It’s Community Day as Bears welcome Exeter Chiefs to Ashton Gate on Saturday, March 22nd (5.30pm KO) – here’s everything you need to know about what’s on!
We’ll be shining a spotlight on our award-winning Foundation, which delivers a wide range of targeted programmes to more than 5,000 people every year in Greater Bristol, with a bumper afternoon of demos, activities and fundraising in Bear Country.
Everyone who purchases a ticket for the fixture will be supporting the Foundation, with £1 from every ticket sold going towards the charity’s life-changing work, with supporters able to learn more about how the money will be making a difference on the matchday.
TICKET INFORMATION
The Ticket Office by the Atyeo Statue will be open from 12pm-5.45pm.
This fixture IS included in your 2024/25 Bristol Bears Season Ticket. Season Ticket holders can gain entry to Ashton Gate Stadium on matchdays using a Digital Season Ticket so please make sure you’re prepared before arriving at the stadium.
Remember to download your Digital Season Ticket before arriving to the stadium and have it ready to scan before you reach the turnstiles to speed up the entry process.
Please note, iPhone users should follow the below steps if your Digital Season Ticket has disappeared from your Apple Wallet or is showing the incorrect game.
MATCHDAY RUNNING ORDER
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ACTIVITIES
Supporters will be able to learn more about how the Bristol Bears Community Foundation makes a difference in our community with a skill session demonstration, activities and insight into the programmes from coaches and participants.
UNDER-9 TAG RUGBY FESTIVAL
It all begins with the Foundation’s Club Connexion U9s Tag Rugby Festival on the Ashton Gate pitch from 1pm-3pm featuring 18 local teams from across Greater Bristol.
BEAR SKILLS SESSIONS
The Foundation coaches will be running two Bear Skills taster sessions in the Dolman Stand concourse for children aged 8-14 on a first come, first served basis from 3.40pm-4.30pm.
Each session is open to up to 15 children and will last for 20 minutes. Session 1 will run from 3.40pm-4pm before Session 2 takes place from 4.10pm-4.30pm. Come along for rugby fun and to find out more about the programmes run by the Foundation.
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION GAMES
You can also find the Community Foundation team running numerous games from when the turnstiles open at 3.30pm, including Higher or Lower and Try Challenge.
FOUNDATION PROGRAMME PARTICIPANTS
Look out for our Foundation programme participants who will be getting involved in the matchday activities as part of our Community Day celebrations in Bear Country.
Bear In Mind participant Amelia from Abbeywood Community School will read out the teams. Bear in Mind is aimed at equipping girls in secondary education with the tools to cope with the wider issues faced by young women across modern society today.
Bright Sparks pupil Tommy will be running out with the Bears team. Bright Sparks harnesses the Bears brand to work with young people in local secondary schools, providing the tools to those who struggle in a traditional classroom setting.
BEARS DEN Q&A IN WITH FOUNDATION
Bristol Bears player Noah Heward and Bristol Bears Community Foundation Head of Projects and Development Ollie Morton will join Downsy for another live Q&A session with supporters on the Bears Den stage in the South Stand concourse.
They will be talking about the Foundation’s work as part of Community Day as well as answering supporters’ questions approximately 4.45pm (subject to change).
SENSORY SAFE SPACE
Bristol Bears Community Foundation helps make rugby accessible for neurodiverse fans with our Sensory Safe Space at Ashton Gate on Bristol Bears matchdays.
The Sensory Safe Space, which was first launched by the Foundation in 2023, enhances the matchday experience for neurodivergent fans and those with sensory sensitivities by providing a room away from the main action before, during and after the game.
It creates an inclusive environment for supporters who may find the typical matchday atmosphere overwhelming due to the loud noises, bright lights and large crowds.
Equipped with bean bags, low level lighting and sensory toys, the quiet and calming space allows our fans to enjoy the matchday atmosphere at their own pace.
For supporters who wish to request to use the Sensory Safe Space for future games where it is in operation, please contact jlovatt@bristolbearsrugby.com.
THE RUGBY MARCH FOR ST PETER’S HOSPICE
St Peter’s Hospice’s popular Rugby March event is back for Community Day as hundreds of participants embark on a 5k or 10k walk ahead of kick-off.
The charity walkers will take in some of Bristol’s most iconic sights and landmarks to support the work of St Peter’s Hospice before ending up at Ashton Gate in time to take their seats for the derby showdown in the Gallagher Premiership (5.30pm KO).
With over 500 people taking part in last year’s event, the Rugby March is expected to draw the crowds once again to raise vital funds for Bristol’s only adult hospice.
To find out more about this event visit The Rugby March – St Peter’s Hospice.
SUPPORTER MEET-UP POINT
Following supporter feedback, we have now introduced a meeting point for those who attend Bears games by themselves to catch up with other supporters.
The meeting point is located in front of the Bears Den stage in the South Stand concourse at 4.40pm (5 mins before the Bears Den Q&A begins).
NEW DRAFT TOP BAR
Ashton Gate has become the first sports stadium in Europe to install a Draft Top Bar so Bears fans can drink their favourite beer or cider from a topless can.
Effective from this Saturday’s match against Exeter Chiefs, the Draft Top bar in the Dolman Stand concourse will sell seven different products from Bristol Beer Factory.
HISTORY-MAKING TMO TRIAL
History will be made at the Bristol Bears versus Exeter Chiefs’ derby with key refereeing decisions broadcast over the stadium PA system.
The trial will continue at select fixtures during The Run-In and will be in place for the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Final 2025 at Allianz Stadium on Saturday, June 14.
Tom Tainton, Chief Operating Officer at Bristol Bears, said: “We’re pleased to be chosen for the trial at Ashton Gate for our fixture versus Exeter Chiefs. One of our key objectives is to make the game accessible to new supporters and this innovation will not only add to the matchday experience, but help to inform and educate fans in the stadium.”
HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION
Bears supporters are able to support Bristol Bears Community Foundation by donating to help fund the life-changing work of club’s award-winning official charity. Fans can text ‘5BEARS’ to 70460 to donate £5 to the Foundation.
All donations will support the Foundation to continue delivering its impactful programmes to thousands of people of all ages across the region every year.
Guests in hospitality will be able to enter a silent auction to win a range of signed Bears memorabilia and exclusive prizes, with all the funds donated to the Foundation.
BEARS LOTTO
Sign up to play Bears Lotto for your chance to win a £10,000 jackpot or money-can’t-buy prizes while supporting the Bristol Bears Community Foundation.
With a monthly draw, entrants have the chance to win the £10,000 jackpot, as well as signed shirts, balls or a tour of the Bears High Performance Centre.
Every time you play you will be contributing directly to the funding the award-winning work of Bristol Bears’ official charity, helping the Foundation deliver programmes that are proven to change the lives of the most disadvantaged people across the region.
For just a £10 monthly rolling entry fee, you could be in with the chance of winning the Your Lottery £10,000 jackpot or 13 monthly prizes from the £1,600 prize pot.
GETTING TO THE GATE
Plan your journey to Bear Country with our handy Getting To The Gate guide.
MATCHDAY BUS
Our matchday shuttle buses will be operating as follows:
- AG1 Portway Park & Ride (via Portway) – approx. every 12 minutes
- AG2 Brislington Park & Ride (direct service) – approx. every 15 minutes
- AG3 Temple Meads (via Broadmead and the centre) – approx. every 20 minutes
All services drop-off and collect from Winterstoke Road, outside Ashton Gate. Full details including route maps, timetables, pricing and ticket information is available at Getting Here – Bristol Bears Rugby.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Construction work at the Portway Park & Ride means that there will be a change in the loading point for the AG1. The buses will now depart from what3word///gladiators.mild.fault and will be signposted. Journey times may be affected, please factor this into your travel planning.
Please note that the M4 will be closed in both directions between Junction 18 and Junction 19. Fans planning on driving to the match should be aware that a diversion will be in place which will delay journey times.
Full information on all travel options, including details of the new Bristol’s Clean Air Zone (CAZ) are available at Getting Here – Bristol Bears Rugby.
