Munster players’ first steps down the tunnel for this weekend’s clash with Racing 92 in Paris happened 1,300kms away from the U Arena after sponsors Shannon Airport put the finishing touches to its ‘Munster Tunnel’.
As part of its three-year partnership with Munster Rugby, the Shannon Group transformed the stairwell from Gates 1-5 into a permanent tunnel of red, to recreate a flavour of pre-match atmosphere.
Completed in time for Munster players and fans ahead of the weekend’s game in Paris, the initiative follows other ‘Munster dressing’ of the airport, which also includes red glass walls with images of the team at departure gates and supporting signage.
Said Shannon Airport Managing Director Andrew Murphy: “Fans are passionate about Munster and Shannon is the official airport partner of the team so we are just doing our bit to whip up the excitement for fans ahead of big games. There’s no journey too big for them so we just want to send them off in style.
“We’ve had some magnificent homecomings here over the years, not least the two Heineken Cup finals when the airport was thronged with people waiting to welcome the team home. But we just thought it would be a good gesture to wish them well also on departure.
“There’s great loyalty to Munster, as there is to Shannon and this acknowledges both.”
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