Rugby World Cup 2015 Becomes Most Commercially Successful With Value Up By 50 Percent Since 2011, Says Chief Executive Brett Gosper
This year's Rugby World Cup has yet concluded but chief executive Brett Gosper reveals that the 2015 Rugby World Cup is the most commercially successful up to date since 2011, BBC News forecasted on Wednesday.
The eighth Rugby World opened last September 18 and will conclude on October 31. According to reports, the final round of the tournament will be hosted by Twickenham Stadium in London.
"The commercial value is up by 50% on 2011," says Gosper. "That includes money from sponsors, broadcast revenue - of which the main part is TV rights - and hospitality. All of these areas have done fantastically well. That is all revenue that we reinvest in the game."
The Australian chief executive also reveals that business partners and sponsors signed up prior to this year's tournament which gave them a strong financial proposal for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
"Without our commercial partners the Rugby World Cup would not exist. We are grateful for the time and money they put in. [Meanwhile] the sponsors like to be associated with a brand like rugby that is all about character," he says.
Gosper adds they will continue to promote the sport around the world.
"We are committed to growing the game in new markets, and promoting the sport beyond our traditional comfort zones."
He goes on, "We have seen huge growth in Brazil, India, China, Russia. It is also the fastest-growing team sport in the US."
Also, more and more fans have been visiting Rugby World Cup's official website. Reports revealed that the number of the website's visitors during the first week of the tournament is higher than in the whole of the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Gosper says the online interest skyrocketed this year, hence, more people are getting interested in viewing video clips of the tournament.
Meanwhile, Yokohama Stadium in Japan is set to host Rugby World Cup 2019. The Guardian reported on Sept. 28 that the tournament was initially proposed to be hosted by Japan's new National Stadium, however, the new stadium reportedly will not be completed in time to host the tournament.
"These are exciting, unprecedented times for Japan Rugby and this revised roadmap reinforces and reflects the shared vision and mission to deliver a Rugby World Cup that will be great for Japan, great for Asia and great for Rugby," World Rugby chairman Bernard Lapasset says in a dispatch.
"We would like to thank our partners in Japan for their committed response to the stadium issue and all of the work they have undertaken, and in particular the Prime Minister of Japan and his government, Japan Sports Council and the Governor of Tokyo and Mayor of Yokohama for their full support."