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17/04/2013
Ulster Nominate RDS As 'Home' Stadium
Ulster Rugby has nominated the RDS Stadium in Dublin as its 'home' venue, should the team reach the RaboDirect PRO12 final on 25 May.
The move would see Ulster play as the 'home' side at the stadium, which hosts provincial rivals Leinster.
As one of five teams still in contention for a Play-Off place, Ulster had to nominate a venue to host the final.
Teams finishing in the top three positions can earn the right to host the RaboDirect PRO12 Final.
The Play-Off draw gives home draws to the top two teams (1 v 4 and 2 v 3) with the highest ranked survivors after the Play-Offs earning the right to host a 'home' final.
But the rules also say that the final venue must have a capacity in excess of 18,000.
With Ulster still awaiting the completion of a two-year development at Ravenhill in Belfast, it would not have been possible to host the game at the team's own ground.
When the work is complete next summer, the capacity at Ravenhill will be 18,200, making it capable of hosting a RaboDirect PRO12 final or Heineken Cup Quarter-Final.
If the final is played at the RDS, Ulster Rugby fans will be entitled to 50% of the tickets for the game.
If Ulster finish in first or second place in the RaboDirect PRO12, the Province will host a home Play-Off at Ravenhill.
Commenting on the decision to nominate the RDS as the 'home' venue, Ulster Rugby Chief Executive Shane Logan said: "While no-one is presuming that Ulster will be in a final, it is important that we and the organisers of the league prepare for every eventuality.
"Our primary focus is to have the two new stands open to welcome our loyal supporters at the start of the 2013/14 season. Our build is on time and on budget but it would not have been possible, without significant delay to our redevelopment project, to open the stands on a temporary basis for any potential RaboDirect PRO12 final.
"Therefore, in agreement with Celtic Rugby, we have nominated the RDS, with its capacity of 18,500, as the venue for a final involving Ulster as host club.
"If Ulster do make it to the final, I have no doubt that the RDS will be a fantastic location for the game and I hope that our supporters will travel there in huge numbers to back the team."
(IT/CD)
The move would see Ulster play as the 'home' side at the stadium, which hosts provincial rivals Leinster.
As one of five teams still in contention for a Play-Off place, Ulster had to nominate a venue to host the final.
Teams finishing in the top three positions can earn the right to host the RaboDirect PRO12 Final.
The Play-Off draw gives home draws to the top two teams (1 v 4 and 2 v 3) with the highest ranked survivors after the Play-Offs earning the right to host a 'home' final.
But the rules also say that the final venue must have a capacity in excess of 18,000.
With Ulster still awaiting the completion of a two-year development at Ravenhill in Belfast, it would not have been possible to host the game at the team's own ground.
When the work is complete next summer, the capacity at Ravenhill will be 18,200, making it capable of hosting a RaboDirect PRO12 final or Heineken Cup Quarter-Final.
If the final is played at the RDS, Ulster Rugby fans will be entitled to 50% of the tickets for the game.
If Ulster finish in first or second place in the RaboDirect PRO12, the Province will host a home Play-Off at Ravenhill.
Commenting on the decision to nominate the RDS as the 'home' venue, Ulster Rugby Chief Executive Shane Logan said: "While no-one is presuming that Ulster will be in a final, it is important that we and the organisers of the league prepare for every eventuality.
"Our primary focus is to have the two new stands open to welcome our loyal supporters at the start of the 2013/14 season. Our build is on time and on budget but it would not have been possible, without significant delay to our redevelopment project, to open the stands on a temporary basis for any potential RaboDirect PRO12 final.
"Therefore, in agreement with Celtic Rugby, we have nominated the RDS, with its capacity of 18,500, as the venue for a final involving Ulster as host club.
"If Ulster do make it to the final, I have no doubt that the RDS will be a fantastic location for the game and I hope that our supporters will travel there in huge numbers to back the team."
(IT/CD)
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