The Rugby League World Cup 2013 revealed on Monday that it "generated profits that could rise in excess" of £4M, according to SKY SPORTS. Tournament Dir Nigel Wood confirmed profits of at least £3.7M, "which could still rise and double those" made during the '08 competition. Tournament GM Sally Bolton "also spoke about the financial impact on the towns and cities which hosted matches." She said that Cardiff "benefited to the tune" of £8.4M from hosting the opening ceremony and double header and that London enjoyed a £12.3M bonus from the semifinals (SKY SPORTS, 3/31). The AAP's Ian Laybourn reported it is expected that the final figure will "enable the Rugby Football League to double the profit" of $A3.6M generated by the 2008 World Cup. The '13 tournament drew an aggregate crowd of 458,463, including an int'l record attendance of 74,468 for the final between Australia and New Zealand at Old Trafford, won 30-2 by Australia. Organizers reported "eight sell-outs and eight stadium record crowds for rugby league matches" (AAP, 4/1).
