The Cardiff City Stadium will host the Amlin Challenge Cup final © Getty Images

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Tournaments/Tours: Amlin Challenge Cup

Teams: Cardiff Blues | Wales

Grounds: Cardiff City Stadium

Cardiff will host both of European rugby's flagship finals in 2011, with the Cardiff City Stadium having been confirmed as the venue for the Amlin Challenge Cup decider.

The home of the reigning champions, Cardiff Blues, the 26,828-seat venue will open its doors on Friday, May 20, the day before the Heineken Cup final is played at the city's Millennium Stadium.

It will be the sixth time that the Heineken showpiece is played in the Welsh capital, although ERC Has broken new ground by announcing the venue for the second-tier Amlin final six months before the event.

Last season's final was the biggest in the tournament's history, with the Blues beating Toulon 28-21 in front of a crowd of almost 49,000 at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille.

"Traditionally, we have waited until much closer to the date before selecting the stadium for the Amlin Challenge Cup final," ERC Chief Executive Derek McGrath said. "However, the tournament has grown in stature to the extent that we are delighted to announce the final venue almost six months in advance of the match itself.

"Last season's innovative decision to include three Heineken Cup clubs in the Amlin Challenge Cup knock-out stages provided a major boost to the competition, and by announcing the venue for the 2011 final at this time, participating teams as well as fans of European club rugby now know that all roads lead to Cardiff for the weekend of 20 and 21 May."

ERC also confirmed that fans who have already purchased tickets for the Heineken Cup final will be able to buy Amlin Challenge Cup final tickets at a discount.

European Challenge Cup Final Venues & Attendances:
1997 - Stade de la Mediterranee, Beziers - 10,000
1998 - Les Sept Deniers, Toulouse - 12,500
1999 - Stade Gerland, Lyon - 31,986
2000 - Les Sept Deniers, Toulouse - 6,000
2001 - Madejski Stadium, Reading - 11,211
2002 - Kassam Stadium, Oxford - 12,000
2003 - Madejski Stadium, Reading - 18,074
2004 - Madejski Stadium, Reading - 13,123
2005 - Kassam Stadium, Oxford - 7,230
2006 - Twickenham Stoop, London - 12,053
2007 - Twickenham Stoop, London - 10,134
2008 - Kingsholm, Gloucester - 16,157
2009 - Twickenham Stoop, London - 9,260
2010 - Stade Velodrome, Marseille - 48,990
2011 - Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff -