Why We Have Decided To Close Off The South Stand

A New Season for the Ospreys & Liberty Stadium

The Ospreys have just released details of the Season Tickets for next season and feel it is appropriate that they explain in more detail the reason for certain changes from last season.

In essence, the management, having spent the last 12 months in consultation with the Stadium Management company, the supporters, our commercial partners and broadcasters reviewing the operation, have made changes that they believe are in the interests of all concerned.

Significant steps have been taken to accommodate affordable seating in this magnificent stadium and the new prices reflect the managements wishes to make the stadium the most lively venue in which to experience top class rugby.

This has resulted in both a reconfiguration and removal of certain Season ticket categories, replaced by new categories at reduced prices, details of which have been outlined with the new Application forms. This will see us filling the West and East stands as a priority. Although there were some notable attendances last season -- Wasps, Cardiff, Leicester and the Scarlets, last year we averaged just under 9,000 across all fixtures. Unless we exceed 12,000, we can accommodate everyone within the West and East Stands. There were occasions, especially with the less well attended matches, that the crowd was spread far apart, diluting the overall atmosphere, but in addition adding unnecessary costs to the running of the stadium on match days.

This new configuration will help to ensure a more compacted stadium, enhancing the atmosphere and the general appeal, but also within controllable costs.

In doing so, the following should be noted:

• No Season tickets will be issued in the South Stand for next season.

• No tickets will be sold in the South Stand, unless capacity for any match exceeds 12,000.

• This move will also provide a more sustainable/controlled financial model for the Ospreys and Liberty Stadium.

• Concentrating the crowd within the television camera view (East Stand) will improve the overall visibility/look of the venue, which in turn will improve the commercial 'feel' of the venue/Ospreys. Increasing commercial revenue will improve the Ospreys long term viability and in our ability to develop the Ospreys Academy for player development, but also ensure that we are able to secure services of professional players from around the world.

• We have introduced a number of initiatives that will benefit our supporters, again to improve the match day experience, details of this summarised on the Schedule of benefits supplied.