Hosting RWC2015 returns benefits to Exeter

Hosting the Rugby World Cup is returning many benefits to Exeter, a report to the City Council will set out next week (21 January).

More than 34 million people will have seen television and other media and press coverage of the city's involvement in the games amounting to an equivalent value of £1.5 million worth of advertising.

The exact amount of economic benefit that RWC2015 brought to Exeter is still being measured and will be announced later this year. Before the tournament Ernst and Young forecast a total of £39 million economic benefit to the city.

Cllr Rosie Denham, Lead Councillor for Economy and Culture, praised the City Council, Sandy Park, the County Council and the emergency services for the way they supported the programme of events organised before and during the six week tournament.

“Involvement with the Rugby World Cup certainly provided the city with a once in a life time opportunity to raise its profile nationally and internationally, very important for attracting visitors and investment.

"As well as enjoying the games, it has resulted in encouraging many people to take on a more active and healthy lifestyle and directly helped young people into training and work. Also many more are now playing rugby and two new ladies rugby teams have been formed.”

Active Devon's Matt Evans, said: “The Rugby World Cup proved to be a great showcase for the game of rugby in the city of Exeter and beyond. Many local clubs, community groups, schools and young people benefitted from the tournament and have helped encourage people to play the game and enjoy the benefits of being involved in rugby for generations to come.”

Information gathered by the council and others confirm that more than 36,000 people watched the games at Sandy Park, many travelling some distance, including from South America, Africa, the Middle East, USA and Canada. Hotels and B&Bs in Exeter were mostly full during the tournament with very few or no vacancies during match days at Sandy Park.

A spokeswoman for the Mercure Exeter Rougemont Hotel said: “We were lucky enough to have a Team stay with us during the tournament, which was a great experience for the staff and made for a very busy and successful weekend.”

Craig Bulley, Chief Executive Officer of Exeter Business Improvement District (BID), said: "We would like to commend Exeter City Council on their work in bringing the Rugby World Cup to Exeter and the delivery of initiatives in the city centre such as the Rugby Fanzone. It is fantastic to see Exeter on the world stage as a host of such a prestigious event and we look forward to seeing more information on the positive impact that this world class event had on city centre businesses.”

More than 30,000 people attended the Fanzone in Northenhay Gardens although this would have been many more if England or the other home nations had stayed in the competition longer.

Demonstrating that the city is not just about history and cream teas is very important to how it is perceived locally and from afar. Cllr Peter Edwards, Leader of the City Council said: “Exeter should be proud of the way the volunteers in particular put so much effort and time into making the experience for visitors to the Fanzone and the city so memorable. The work put in by Mattie Richardson, Bunyip Beads in encouraging and supporting the yarn bombing was a brilliant example of how a local business can support the city."

Praise for Exeter after the final ball was kicked came from the Minister of Sport, Tracy Crouch MP, who in a letter to the City Council, thanked everyone for putting on "a memorable and successful Rugby World Cup 2015. The letter went on: "It has been an incredible effort from all concerned to stage such an event...."

In a letter to the City Council's Chief Executive and Growth Director, Karime Hassan, England 2015 also thanked the Exeter team for contributing to "the best ever Rugby World Cup." The letter went on to say: "...we would like to thank the Council for delivering such a fantastic Fanzone and such a vibrant  city centre entertainment programme."