CHAIRMAN David Buttress has pledged that the Dragons will be data-driven rather than emotional over playing Guinness PRO14 fixtures away from Rodney Parade.

The region entertain Edinburgh at Ebbw Vale's Eugene Cross Park tomorrow (kick-off 7.30pm), the first time that they have hosted a regular season fixture outside of Newport out of choice.

Last season the Dragons took on Cardiff Blues in Caerphilly because of a Rodney Parade fixture clash with County, who have primacy of tenure under Football League rules.

After hosting Glasgow in a pre-season friendly in Ebbw, they have opted to take a league fixture to north Gwent.

Buttress, who was appointed as chairman by the region's owners the Welsh Rugby Union after investing a six-figure sum in the summer, is keen to observe how things pan out before making future commitments.

"Let's look at data," he said. "Let's not be emotional in our decision-making, let's be rational.

"We need to look at the data that comes out of the game and understand what it did over the coming months.

"Our home is Rodney Parade but we represent the region and if there are fixtures that it makes sense to take on the road, then I'd ask supporters to get behind us and give it a chance.

"I know Rodney Parade is a superior ground in terms of facilities but give us a chance to give an experience to people that live in that area, to try and engage with the clubs, get them passionate about the Dragons and hopefully get them to come to Rodney Parade to be a long-term supporter.

"And coupled to that, we will be open and transparent – in six or 12 months we will have done this once or twice, we will have some data and we will share it.

"We will say that it makes a ton of sense or that it makes no sense, that maybe it makes more sense to put on buses to Rodney Parade. We will be data-driven but let's try some things."

The Dragons have been giving a large number of free tickets away for tomorrow's fixture but Buttress knows the key is working out how to turn occasional followers into long-term paying customers.

"One of the things I learnt from the takeaway business was about how you drive loyalty," said the entrepreneur.

"We knew that if we got you to place your third order on JustEat, you would never go back to the phone. Everything that was built in our product around the app, was getting you to that third order. A habit had been created.

"In my mind, I want to understand what is the 'third order' of Dragons rugby? Is it one game? Is it two games? Is it two victories? Is it three victories?

"I don't know right now but we will definitely be able to find out. We need to understand what it is we need to do to drive those people to come and get that experience and get the habit of attending.

"It's a bit more sophisticated than just saying 'have a free ticket' because people don't value free. If I gave 1,000 comps out at Friars Walk, probably 100 might come.

"We need to be really smart about understanding what it is we are trying to do and who we are trying to talk to, and what it is we need to do to get you to be a loyal supporter.

"We need a proper database and there is a lot of work to be done. It has surprised me how unsophisticated we are as a professional sporting environment around data and ticketing.

"But one of the guys on our board, David Reynolds, is the CFO of one of the UK's leading data insight businesses (Brandwatch)."

A temporary stand has been put up at Eugene Cross Park to provide more seating for supporters.