparently Glasgow and Ulster were the only 2 bids. Not sure where Glasgow were going to put it as Scotst'n is too small.

Hampden Park? Very big- but might have worked if it was Glasgow and Ulster/ Leinster.....