By John Fallon From Independent.ie

Worldwide demand for Euro showdown

Supporters in the Cayman Islands are among the thousands of fans from all over the world who have applied for tickets for Munster’s eagerly awaited Heineken Cup quarter-final against Toulouse in three weeks’ time.

As expected, demand for tickets for the showdown with the French aristocrats has massively exceeded supply and there will not be any tickets on public sale.

Indeed, it will be a battle for Munster officials to satisfy the needs of all those entitled to apply for tickets given that 25pc of the capacity has to be allocated to Toulouse.

Munster’s commercial and marketing manager Enda Lynch said that demand had come from all over the world.

“It is the biggest quarter-final we have ever staged. It will be the first time that Toulouse will come to Thomond Park. We have been inundated with requests for tickets,” he said.

“But we have an established system in place for the allocation of tickets which has worked for us in the past and which we hope will serve all needs this time round as well.”

One noticeable difference this time – especially compared to when Munster won the Heineken Cup in 2006 and ’08 – is the number of enquiries which have come from abroad, particularly from the United States, Australia and New Zealand.

“A lot of Munster supporters have emigrated – we have seen that in attendances inrecent years – and a lot are using the match as an opportunity to come home or their families here are trying to get tickets so that they may come home on a visit,” said Lynch.

“We have had enquiries from all over the world – I think this is the first time Munster supporters based in the Cayman Islands have been on to us looking for tickets.”

The system which has been in place and worked out between supporters, clubs, sponsors and other stakeholders was implemented the moment Munster’s quarter-final clash on Saturday, April 5 was confirmed.

The stadium’s capacity is 25,600. Toulouse are entitled to 6,150 tickets and are not obliged to return any unsold tickets until 14 days before the game.

Season ticket-holders, 10-year ticket holders, clubs, supporters’ club and other stakeholders account for around 13,000.

The remaining 6,500 have to satisfy a broad range who are entitled to tickets. Sponsors – the ERC is entitled to the biggest allocation for their sponsors – are allocated a chunk, with Munster having 20 different sponsors that support the game at all levels to accommodate.

PHOTO: Thomond Park will be packed to the rafters when Toulouse visit on April 5

For more on this story go to:

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/munster-rugby/worldwide-demand-for-euro-showdown-30091334.html