Falcons take Premiership game to Philadelphia

Wednesday 17 May 2017

Newcastle Falcons will break new ground on September 16 when their Premiership game against Saracens is played in the American city of Philadelphia.

The round-three encounter will take place at the 18,500 capacity Talen Energy Stadium, home to Major League Soccer team Philadelphia Union, and will be shown live in the UK on BT Sport. It will also be shown live in the US via NBC Sports.

The venue has already staged major rugby union matches, the USA national side having faced New Zealand's Maori All Blacks there as well as hosting America's Collegiate Rugby Championship.

The match is a 'home' game for Newcastle Falcons, who will contact season ticket members directly in the very near future with details of how they will be compensated for the match being moved from Kingston Park Stadium.

Managing director Mick Hogan said: "This is an exciting opportunity which is commercially very good for the club, and enables us to further invest in our squad and in the stadium facilities at Kingston Park

"It will allow us to grow Newcastle Falcons' brand, likewise for Premiership Rugby, and it presents a number of very positive commercial opportunities

"We do appreciate some of our supporters will be disappointed by one of our regular home games being moved. We will be in touch with season ticket members and corporate sponsors directly to inform them of our compensatory offers.

"We know that some of our supporters will be looking to attend the game in Philadelphia and we will ensure access to tickets and events throughout the week, which will make it a memorable trip.

Philadelphia is a great city and the Talen Energy Stadium is a high-class venue. We are excited and honoured that Newcastle Falcons will represent the Premiership in what is going to be rugby's next huge market."

The game will be the second Premiership Rugby match to be held in the USA, with London Irish and Saracens having played at New York's Red Bull Stadium during the 2015-16 season.