Magners League Official Website : Early Bird Sales Up for the Blues

Early Bird Sales Up for the Blues

23 August 2005, 4:25 pm

By Jonathan McConnell

Wales Grand Slam hero Tom Shanklin is one of the stars of the Blues new season ticket campaign. His picture features along with fellow Lions, Gethin Jenkins and Martyn Williams on Buses in the Blues region. The campaign aims to raise public attention to the new season about to kick off at the Arms Park.

“It’s a bit strange to start with when you’re in a traffic jam stuck behind the back of a bus with your picture on it but it’s something that you get used to. I don’t think the picture shows my best side but I think that Gethin Jenkins looks great on them and should definitely consider a career in modeling after hanging up his boots,” joked Shanklin.

“The knee is recovering well and I’ve been doing a lot of swimming to strengthen it. I can’t wait to start playing again with the Autumn Internationals a mouthwatering prospect as Wales playing the 3 big southern hemisphere sides. We were unlucky last year to lose to New Zealand, if we beat them by one point this year I’ll be happy” added Shanklin.

Season Ticket sales for the Blues are selling well and are up on last year's early bird deadline. With 3 weeks until the first home game 85% of all season ticket holders have already renewed. The Blues have been very active promoting themselves within the region and the hard work is paying dividends.

"We have used many marketing tactics to reach our customers whether through bus advertising, bus shelters, phone kiosks, radio advertising, direct mail, events, print advertising or e-marketing.

There is a real desire throughout the region to watch the Blues and the feedback we received from our fans in events such as the Tesco Kids Festival, Royal Welsh and the Urdd has been very positive. Our season tickets are real value for money; if you include the added fixture in the Powergen Cup they are actually cheaper than last year and cheaper than all the English clubs we are playing in the Powergen cup” said Abigail Gibbins, Ticket Office Manager.

Season tickets have been posted out this week but it’s still not too late to buy one from the ticket office or by going online at www.cardiffblues.com The Blues have also used partnerships with sponsors such as Principality Building Society to make it easier for fans to collect season ticket forms from any of their 18 branches within the region.