As the dust settles on Sunday's thrilling RaboDirect PRO12 Final win over Leinster in Dublin there was another significant boost for the Ospreys with the news that membership figures for next season have smashed through the all-time record figure with more than three months to go until the 2012/13 campaign gets underway.
Ospreys bosses have hailed the ‘unbelievable response’ to the season membership packages they launched less than six weeks ago, while captain Alun Wyn Jones says that the clear indication of support from the local community would give the whole team a ‘huge boost ahead of next season’.
Membership figures have this week edged towards 6,000, leaving behind the previous best figure of 5,493, a figure that dates back to the 2005/06 campaign - the first for the Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium - with the current figure almost a third up on the season that ended in such dramatic fashion at the weekend.
With 10 days still to go until the Earlybird Deadline on Monday 11th June, starting prices remain at just £165 for standard seating or £295 a seat in the premium area, and with the Ticket Office confirming that there has been no slowdown in business since day one of sales, the final figure is expected to continue rising over the coming weeks.
Ospreys Chief Operations Officer, Andrew Hore, commented:
“We’ve been truly blown away by the unbelievable response we’ve had with 1,000 memberships a week being issued since we launched. We’ve beaten the all-time highest season-ticket by the final day of May and with more than three months until the first game of our PRO12 defence.
“Traditionally the first weeks of June are our busiest period for season memberships in the lead up to the Earlybird Deadline when prices rise. Given the unprecedented demand for memberships this summer who knows what the final figure is going to be?
“Undoubtedly, the excitement and buzz around the region with our fantastic end of season run and a record fourth league title, combined with our forward thinking and innovative membership deals have created a real feel good factor as we look forward to next season. You get a feeling that the Liberty Stadium is going to be a great place to be on matchday next season.”
Skipper Alun Wyn Jones added:
“As a team we’ve been lifted by the support we’ve had from the fans during the end of season run-in, with big crowds creating great atmospheres. In Dublin on Sunday it was wonderful to see and hear so many Ospreys fans enjoying themselves. We are proud to represent them and honoured to be able to give them something special to celebrate.
“There’s nothing like running out at the Liberty to a big crowd. To hear that we will defend our title backed by record season membership numbers will give everyone at the Ospreys a huge boost ahead of next season.”