Magners League Official Website : Last Stradey Park games announced

Last Stradey Park games announced

22 July 2008, 10:39 am

By Jonathan McConnell

The Llanelli Scarlets will only play three more games at Stradey Park in 2008 following the confirmation of next season's fixtures - with the September game against Connacht the last Magners League game at the famous stadium.

The last three ever games to be played at the world famous ground will be:

Weekend 12th/13th September Scarlets v Connacht in the Magners League
October 11th Scarlets v Harlequins in the Heineken Cup
Weekend 25th October Scarlets v Bristol in the EDF Energy Cup

Tickets for these final three matches are expected to be in high demand therefore Scarlets management have announced that it will give priority options to purchase additional seats for these matches to season ticket holders for next season. There are currently more than 2,500 Scarlets season ticket holders already signed-up.

Chief Executive Stuart Gallacher said: "These last ever games at Stradey Park will mark the end of nearly 130 years of the Llanelli Scarlets at our world-famous ground. It will be a piece of history in the making and will be a memorable and emotional occasion for everyone involved - our supporters, our staff, our players and coaching team.

"I am sure the rugby community across the globe will be watching us mark at the end of this chapter - Stradey Park is known throughout the world - it will be an amazing atmosphere, no doubt.

The Scarlets are currently planning details for the closing ceremony to mark the last ever game with an intention to recall and honour some of the greatest moments in the region's colourful heritage at its Stradey Park home. More information will be released in the autumn.

Gareth Davies, Managing Director of the Scarlets said: "The interest in these games will be unprecedented and needs to be planned and managed - therefore we may not be in a position to offer walk-up tickets for these games. Our debenture members and season ticket holders will be given first refusal on pairs of tickets for these final three matches."

The Scarlets will be moving into their new stadium 'Parc y Scarlets' at the end of November 2008 and in order to achieve their safety certificate (standard practice for all new stadia) they will hold three reduced capacity 'proving' matches in succession with increasing spectator numbers at each.

It is expected that the first game will be a semi-professional game with Llanelli RFC for a crowd of 2,500 building up to the third game which is likely to be Scarlets against Ulster in the Heineken Cup for a maximum crowd of 11,250. The full capacity of the new stadium is 15,000.

Gareth Davies said: "Those bought into season tickets or debentures for this year and next will be getting fantastic value for money by seeing the last ever matches at Stradey Park and the first ever at Parc y Scarlets - this is a one in a lifetime chance to be part of a huge chapter in the Scarlets history."