Rugby / Bristol Bears
Bristol Bears to play home game in Cardiff next season
Bristol Bears will make history in 2025 when they become the first Premiership rugby club to host a game in Wales.
The unique Bristol ‘home’ fixture will take place in Cardiff on the afternoon of Saturday, May 10 against an opposition to be confirmed when the 2024/25 fixtures are announced.
It seems most likely that the opponents will be West Country rivals Bath or Gloucester.
What we do know is that Pat Lam’s men will be playing at the 75,000-capacity Principality Stadium instead of the 27,000-capacity Ashton Gate in what the club are calling the ‘Big Day Out’.
It’s an attempt to replicate the success of Harlequins’ Big Game at Twickenham and Saracens’ Showdown at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
And money is also a reason, with Bears saying that the Big Day Out “is a key component to become financially sustainable”.
In a statement, Bears said: “By taking a home game to a 75,000-capacity international stadium, we will deliver a world-class event to help us reach new audiences and grow our commercial revenue.
“Moving the fixture to the Principality Stadium – and become the first Premiership club to host a game in Wales – aligns to Premiership Rugby’s ‘Big Game’ strategy and follows in the footsteps of Harlequins and Saracens, who have staged commercially successful events at alternative stadiums.
“This fixture is a key component to become financially sustainable.”
Tickets to the match will go on sale on July 23 from £25 for adults and £10 for under-12s, with the club providing coaches for supporters from Bristol to the Welsh capital.
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