Next year’s Rugby World Cup is forecast attract a total of 466,000 visitors, who will spend as much as £982 million, according to new research.
The tournament will be hosted in 11 cities across England and Wales from September 18 with a total of 48 matches across 13 venues.
In terms of single sporting events, only the football World Cup brings in more paid spectators, the report commissioned by the tournament’s organising committee says.
Spending on food and drink by ticketholders will generate as much as £32 million in revenue, accountancy firm EY calculated. A further £13 million will be spent in ‘fanzones’ – city centre shopping attractions with a Rugby World Cup theme.
The report also estimated the benefit to host cities of improved infrastructure, through investment in transport and stadia.
Debbie Jevans, chief executive of England Rugby 2015, said the report proved that the tournament was “set to create a wide range of economic opportunities across many different sectors”.
She told the BBC: “Whether through investment in infrastructure, supporting jobs or generating revenue in ‘fanzones’, the economic benefits will be shared around our 11 host cities and beyond.”