Welford Road hosts the final home game of the season on Friday evening when fifth-placed Leicester Tigers host fourth-placed Newcastle Falcons in the penultimate round of the Aviva Premiership season. Here is our matchday guide to what’s in store on a big night of rugby:
The plaza outside the Holland & Barrett Stand hosts a number of activities ahead of kick-off at 7.45pm, including STIHL inflatables, product sampling from Fox’s confectionery, Bad Rhino menswear, Nottingham Building Society stall and live music from Rock Bottom. And check out our special cocktail and wine offers in the pop-up bars.
All turnstiles, stadium bars and food kiosks open at 6.15pm, including the 96 Coffee By Numbers bar owned by Tom Croft and Ben Youngs in Final Whistle.
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.
Team news is announced at noon on Thursday via the Tigers club website and official social media pages, and look out for the match preview on the website on Friday.
There will be a bucket collection on behalf of club charity Hope Against Cancer around the stadium on matchday this week.
Supporters are advised to reach the stadium as soon as they can qwith another big crowd anticipated for the final home fixture of the season.
Please note that increased bag searches are in place at the turnstiles in accordance with ground regulations. Supporters are encouraged not to bring 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.
Official matchday bus services run by Centrebus are in operation on routes from Market Bosworth, Market Harborough and Oakham. For full details, including timetable and pick-up points, click here.
If you wish to purchase food and refreshments at the stadium you can download the SwipeStation app now and reduce waiting times.
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.
Ahead of the game, download the SwipeStation App on your phone and you will be able to order in advance at any time and collect your drinks from the fast lane at the bars. For full details, 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 thank you to the #TigersFamily, a look back at Junior Tigers Cub Takeover Day and supporters’ stories in Fanzone. 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, ticket office and around the ground. These sets work at all Aviva Premiership grounds and will use the same frequency next season too.
The Club Store in the Holland & Barrett Stand is open all day every day, with the second store in the Robin Hood Stand open and extra units inside the stadium open on matchdays. The main store will also remain open for an hour after the game.
Half-time entertainment includes two teams going head to head in The Ultimate Big Boot – both trying to top the season’s best score set by Old Laurentians RFC. We’ll reveal the name of the latest Lumbers Player of the Month, as voted by supporters, and present a season ticket holder with the value of their ticket in their TigersLotto draw. We’ll also introduce the Leicester Tigers ‘Swifts’ team from inner city schools as they showcase their new rugby skills. And look out for the Dance Cam on the big screens!
The crowd for Friday’s game will set a Tigers record for a Friday evening league fixture but tickets are still available. Book in person, phone 0116 319 8888 (option 2) (open 9.00am-5.00pm Monday-Saturday and from 9.00am on matchday) 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.
For any season ticket holders unable to attend this 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.
Or if you can upgrade an under-10s season ticket or junior as part of a family season ticket to adult for this game free of charge if you think kick-off is too late for young supporters. Please be aware that upgrades must be done via the ticket office.
After the game, supporters can enjoy live music in Final Whistle with resident band Rock Bottom.
Any supporters who want to follow Tigers on the road to the final game of the regular league season, at Sale Sharks next Saturday, can book a place on the Away Supporters Club trip with John Griffiths in Final Whistle after Friday’s game. Please be aware, though, that only a small number of places are still available for this trip. All supporters are responsible for purchasing their own match ticket from the host club.
If you are attending Friday’s game, don't forget to click 'Going' on the Tigers Facebook page.
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.
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.
