By Cherry Picker
January 23 2008
Gloucester have been offered the chance to play their Heineken Cup quarter-final against Munster at a bigger stadium. The game is due to be played on the weekend of Apil 5, and it’s sure to pack Kingsholm if it is played there. But a larger corwd would mean more money for Glaws and for the game. Coventry's Ricoh Arena is one possible alternative venue.
All Gloucester’s fans will want to see the game, and Munster have a massive following who will be keen to see the game. They have switched a game to Lansdowne Road in the past.
John Corcoran, the ERC Communications Manager, says: : "When a club has earned the right to have a home quarter-final, which is an achievement in itself, it is down to them where they play.
"We do encourage the clubs to consider larger venues and incentivise that."We will be talking to Gloucester regarding the requirements and facilities, but it is entirely their decision."
The incentive is that if Glaws switch the game, they would get 65 per cent of the gate revenue, as opposed to a 50-50 split if they opt to stay at Kingsholm.
Both Leicester and Biarritz have moved to larger stadiums in recent years, the Tigers filling the Walkers Stadium with 32,500 fans.
Glaws will discuss the possible move later, when they will also consider where they could move the game to.
Meanwhile, Glaws have confirmed that skipper Marco Bortolami (right) has suffered a double fracture to his left eye socket. Doctors in Italy are deciding whether he needs surgery, but he will probably be out for up to six weeks. However, this would mean him missing only one extra Glaws game as he is in the Italy six nations squad. Glaws coach Dean Ryan said told the Citizen: “At this stage of a very demanding season you pick up injuries but this is a significant blow alongside the injury we have already suffered to Alex Brown. “We will monitor the situation and at this stage we have not decided whether we need to look for a short-term replacement but it is an option we will consider when we know the full extent of Marco’s injury.” |