Scottish Rugby Thrilled By Heineken Cup Ticket Sales

The 2009 Heineken Cup Final, which will be staged at Murrayfield Stadium, is currently the fastest selling final in the tournament’s 14 year history. That announcement was made at Murrayfield today at a media conference to launch this season’s competition, which kicks-off this weekend.The 2009 Heineken Cup Final, which will be staged at Murrayfield Stadium, is currently the fastest selling final in the tournament’s 14 year history. That announcement was made at Murrayfield today at a media conference to launch this season’s competition, which kicks-off this weekend. ERC Chairman Jean-Pierre Lux said that already 17,350 tickets had been sold for the final when the tournament reaches its climax in Edinburgh next May. He went on: We’ve had a record-breaking start to our sales campaign for the 2009 Heineken Cup Final and our research proves that once the tournament action kicks-off more and more people begin to think about securing their place at the final. Scottish Rugby’s Chief Executive Gordon McKie said: We are delighted at this terrific early demand for tickets. The Heineken Cup has grown in stature and popularity in recent years. It is a world-class event and we are honoured the final is returning to Edinburgh for the first time in four years. In 2005, a crowd of more than 51,000 saw Toulouse beat Stade Francais Paris 18-12 after extra-time in an all-French final. That final was widely regarded as the most successful tournament to that point in engaging with supporters and bringing on board partners to promote the final as an event in itself. Our target for the 2009 final must be to deliver another big crowd and produce with our partners the best ever Heineken Cup final, McKie added. Scottish Rugby is working with ERC, VisitScotland, EventScotland and the City of Edinburgh Council, on the 2009 Final. Paul Bush, Chief Operating Officer of EventScotland, said: Edinburgh’s hosting of the Heineken Cup Final in 2005 was a huge success so we look forward to welcoming the showpiece finale of Europe’s premier club competition back to Murrayfield Stadium next year. Having the final at Murrayfield adds further credibility to Scotland’s growing reputation as a destination for major events, providing a further boost to our achievements in hosting major events. Next year’s final, over the weekend of 23 or 24 May, at the 67,000 capacity Murrayfield, will see the combined attendance at the 14 Heineken Cup finals break-through the 750,000 barrier.