RWC - Missed opportunity to celebrate the game.

First topic message reminder :

Does anyone else think the build-up has been poor, I went to the two warm up games in Cardiff and you wouldn't have known the RWC was just around the corner, also being from the West Country I have not seen or heard nothing about the RWC taking place either at my local rugby club or local schools. The Marketing people and the RFU have failed on this wonderful opportunity to celebrate the game across England and the UK as a whole.

GunsGerms wrote:The most exciting thing I have seen so far is joe.ie's video of the Irish squad dancing.

All I have seen are adverts about England, and players from the 2003 WC winning team, and take that with England players.

There must be some interest with this WC even though the tickets are the most expensive:-

http://www.cityam.com/224342/rugby-world-cup-2015-tickets-most-expensive-also-best-selling-history

LordDowlais wrote:There must be some interest with this WC even though the tickets are the most expensive:-

http://www.cityam.com/224342/rugby-world-cup-2015-tickets-most-expensive-also-best-selling-history

I think there was always going to be a lot of interest. World Rugby know they can charge whatever they want but that doesnt mean that they should IMO. I would be interested to know if the RFU are set to make much of a profit or break even. Anyone know?

GunsGerms wrote:I would be interested to know if the RFU are set to make much of a profit or break even. Anyone know?

I do not know about that. But what I do know is, that the WRU will make substantially more from the WC than the RFU will. The WRU have not had to stump up anything for this WC yet we are using the MS and after ticket sales which the WRU will get a % of, all other proceeds made will go into the WRU coffers.

LordDowlais wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:I would be interested to know if the RFU are set to make much of a profit or break even. Anyone know?

I do not know about that. But what I do know is, that the WRU will make substantially more from the WC than the RFU will. The WRU have not had to stump up anything for this WC yet we are using the MS and after ticket sales which the WRU will get a % of, all other proceeds made will go into the WRU coffers.

Yeah its a great deal for the WRU and why not you have a good set up and you cant beat a day out in Cardiff. There is a real anything goes vibe in the city after big games.

LordDowlais wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:I would be interested to know if the RFU are set to make much of a profit or break even. Anyone know?

I do not know about that. But what I do know is, that the WRU will make substantially more from the WC than the RFU will. The WRU have not had to stump up anything for this WC yet we are using the MS and after ticket sales which the WRU will get a % of, all other proceeds made will go into the WRU coffers.

Do you know if any WRU profit will be directed to the Regions? I would think a windfall like this should go a long way to prop up their finances.

The RFU is supposed to make a tidy profit. I don't recall the numbers since I saw that quite some ago. But order of magnitude was not insignificant.

doctor_grey wrote:Do you know if any WRU profit will be directed to the Regions? I would think a windfall like this should go a long way to prop up their finances.

It should go into the grass roots of the game and into the infrastructure of the leagues below the regions, but the WRU will probably use it on bonuses and buffets and bucks fizz.

Clubs in the lower areas of the WRU could really do with a re-vamp. How far would new changing rooms and training equipment go for these skint clubs ? We should all get a share of this WC.

doctor_grey wrote:

The RFU is supposed to make a tidy profit.  I don't recall the numbers since I saw that quite some ago.  But order of magnitude was not insignificant.  

Making a tidy profit isnt something that sits well with me. I expect most will disagree but I think world cups should be set up to break even or make small profits and serve as spectacle of rugby for fans rather than some sort of profits. I definitely dont expect a host nation should have to make a huge loss but when tickets are pricing a lot of die hard fans away just so they RFU can make a tidy profit I dont think it is right.

Hosting a WC brings so many benefits to a host nation that I dont think it should be about massive profits because when it is you start moving away from the actual spirit of the event and what it is meant to be IMO.

I agree, Lord. Where's our share, boys??????

GunsGerms wrote:

doctor_grey wrote:

The RFU is supposed to make a tidy profit.  I don't recall the numbers since I saw that quite some ago.  But order of magnitude was not insignificant.  

Making a tidy profit isnt something that sits well with me. I expect most will disagree but I think world cups should be set up to break even or make small profits and serve as spectacle of rugby for fans rather than some sort of profits. I definitely dont expect a host nation should have to make a huge loss but when tickets are pricing a lot of die hard fans away just so they RFU can make a tidy profit I dont think it is right.

Hosting a WC brings so many benefits to a host nation that I dont think it should be about massive profits because when it is you start moving away from the actual spirit of the event and what it is meant to be IMO.

Agree.  But it's the way of the world now to drive and drive these world sporting events from the rear engine of big business doing big business with big business up in the corporate boxes, as something (rugby, athletics, football etc) goes on in the background.  
Big Sporting events are simply Expos - nice background colour disguising the real purpose of corporate suits talking to other corporate suits, glad-handing, mumbling deals, signing deals and smiling their million dollar dentistry smiles..  Sport, all sport is just a front for profit concepts and product placement.

GunsGerms wrote:I definitely dont expect a host nation should have to make a huge loss but when tickets are pricing a lot of die hard fans away just so they RFU can make a tidy profit I dont think it is right.

I do not think the unions set the prices for the tickets, I think it is World Rugby who do it.

LordDowlais wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:I definitely dont expect a host nation should have to make a huge loss but when tickets are pricing a lot of die hard fans away just so they RFU can make a tidy profit I dont think it is right.

I do not think the unions set the prices for the tickets, I think it is World Rugby who do it.

No the way it works I think is World rugby sets an up front hosting fee. The RFU then set ticket prices to claw their expenses back. The host nation keeps the ticket fees in total and world rugby keeps the fee and any merchandise and broadcasting revenue.

GunsGerms wrote:No the way it works I think is World rugby sets an up front hosting fee. The RFU then set ticket prices to claw their expenses back. The host nation keeps the ticket fees in total and world rugby keeps the fee and any merchandise and broadcasting revenue.

Well that explains why the WRU are going to make more than the host nation from this WC.

Fly, sad but true - it irks me to know that many of those going on corporate jollies have little to no interest in the game whilst actual fans either struggle to get tickets at all or have to pay a fortune.

I heard/read it somewhere the RFU are expecting a profit around £35-40m.

I looked at going to a few games but they were all too expensive. The cheapest tickets for some lesser games were £40. Argentina v Namibia £65, Argentina v Tonga £115, Fij v Uruguay £60. I went to three football games at the Olympics for a total of £30.

Scottrf wrote:

whocares wrote:is there at least a kind of Rugby Village being set up for rugby fans from all around the world to meet , drink and watch games?

There is a fanzone in Milton Keynes.

There are fanzones all over the UK. I think there is one in victory park in leicester too