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Rugby World Cup 2015 set to bring £45million to Manchester

When England take on Uruguay in the Rugby World Cup 2015 at Manchester City Stadium next October, the match could be worth £45million to the local economy.

That figure is drawn from an economic impact report by Ernst & Young, commissioned by Rugby World Cup 2015. The total economic benefit to Manchester has been arrived at by looking at factors such as visitor spending, ticket revenue, spending at the stadium and city centre Fanzone visitors.

Tickets for the Manchester game are already over-subscribed, and the tournament as a whole is expected to bring 466,000 international visitors to England and Wales.

The match against Uruguay will provide the first chance to see England play Rugby Union in Manchester since the 2009 clash with Argentina at Old Trafford.

Fans unable to attend the game at Manchester City Stadium will be able to enjoy the match at a special Fanzone in Manchester city centre. The Fanzone will also show a selection of games from the tournament on the weekend of 9 to 11 October.

Councillor Rosa Battle, Manchester City Council executive member for culture and leisure said: “Manchester is a renowned international sporting destination with facilities that reflect its status on the global stage.

“This report goes to show that hosting events on this scale impacts on more than just our image and has very real benefits for the city’s economy.

“I’m sure the game will be a thrilling contest and I recommend that anyone unable to get a ticket head to our city centre Fanzone that is certain to boast a vibrant and contagious atmosphere all of its own.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .