According to the International Rugby Board (IRB), last year’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand is poised to become the second most commercially successful edition ever.
In a statement from its headquarters in Dublin, the IRB indicated that the tournament is on track to achieve a “net surplus of more than $140 million.”
The IRB also noted that the gross commercial revenues of $220 million generated by the 2011 World Cup were just three percent short of the record set by the France 2007 tournament.
Chairman of the IRB, Bernard Lapasset, expressed that these results are “particularly encouraging given that Rugby World Cup 2007 was held at the peak of the global economic boom, while Rugby World Cup 2011 was organized amid an uncertain economic climate in a smaller domestic market and within a non-European time zone.”
According to the IRB, the seventh Rugby World Cup “appears likely to provide a significant boost to the ongoing development of rugby worldwide,” with 92 percent of the global governing body’s profits, earmarked for promoting the sport, sourcing from the World Cup.
New Zealand has been a powerhouse in rugby union, with their All Blacks narrowly defeating France 8-7 in a thrilling final match held in Auckland last October.
Yet, the IRB highlighted that the event served as a financial success for the host country as well, not just a sporting triumph.
It mentioned that the 2011 World Cup marked the largest event ever hosted in New Zealand, with over 1.35 million fans attending 48 matches, and the revenue from ticket sales exceeded the $200 million target set by organizers.
This, the IRB pointed out, was more than 10 times the gross revenue generated by the next largest sporting event held in New Zealand, the 2005 British and Irish Lions rugby tour.
Additionally, the World Cup is estimated to have spurred over $400 million in economic activity within New Zealand.
England is up next as the host for the 2015 World Cup, followed by the tournament making history in 2019 by taking place in Japan, a nation that is not traditionally known for rugby.
The qualification process for the 2015 edition will kick off on Saturday with Mexico playing against Jamaica, marking the first of 184 matches across 80 countries.
The complete IRB group results for 2011 will be unveiled in May, after concluding the reporting process to the IRB council.
by Buford Balony
