Prem Rugby team ditch Big Game fixture at Premier League ground
Prem Rugby club Gloucester have cancelled a planned fixture at Aston Villa’s Villa Park after its inaugural staging last season was criticised by fans. A Slater Cup fixture between Gloucester and Leicester Tigers was held at the Premier League ground last season, with a number of discounted tickets helping the attendance top 20,000 – around [...]
Premiership Rugby club Gloucester has called off a planned match at Aston Villa's Villa Park, following a negative fan response to the event last season. The Slater Cup fixture against Leicester Tigers at Villa Park last year drew over 20,000 attendees, roughly half the capacity of the West Midlands stadium. However, Gloucester decided to revert the annual game to their own Kingsholm Stadium after a thorough review, considering feedback from supporters and stakeholders.
The decision was also influenced by substantial stadium redevelopment projects at Villa Park, including a £100 million expansion of the North Stand aimed at boosting the venue's capacity to over 50,000 by 2028, in preparation for the European Championships. The club's CEO, Alex Brown, acknowledged that the Villa Park experience provided valuable insights into the benefits of hosting big games, such as expanding reach, attracting new audiences, and strengthening Gloucester Rugby's position.
Despite these benefits, the club focuses on delivering an optimal matchday experience at Kingsholm while exploring opportunities that could support the club's long-term growth, potentially involving future big games. This season, Big Games are scheduled to take place at three major stadiums: Harlequins will host at Twickenham's Allianz Stadium, Bristol Bears at Cardiff's Principality Stadium, and Saracens at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Written by urgent.news from City AM's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
