Bristol Bears set new Ashton Gate Stadium record with sold-out 2019/20 season opener

Bristol Bears set new Ashton Gate Stadium record with sold-out 2019/20 season opener

Posted on: 15 Oct 2019

Bristol Bears' hotly-anticipated 2019/20 Gallagher Premiership opener is set to welcome the biggest crowd Ashton Gate Stadium has ever seen.

Ashton Gate Stadium in Bristol.

In a like-for-like repeat of the first fixture of their last campaign, Bristol Bears are getting ready to welcome local rivals Bath Rugby to Ashton Gate Stadium this Friday to kickstart the 2019/20 Premiership season.

 

In what was always predicted to be a sell-out between the neighbouring cities, the Bears-Bath matchup has been confirmed as the highest-selling sporting event Ashton Gate Stadium has ever hosted, with 26,399 spectators and more than 1,600 hospitality clients expected to attend.

 

The official figures surpass the previous record of 26,088, set by Bristol City FC's famous League Cup victory over Manchester United in late 2017.

 

 

The two sides played an identical match on the first day of the 2018/19 season, when then-newcomers Bristol marked their return to the top flight with a 17-10 victory over their opponents courtesy of a try from Alapati Leiua and four Ian Madigan penalties.

 

Pat Lam's side will certainly be looking to notch a similar scoreline when the two sides meet again on Friday night in front of a sell-out home crowd. A first win would be a huge psychological boost in the Bears' bid to get their 2019/20 campaign off to a strong start, improving on last season's ninth-placed finish.

 

Tickets for Bristol Bears vs Bath Rugby are now sold out, but you can get your tickets now for their next home fixture against Sale Sharks on Friday 1 November. Find out more and get your tickets here.

Article by:

Matt Robson

 

Editor - 365Bristol.com & LOUD Magazine
 

Matt is a Journalism graduate and writer, passionate about supporting Bristol music, art and independent business. Get in touch via email at matt@365bristol.com.