Ticket price shock for Bulls v Ulster clash
LISTEN as Martin Bester, on Jacaranda FM’s breakfast show, convinces Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White to drastically reduce ticket prices for Saturday's United Rugby Championship showdown with Ulster.
It resulted in White being called into the CEO's office.
The Bulls are targeting a record match attendance figure in the URC this season when they face Ulster at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
The Pretoria side is reducing the price of tickets to just R25 (£1.30) in a bit to attract fans to Loftus Versfeld.
The highest attendance figure in the competition this season after the Bulls’ visit to Aviva Stadium last September, where just over 19 000 spectators were in attendance.
In a press release, the Bulls joked that "White was summoned to the CEO’s office on Tuesday after committing to a ticket price drop for his side’s United Rugby Championship match against Irish giants, Ulster, at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday… and he was given a pat on the back".
White revealed the news in a live radio interview with Martin Bester on Jacaranda FM’s breakfast show.
(Continue below ...)
"We are hoping to get a big crowd. The government has given us the go-ahead to open up to 50 percent of the capacity, which is 25 000 for us at Loftus. Hopefully, we will try to get those numbers up this weekend," White initially shared.
"Let’s make sure that we get 25 000 people at Loftus. I’m committing that we’ll make it start from R25 a ticket, and we are hoping that all the schools, clubs and supporters of rugby in the area will come.
"I’m looking forward to seeing the crowd back. I don’t see a reason why this cannot be achieved. I’ve met a lot of Bulls supporters who have been saying they want to come to watch the team. I’m sure this will be a great initiative. If we can get 25 000 at the stadium, it will just show how much we love our rugby."
Bulls CEO Edgar Rathbone said: "This is unheard of. Where in the world have you seen a premier match between two sides which so much history and accolades opening their stadium at such low ticket prices."
He added: "This is the least we can offer our supporters who have stood by us for a long time. We at the Bulls back the decision made by coach Jake White in an effort to get fans back in their numbers at our sporting venues.
"We are looking forward to seeing the Loftus faithful flocking the stadium this Saturday and witnessing top quality rugby in a premier competition like the URC."