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New stand and match access update

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Welford Road's first action of 2015/16 is just a week away and supporters should be aware of a number of changes on matchdays as well as the redevelopment of the West Stand.The previous clubhouse buildings and the temporary stand were removed at the end of last season and work continues on the new West Stand which will bring capacity up to around 26,000. The Tigers Club Store is now housed in the corner of the MET-Rx Stand on non-matchdays. There will be an external ticket office on matchdays.   Work continues on the new West Stand which will house 3,000 seats, the Clubhouse season ticket lounge, supporter concourse and staff offices.   Tigers meet regularly with contractors Buckingham, project managers FWP and architects AFL as plans take shape for the new season.   The new stand will not be available during pre-season or for the opening home game in the Aviva Premiership, against Harlequins on Sunday, October 25.   All facilities on the concourse and seating deck will be in place for a full opening for the first home game in the European Champions Cup against Stade Francais on Friday, November 13.   The club is working, however, closely with the contractors in an attempt to also have seats available for the fixture against Wasps on November 1. In this case, the food kiosks, bars and toilets would be provided in an enclosed area outside the turnstiles while work on the interior of the stand continues towards completion for the Stade game.   Season ticket holders at that end of the stadium will be contacted by the Tigers ticket office and accommodated in other areas for any affected fixtures.   Tigers chief executive Simon Cohen said: “We meet on a regular basis with all parties involved in the development to go through the detail of the construction and fitting.   “The contractors from Buckingham have informed us that the steelwork is scheduled to arrive on site next week in the next phase of the work.   “We are working hard in the hope of having the seating deck available for the Wasps match on November 1, if possible, with the additional facilities in operation from the following home game, against Stade Francais, in what should be a great night of European Cup rugby.”   Supporters will be able to see the start of the transformation from next Saturday’s home game against Los Pumas in the Marcos Ayerza Testimonial Challenge (3pm kick-off) and through the pre-season fixtures in the Kings of the North and the Loughborough University fixture.   As part of the upgrading of stadium facilities, a new access system is being installed at the turnstiles in all areas of Welford Road which will mean some changes on matchday: All season ticket holders should use their existing card for the Kings of the North fixtures against Newcastle Falcons and Sale Sharks, and against Loughborough University. The turnstile system will change in all areas for the start of the Aviva Premiership season (the first home game is against Harlequins on October 25). Season ticket holders will receive new cards after the final Kings of the North fixture against Sale Sharks on October 10 to use from the opening Aviva Premiership match against Harlequins on October 25. New season ticket holders and also existing season ticket holders who have relocated seats or changed price category (e.g. Young Adult to Adult, or Adult to 65-plus) will receive printed match tickets for the pre-season fixtures. Season ticket holders are asked to inform the Tigers ticket office by Friday, September 11 of any address changes so we can update your details. Plans are also in place for supporters affected by the development work at the clubhouse (west) end of the stadium: Supporters with season tickets in the new West Stand will be allocated positions in other parts of the stadium for the Kings of the North and Loughborough University fixtures and the opening home league games against Harlequins and Wasps. Tickets will be posted in good time for these fixtures. If seats in the new stand are available for the wasps fixture, the ticket office will contact you in advance. The Holland & Barrett Stand will be subject to a reduced capacity due to the loss of turnstiles at the Aylestone Road end. All supporters will be directed to turnstiles at the Welford Road end. Additional Goldsmiths Stand turnstiles will be in place at Gate 23 at that end of the stadium as well as two existing turnstiles. The stadium’s safety control box is located on the corner of the terrace during work on the new stand. The ticket office will contact supporters in Holland & Barrett Stand blocks R and S if this causes sight restrictions in the early fixtures. Please note that the match against Los Pumas on Saturday, September 5 is NOT included in Tigers season tickets as it forms part of the Marcos Ayerza testimonial season. All match tickets need to be purchased separately. Tickets for this fixture are available from the ticket office, located within the Tigers Club Store in the MET-Rx Stand, or by phoning 0116 319 8888 (option 2) or book online by clicking here.   Season ticket holders who have purchased places for this fixture will either have the game loaded on to their existing access card or have been sent match tickets. If in doubt, please contact the ticket office.