Record-Breaking Festive Rugby at Allianz Stadium

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Record-Breaking Festive Rugby at Allianz Stadium

The Gallagher Premiership has experienced a record-breaking festive period, with attendance and TV viewership reaching new heights. Over the Christmas period, 2.6 million fans tuned in to watch the matches, surpassing last season's record of 1.8 million. Round 8 marked the highest-ever average audience on TNT Sports, with cumulative peak audiences increasing by 44% across the two festive rounds.

One of the standout matches was Big Game 16 between Harlequins and Leicester Tigers, which ended in a thrilling 34-34 draw. This match was a sell-out at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, with all 80,634 seats filled. It attracted a 31% higher average audience compared to the same period last season, with notable increases of 14% on ITV and a remarkable 63% on TNT Sports.

At this stage of the season, the cumulative Premiership Rugby audience on TNT Sports is 44% higher than last year, while the average audience has risen by 11%. Several teams, including Bath, Exeter, Gloucester, Northampton Saints, and Saracens, enjoyed sell-out crowds, contributing to an overall stadium occupancy rate that averages 81%, a 10% increase from the equivalent stage last season.

In recent matches, Bath's Ollie Lawrence faced scrutiny for his reaction to a clash with Alex Mitchell during a narrow 35-34 loss to Northampton Saints. Despite the defeat, Bath maintained their lead at the top of the table over Bristol Bears, while Saracens and Leicester Tigers climbed to third and fourth place, respectively. Defending champions Northampton Saints remain in eighth but have narrowed the gap to the top four to just eight points.

As excitement builds for the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Final 2025 on June 14, ticket sales are brisk, with fewer than 22,000 tickets remaining on general sale. The competition for the top four spots is fierce, with only 10 points separating Bristol Bears in second place from Northampton Saints in eighth.

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