1. Match Update: The PRO12 is back in Belfast! Tonight Ulster face physical Italian opposition, Zebre in their first competitive home game of the season. Rory Best will captain the side and five of our nine new signings will experience the legendary atmosphere here on match nights for the first time. We would like to welcome a record number of season ticket holders back for another thrilling season of rugby. The team has been named, the turf has been marked. We are ready. Are you?
2. Ticket Update: A limited number of standing and seating tickets at the side of the pitch are available for tonight’s fixture against Zebre. If you and your friends would like to make last minute arrangements for this evening, why not purchase a ticket at the Ticket Booth, located on the Onslow Parade gate on the Ravenhill Road side of the ground.
If you purchased online tickets for this game that are to be collected, the Ticket Booth will be open from 6pm. For more ticket information you can visit the Ticket Office (located behind the Food Village in the reception of Head Office) from 6pm, during the match and 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Please note: Today is the last day that you can purchase a 2014/15 Season Tickets online and from the Ticket Office.
3. Ulster Rugby Values: We are proud that a night at Kingspan Stadium watching the Ulster Rugby team play is a safe, enjoyable, inclusive experience for people of any age. We have a number of traditions that we believe make our stadium one of the best places in Europe to watch live rugby.
Here are our Ulster Rugby values and we ask all our fans to support them throughout the season:
We are passionate in our support of the Ulster team.
We are silent during kicks at goal by both teams.
We respect the match officials’ decisions.
We drink responsibly.
We are mindful of our language, especially when there are children and young people near us.
We do not tolerate sectarian, homophobic or derogatory language.
We respect the opposition players, supporters, management and officials.
If you are attending a match at Kingspan Stadium and do have an issue, please contact your nearest steward. Following a game, you can email any observations, complaints or issues to standup@ulsterrugby.com. Thank you and enjoy the match.
4. Phoenix Dome: Tommy Bowe, Iain Henderson and Jared Payne will be signing autographs for fans from 6.15pm to 6.40pm in the new Phoenix Dome located in the centre of the Food Village. Fans are encouraged to get there early to grab a programme or free flag in the dome to get signed by the players. Declan Fitzpatrick, Stuart McCloskey and Peter Nelson will be there from 6.40pm to 7.10pm so there is plenty of time for a #ULSvZEB selfie!
5. Match Programme: The Ulster Rugby match programme will be on sale from 6pm in the stadium. The programme contains match information, player profiles, team sheets, partner competitions, local rugby news, OUR Club junior activities, a guest article by Rod Nawn and exclusive interviews with Roger Wilson and new signing Dave Ryan.
Hidden inside 60 of tonight’s match programmes are Slim’s Healthy Kitchen vouchers up to the value of £25.00.
6. Get a FREE issue of the NEW Digital Match Programme tonight: For those of you who can’t make it to the game and are watching from home or in the bar… why not download our brand new digital match programme on a one off trial basis. The programme contains exclusive video interviews and match footage as well as direct links to products and tickets – available from 6pm.
7. Travel Update: Why not try the Bus? For only £3.50 return, you can travel to Kingspan Stadium on Translink’s exclusive - Metro Rugby Bus. The Bus departs Europa Bus Centre 60 minutes before match kick-off and picks up at Chichester Street (SS Moore, 55 minutes before kick-off) and East Bridge Street (Central Station, 50 minutes before kick-off). Visit translink.co.uk for more information.
Park and Ride facilities are also in operation this weekend, located at Pirrie Park on the Ravenhill Road side of the ground and also on Montgomery Road along the Mount Merrion side of the ground (opposite Podium for Sport). There are plenty of car parking spaces available and free buses run constantly along these routes from 90 minutes prior to the game until 90 minutes after the final whistle.
8. Guinness Update: As Title Sponsor for the Guinness PRO12, fans will see Guinness available on draft in the main bars for all PRO12 matches only this season. Pints of Guinness will be priced at £4.20 whilst Ulster Rugby has secured a separate deal with our Official Stout partner, Murphy’s for just £3.80 a pint. Heineken will be priced at £4.00. Please drink responsibly.
9. Concession Update: Two new concession venues are now open at the rear of the Grandstand. The Clubhouse Kitchen is located beside Entrance Door 2 to the left of the Club House Bar and the Quarter Kitchen is located beside Entrance Door 4 to the left of the Heineken Quarter Bar. A selection of confectionery and soft drinks are available at both kitchen counters along with artisan pulled pork burgers, coffee and tray bakes.
10. Stadium Update: The PA system in the East Terrace is currently under repair, we apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and can assure you the system will be fully functional before the next fixture.
The stadium NO SMOKING restriction has been extended - smoking is now prohibited within the entire stadium bowl, this includes all terracing.
Please note that general admission to Kingspan Stadium outside of match night hours will be through the Mount Merrion Gate only from now on. This will apply to visitors to the Ticket Office and Kukri shop, who can access the gate between the current turnstiles on Mount Merrion Avenue and the Church of Ireland Church. The Sat. Nav. coordinates for this gate are N 54°34.635 W5°54.144.