Warriors are delighted to announce that this afternoon’s Amlin Challenge Cup clash with Bizkaia Gernika RT will go ahead as planned with a 3pm kick-off.
Groundstaff and volunteers have worked tirelessly from 5am to clear snow from the stadium complex and club officials have now decided the game will go ahead, subject to any pitch inspection by match officials.
Fans are now advised on the following for today’s game:
Fans are encouraged to use the Park and Ride system from County Hall to make the trip to Sixways and allow plenty of time to make the journey. Servies will also run from Blackpole Trading Estate and the city centre. County Hall has been gritted and the Park and Ride will be in operation running the usual service for a European game.
Only those with pre-purchased car parking passes should drive to Sixways. Please park sensibly and as instructed by stewards.
Supporters using the Park and Walk are encouraged to take extra care parking along Wainwright Road and do so at their own risk. Please follow the instructions of stewards, only use those areas that have been cleared and take care when using Butterfly Walk and Offerton Lane to enter the complex.
Entrance for all spectators is via the clear designated walkways only. Please only use those areas that have been cleared and follow the instructions of the stewards around the complex. They are here to guide you in safely and as quickly as possible. All fans are encouraged to wear sensible footwear and clothing to the game.
All spectators will be seated in the East Stand as this will be the only seating area open for today’s game. Turnstiles 2, 3 and 4 are open.
The International Bar will be open to those with tickets only. The Warriors Coliseum, Scrum Club and bars under the East Stand will be open as normal.
Charlie Little, Managing Director at Warriors, said: “The decision to open the East Stand only has been made for fan safety and to ensure that the game can go ahead with fans inside the ground.
“The time that it would have taken to clear the other three stands has been used to clear the walkways, roads and footpaths. The stewards that normally operate in these three stands will be re-designated to other areas of the complex to ensure fans can gain safe access into Sixways. We have not done this before but with the dome over the pitch and the frost sheets on, the pitch was always going to be playable. To go to all the effort of getting the game on and then be asked to play behind closed doors was not something I wanted. Instead we have concentrated our effort on the largest 6,000 seater-stand and the access routes into the ground.
“We fully appreciate that season ticket holders and match day purchasers will have bought seats in certain sections of the ground and that we are now asking them to move. The tickets are categorised and therefore priced differently. This is a unique situation and we have made this decision with everything fully and duly considered. For example, if we kept the seats categorised and allocated in the East Stand, the staff needed in the stand to check tickets cannot be used elsewhere to ensure spectator safety.”
“A section of the East Stand will be cordoned off to allow Debentures holders access to the bars on the first floor. Hospitality will run as normal.
“We’ve had over 60 staff, volunteers and even non-playing players working here to get the game on from 5am and, on behalf of everyone at Warriors, I would like to say a huge thank you to them all.”
Warriors would like to thank supporters for their understanding and hope you enjoy the game.