IG Markets "concludes that the U.K. economy will gain up to" £2.2B ($3.5B) "in total output" from the Rugby World Cup, according to FORBES' Chris Wright, who wrote under the header, "Who wins financially from the Rugby World Cup?" The easy answer is "the major sponsors: Heineken, for example, which has exclusive alcohol rights in all the stadiums and attached bars." IG market srategiest Evan Lucas said, "Heineken will likely be a barometer for the performance of the global sponsors." Beyond that, it "becomes a little more complicated to measure." IG said, "Take Canterbury, for example." Canterbury is the official sportswear supplier for the World Cup, and kit supplier for the England team. IG added, "Surely being on the host nation’s shirt and having your brand image plastered around the stadiums is great for business? Correct, yes. Measurable, no." "How about TV?" The U.K.’s terrestrial channel ITV "has the rights to the tournament, and would expect to gain both market share and advertising revenue, especially if England progress." There are clear track records of sporting events "affecting countries and their economies in both positive and negative ways." Lucas pointed to the 2015 Cricket World Cup, which "he calls a 'fiscal dream' for both host nations, Australia and New Zealand, particularly the latter." Equally, though, some events "have been political and financial bugbears, notably the Olympics in Athens in 2004, and the football World Cup in Brazil last year" (FORBES, 9/17).
TICKET DOUBLE CHECK: In London, Katie Louise Davies reported rugby fans "have been warned not to buy tickets from touts" as thousands face paying £400 ($625) for fakes. The warning "comes after police seized a parcel containing 300 tickets for World Cup games." A 30-year-old man "was arrested at property in Essex in connection with an investigation into ticket fraud." Meanwhile, fraud investigators "have shut the phone lines of ticket website getsporting.com."
The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau "has received 226 complaints, while the number of possible victims could run into the thousands" (DAILY MAIL, 9/17).
WHO LET THE AIR OUT? Also in London, Darren Richman wrote the organizers of the Rugby World Cup have "taken the unusual step of banning" bagpipes from tournament venues in a bid to avoid the kind of backlash the vuvuzela received at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. A spokesperson said, "Rugby World Cup recognizes the significant role that bagpipes play in Scottish and world rugby heritage and, while individual instruments will not be permitted into venues to rightly give appropriate consideration to fan experience, bagpipes will play a prominent role at all Scotland matches, which is great for Scotland fans and great for the tournament." Richman noted Scotland supporters "are livid and the row has even reached Westminster, with Scottish National Party MPs putting down a Commons early day motion critical of the ban" (TELEGRAPH, 9/17).
