Fans started queuing outside Stadium headquarters on Westgate Street in Cardiff from 7am this morning to claim their allocation. In addition, the tickets provided to each of the Union’s 241-member clubs have also already been taken by rugby fans.
Rugby clubs throughout Wales received their free tickets this morning and, although demand for access to see Stereophonics, Feeder, Rhydian, Heather Small and other stars serenade Warren Gatland’s Grand Slam heroes, was always expected to outstrip supply, organisers have been impressed with the success of the initiative.
WRU Audio: Listen to interview with Gwyn Dolphin
“The response to our free invitation to the Wales’s Grand Slam Celebration has been outstanding with literally hundreds of fans turning up in the early hours of the morning in Cardiff alone in a bid to take up the offer to join the party,” said Millennium Stadium Head of Commercial Gwyn Dolphin.
“Every rugby club in Wales also had an allocation to offer to their fans as they saw fit and distribution was limited to personal callers only with a limit of six tickets per individual with the specific intention of encouraging rugby fans to engage with their local clubs.
“Millennium Stadium ticket office staff have been taking names and registrations from every fan who missed out on a ticket this morning and every effort will be made to get back to these individuals should any more tickets become available, although this is unlikely at this time.
“We would like to thank every fan in Wales for the tremendous show of support on display for Warren Gatland and his men and point everyone towards another event – Shane’s Game – featuring many of Gatland’s stars to be hosted by the Millennium Stadium tomorrow.”
Shane’s Game starts at 1.15pm on Saturday and is part of a day of top class sport at the Millennium Stadium which also takes in a live big screen showing of Cardiff City’s historic appearance in the FA Cup Final at 3pm followed by the final of Welsh rugby’s own showpiece club tournament the Konica Minolta Cup – contested between Neath and Pontypridd at 6.00pm.
The tickets also come with special entrance and exit passes which allow fans to leave and revisit the Stadium during the day at their leisure priced at £25, £15 and £10 for Under 16s available now from Ticketline on 02920 230 130 – Gates open at 11am.
Fans wishing to find out more about Shane Williams’s testimonial year can visit his personal website at http://www.shanewilliamstestimonial.com/.
“There are still plenty of tickets available for Shane’s Game in the morning with the chance to see two Grand Slam winning coaches Mike Ruddock and Gatland go head to head with most of the 2008 side on show,” added Dolphin.
“Capacity for that event is at the full 72,500 Millennium Stadium limit for a sporting event in contrast to the 20,000 concert arena capacity for the Grand Slam Celebration Party.
“With the Millennium Stadium pitch still in and the virtual studio format of the party, enabling it to feature bands and singers plus a series of live interviews with Gatland’s stars, the capacity must be restricted in order to ensure the quality of every fan’s experience is maintained.”
A list of the regions and clubs which have been allocating the free tickets alongside the Millennium Stadium for the Grand Slam ’08 Champions’ Celebration from Friday is:
Cardiff Blues, Newport Gwent Dragons, Ospreys, Llanelli Scarlets, Aberaeron, Aberavon Green Stars, Aberavon Quins, Aberavon, Abercarn, Abercrave, Abercwmboi, Abercynon, Aberdare, Abergavenny, Abertillery, Aberystwyth, Aberystwyth University, Alltwen, Amman United, Ammanford, Baglan, Bala, Bangor, Normal College, Bangor, Bangor University, Banwen, Bargoed, Barry, Beddau, Bedlinog, Bedwas, Bethesda, Bettws, Betws, Birchgrove, Blackwood, Blaenavon, Blaengarw, Blaina, Bonymaen, BP Llandarcy, Brecon, Bridgend Athletic, Bridgend, Bridgend Sports, Briton Ferry, Brynamman, Bryncoch, Brynithel, Brynmawr, Builth Wells, Burry Port, Bynea, Caernarvon, Caerphilly, Caldicot, Canton, Cardiff HSOB Quins, Cardiff Medicals, Cardiff, Cardiff University, Cardigan, Carmarthen Athletic, Carmarthen College, Carmarthen Quins, Cefn Coed, Cefn Cribbwr, Cefneithen, Chepstow, Cilfynydd, Colwyn Bay, Corus (Port Talbot), Cowbridge, Croesyceiliog, Cross Keys, Crumlin, Crymych, Crynant, Cwmavon, Cwmbran, Cwmgors, Cwmgwrach, Cwmllynfell, Cwmtwrch, Denbigh, Deri, Dinas Powys, Dolgellau, Dowlais, Dunvant, Ebbw Vale, Fairwater, Felinfoel, Ferndale, Fishguard & Goodwick, Fleur de Lys, Furnace United, Garndiffaith, Gilfach Goch, Glais, Glamorgan Wanderers, Glyncorrwg, Glynneath, Gorseinon, Gowerton, Gwernyfed, Haverfordwest, Hendy, Heol y Cyw, Hirwaun, Kenfig Hill, Kidwelly, Lampeter College, Lampeter Town, Laugharne, Llandaff North, Llandaff, Llandeilo, Llandovery, Llandudno, Llandybie, Llanelli, Llanelli Wanderers, Langefni, Llangennech, Llangwm, Llanharan, Llanhilleth, Llanidloes, Llanishen, Llantrisant, Llantwit Fardre, Llantwit Major, Llanybydder, London Welsh, Loughor, Machen, Maesteg Celtic, Maesteg Harlequins, Maesteg, Merthyr, Milford Haven, Mold, Monmouth, Morriston, Mountain Ash, Mumbles, Nant Conwy, Nantyffyllon, Nantyglo, Nantymoel, Narberth, Neath Athletic, Neath, Nelson, New Dock Stars, New Tredegar, Newbridge, Newcastle Emlyn, Newport HSOB, Newport, Newport Saracens, Newtown, Neyland, Oakdale, Ogmore Vale, Old Illtydians, Old Penarthians, Pembroke Dock Quins, Pembroke, Penallta, Penarth, Penclawdd, Pencoed, Pentyrch, Penygraig, Penygroes, Pill Harriers, Pontardawe, Pontarddulais, Pontllanfraith, Pontyates, Pontyberem, Pontyclun, Pontycymmer, Pontypool, Pontypool United, Pontypridd, Porth Quins, Porthcawl, Pwllheli, Pyle, Resolven, Rhigos, Rhiwbina, Rhydyfelin, Rhyl, Rhymney, Risca, RTB Ebbw Vale, Rumney, Ruthin, Senghenydd, Seven Sisters, Skewen, South Wales Police, St Albans, St Clears, St David’s, St Joseph’s, St Peter’s, Swansea, Swansea University, Swansea Uplands, Taffs Well, Taibach, Talywain, Tenby United, Tondu, Tonmawr, Tonna, Tonyrefail, Trebanos, Tredegar Ironsides, Tredegar, Treherbert, Treorchy, Trimsaran, Trinant, Tumble, Tycroes, Tylorstown, Usk, UWIC, UWIN, Vardre, Waunarlwydd, Welshpool, Whitland, Wrexham, Ynysddu, Ynysybwl, Ystalyfera, Ystrad Rhondda, Ystradgynlais.
More details of the Grand Slam party will be announced in the days ahead. A full list of the current starting line-up is Stereophonics, Feeder, Heather Small and Rhydian Roberts. Every winning rugby club in the WRU leagues will also be represented alongside all WRU international Age group and Women’s teams.
