Rugby: Big bucks for hosting cities
The 2010 Tri-Nations rugby tournament will contribute US$174.3 million to the sport and leisure economy across the Southern Hemisphere, according to a new study commissioned by MasterCard.
The report also forecasts a significant positive economic impact from the addition of Argentina to the competition in 2012, which is predicted to increase the overall value of the tournament to as much as $213.1million.
This means that in the year before Rugby World Cup 2011, the combined value of the two largest annual international rugby tournaments – the 2010 Six Nations and Tri Nations Championships – is more than $800 million, according to MasterCard’s research into rugby commerce.
MasterCard commissioned international sport business institution, the Centre for the International Business of Sport (CIBS), to examine the economic impact of the 2010 Tri Nations Championship and associated demographic trends.
In March this year, MasterCard released a similar report on the 2010 RBS Six Nations Championship which put its worth at $632.81m to participating rugby nations.
MasterCard’s study on the Tri Nations Championship highlights a commercially strong picture for Southern Hemisphere rugby.
It points to substantial levels of local economic impact for cities across the Southern Hemisphere from hosting Tri Nations matches.
Sydney is set to scoop $28 million from hosting Australia v New Zealand: the largest single economic impact from a Tri Nations fixture.
Johannesburg and Christchurch are also set to benefit a total of $19.6 million and $12 million respectively from hosting two of the matches.
The study also predicts that the arrival of Argentina – where rugby is growing faster than in any of the Tri Nations countries – to the tournament in 2012 will help further bolster the long term value of the competition.
Dr. Anna Semens, Research Fellow at CIBS and MasterCard’s advisor on the Business of Rugby, said, “The MasterCard study highlights that rugby is clearly booming and providing a considerable economic boost to the Southern Hemisphere.”
Ian Jarrett
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