Leicester Tigers and Northampton Saints meet in an East Midlands derby at Welford Road on Saturday (3.00pm). Here is our matchday guide to what’s in store on a busy day for supporters:
As well as derby day, this is also the Junior Tigers Takeover Day when young supporters have the opportunity to experience some key roles behind the scenes including matchday announcer, reporter and interviewer.
The Junior Tigers Club, with activities for young supporters and an opportunity to run out in front of a big crowd as a matchday mascot or Tiger Cub, is open for two hours ahead of kick-off for every home game in the Final Whistle area of the Holland & Barrett Stand and there is a player appearance in the approach to kick-off.
JTC membership is free to under-16s and you can sign up your youngster now by clicking here.
Tigers also host Matt Hampson Foundation Day this weekend, helping to promote the Foundation’s work and the new Get Busy Living Centre. The Tigers players will wear Foundation T-shirts, representatives will be selling merchandise and a giant Foundation flag will be paraded alongside the Tigers colours on the pitch ahead of kick-off. Look out too for a new Foundation video on the big screens.
Team news is announced at noon on Friday via the Tigers club website and official social media pages, and look out for the match preview on the website on Saturday morning.
The plaza outside the Holland & Barrett Stand hosts a number of activities ahead of kick-off, including STIHL tackle bag, the Gabhru Panjab Debhangra drummers, music DJs and Land Rover owners’ hospitality area in the build-up to kick-off.
All turnstiles, stadium bars and food kiosks open at 1.30pm.
Increased bag searches are in place at the turnstiles in accordance with ground regulations. Supporters are encouraged not to bring any bags to the stadium but, if you do, please allow extra time to get through your turnstile and into your place ahead of kick-off, especially as Saturday’s game will be a 25,000 sell-out.
Centrebus official matchday services run on routes from Market Bosworth, Market Harborough and Oakham, dropping off at Welford Road half a n hour ahead of kick-off. For full details, including timetable and pick-up points, click here.
The SwipeStation ‘click and collect’ service has now been expanded around the stadium with units in Final Whistle, the Holland & Barrett Stand lower concourse, Robin Hood Stand and in Mattioli Woods Stand to reduce waiting times for drinks and food service. Download the SwipeStation app now. For more information, click here.
Glass return points are available in the bars as well as in extra points around the stadium.
If you download the Tigers app on to your phone, you can use the Big Screen function to submit photos of your matchday at Welford Road and a selection will be added to the gallery on stadium screens during the afternoon.
Supporters can also vote for the Spire Man of the Match using the Tigers app during the second half of the game. Click here for more details – and don’t forget to download the app now or update to the latest version.
The 100-page matchday programme includes a peak behind the scenes at the Matt Hampson Foundation’s new Get Busy Living Centre, news from around the Aviva premiership and all the season’s facts and figures. The programme costs £3 and is available throughout the stadium.
Fan Radio sets – allowing supporters to listen to the referee microphone and/or TV commentary – are available in the Club Shop and ticket office. These sets work at all Aviva Premiership grounds.
Fans can make the most of huge savings in the Tigers Store 'End of Season' promotion which begins on Saturday.
The store at Welford Road hosts an in-store preview for fans throughout the day with the offer extended online from next Monday (April 16).
Discounts and savings of up to 80% are available on a number of lines, including home and alternate kit, leisurewear and the 125 anniversary range.
The Tigers Store is open from 9.00am until an hour after the final whistle.
Half-time entertainment on Saturday includes two teams going head to head in The Ultimate Big Boot and attempting to top the season’s best score set by Old Laurentians RFC. We’ll also reveal the name of the latest Lumbers Player of the Month and present a season ticket holder with the value of their ticket in their TigersLotto draw.
Saturday is likely to be a 25,849 sell-out with only a small number of tickets still available. Book in person, phone 0116 319 8888 (option 2)(open 9.00am-5.00pm Monday-Saturday) or online any time. Also, keep an eye on the club website for any season ticket holder places offered for sale as part of the Buy Back scheme.
There is a print-at-home option for all tickets bought online.
Or, if you are picking up any pre-paid match tickets on your way to the game, the Collection Point is based on the plaza outside main reception.
For any season ticket holders unable to attend Saturday’s match but who want to forward their ticket to friends or family, The Hub is active at hub.leicestertigers.com. For further details, click here. https://www.leicestertigers.com/tickets/season-tickets/forward-to-a-friend
After the game, supporters can enjoy live music in Final Whistle with resident band Rock Bottom and you can follow live coverage of the Grand National on television.
The ticket office will remain open for an hour after the game for match ticket and season ticket sales.
If you are attending Saturday’s game, don't forget to click 'Going' on the Tigers Facebook page.
Or, if you are unable to join us at Welford Road, you can follow all of the action throughout the day on the club website and social media, and there is full text commentary using the Matchday Live function on the app.
