High prices hit Aviva attendance for Saints semi

Ticket sales for Leinster's Champions Cup semi-final clash with Northampton are well down on expectations.

- By MICHAEL SCULLY

Last year's encounter between the two clubs at the same stage of the competition drew a record 82,300 crowd to Croke Park for Leinster's 20-17 victory.

However, despite the province returning to the Aviva Stadium for their fifth straight semi-final in Europe, it is predicted that just over 30,000 will be in attendance for Saturday's meeting in a venue whose capacity is just under 52,000.

Despite the same three week run-in from the quarter-finals, ticket prices were raised this year by EPCR, the tournament organisers — although a number of €45 tickets went on sale last year.

Last year, some tickets cost €20 and there were family ticket packages.

But the organisers have returned to the price structure of two seasons ago and, until last weekend, the majority of tickets cost around €70.

James Ryan was critical of EPCR ahead of the province's 2023 semi-final against Toulouse at the Aviva Stadium, when 40,000 tickets were sold ahead of matchday.