The Bears will take on Bath in the Welsh capital next May in a match billed as the Big Day Out. They are hoping for a crowd of at least double the size of Ashton Gate’s 27,000 capacity in a bid to expand their fan base.
Reaction on supporter forums has been mixed. Some welcome the decision to play at a leading Test ground while others, including season-ticket holders, feel they are being short-changed and that if the match had to be moved Twickenham it would have been more appropriate.
“I won’t be going,” wrote one fan. “Bristol home games are played in Bristol. As a season ticket holder, leaving me feeling cheated is not a good way to get me to buy into anything!”
Another fired off: “I’m not particularly inspired by the thought of extra travel, extra cost and hassle to sit in a stadium they hope will be full of rugby novices, or people just looking for a day out, when I’ve paid to watch a game near home surrounded by other season-ticket holders - too much business not enough rugby for me, but I guess this is the way things are going.”
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