26/01/2015

Kingspan To Host Guinness Pro12 Final

Kingspan Stadium has been selected as the venue for this year's Guinness Pro12 Final.

The venue, formerly known as Ravenhill, is home to Ulster Rugby.

Tickets for the game will go on general sale from Tuesday 3 February, through Ticketmaster and Ulster Rugby.

The final will take place in Belfast on Saturday 30 May, with kick-off at 6.30pm. It will be supported by title sponsor Guinness, and broadcast live by Sky Sports and other broadcast partners.

Announcing this year's 'destination final' at Kingspan Stadium, John Feehan, CEO of PRO12 Rugby, said: "Belfast is an inspiring host city and the new Kingspan Stadium is a state-of-the-art venue for the Guinness PRO12 Final.

"Given the development of the competition the time is right for a showcase event and we invited offers from all 12 clubs and their regions to host the Final.

"The tender from 'Team Belfast' was outstanding and was unanimously agreed as the chosen venue. Belfast excelled itself as the host city for our PRO12 season launch in 2013 and their plans for the city in the lead up to and around the Final are very exciting.

"We look forward to working with all our partners in staging a festival of rugby where fans from all four of our countries will enjoy a memorable Final and a great weekend in Belfast."

Belfast Lord Mayor, Councillor Nichola Mallon, added: "For Kingspan Stadium to be chosen to host the Guinness Pro12 final this year is fantastic news for our city.

"Having staged the Giro D'Italia and Carl Frampton's World Title fight in recent months, this final just adds to Belfast's growing reputation as a city of sport.

"Rugby fans coming in May will be given a warm welcome and I hope they get the chance to see everything Belfast has to offer."

Shane Logan, CEO of Ulster Rugby, commented: "We are extremely pleased that our bid to host the Guinness PRO12 Final was successful. Belfast is a vibrant sporting city and through NI Executive funding, Kingspan Stadium is now a state-of-the-art rugby stadium, fit to stage a game of this magnitude."

(JP/MH)

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