Rugby / Bristol Bears
Near sell-out crowd expected at Ashton Gate for Bristol Bears vs Bath
The sports bar at Ashton Gate Stadium opens at 4pm ahead of Friday night’s game versus Bath, with live music in the fan village from 6.15pm before kick-off at 7.45pm in front of what could almost be a sell-out crowd.
Hopefully the post-match entertainment in the Lansdown Stand concourse will have a celebratory feel to it.
It will not just be West Country bragging rights at stake. Both Bristol and Bath have had winless starts to the Premiership campaign, with Bristol hoping to reignite some of the flair that has seen them beat Bath at home for the previous two seasons.
Ashton Gate managing director, Mark Kelly, said that Friday’s derby will be a “huge occasion” as the stadium could return to close to full capacity for the first time since coronavirus restrictions were lifted.
“It’s brilliant, it’s great, not just for us at Ashton Gate and Bristol Sport but also for Bristol as a city, to bring this energy back in,” Kelly told Bears TV.
Kelly said that he is excited to see Bears fans being able to return to Ashton Gate under the lights.
He added: “I want everybody, no matter where they’re sat, to have a great time. To be able to get to the bars, to buy a drink, to get to the store, to buy a shirt, to make sure we have the right kit in stock.
“It’s all very important to us and we work incredibly hard behind the scenes to make sure we can facilitate that.”
Main photo: JMP
Read more: Breakfast With Bristol24/7: Mark Kelly
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