Ticket offer for SSIA stadium backers

RUGBY authorities are prepared to make thousands of tickets to international games available to Special Saving Incentive Account (SSIA) investors who pledge their savings to the construction of a €500m, 65,000-seater national stadium.

The novel scheme is being studied by Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy and Arts, Sport and Tourism Minister John O’Donoghue.

Financial and management consultant Eddie Hobbs envisages the establishment of a wrapper unit-linked fund secured on the assets of the stadium, which would be bought back by the State over a specified time period.