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 Big boost Irish economy to profit from tournament
Posted: Thursday October 14, 1999 07:55 PM
DUBLIN, Ireland (Reuters) -- The rugby World Cup is expected to inject more than 50 million Irish pounds (US$66.35 million) into the Irish economy, the Irish Football Union said Monday. Releasing the results of a survey commissioned by the IRFU, chief executive Philip Browne predicted an influx of 40,000 rugby fans into Ireland during the next three weeks. The survey conducted by the Graduate School of Business Marketing Development at University College, Dublin, estimated that international rugby matches played in Ireland within the last two years had contributed 48 million pounds to the economy. He expected the five World Cup matches to be played in Dublin, Limerick and Belfast to bring similar benefits. "It's pretty clear that there is a massive economic benefit to the tourism sector," Browne said. The 125-year-old IRFU has spent almost five million upgrading the three match venues. At Limerick, 3.1 million was spent on floodlights, terracing, toilets, medical facilities and a new pitch surface. The installation of 3,000 temporary seats has brought the ground's capacity to 10,800. At Lansdowne Road in Dublin, 300,000 pounds have been spent on a control tower incorporating media studios and a police control center, with closed circuit camera surveillance of all entrances and every area within the 48,000-seat stadium. "It probably matches, if not exceeds, what is available in any UK stadium," Browne said. (US$1-0.7536 Irish Punt)
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