The Rugby Football Union (RFU) has set out plans to increase the number of non-sport events at the Allianz Stadium from three to 15 per year.
The RFU wants to bring more live music events to Twickenham and has been holding discussions with Richmond Council, transport providers, and the local community over the past 18 months.
The sport’s governing body claim the move will grow the game and would underpin £500m a year of investment into rugby over the next five years, supporting the sport from grassroots to the national level.
The RFU will submit plans to Richmond Council asking to phase in the introduction of up to 15 major non-sporting event days per year, such as concerts, beginning with a smaller number of lower-capacity events.
This would only progress when representatives from Richmond Council, Metropolitan Police and South Western Railway are satisfied the events are being well managed.
Crowd sizes for these events would be limited to 75,000 on weekends with a lower cap midweek initially, compared to 82,000 for rugby matches. Additional rail capacity at Twickenham Station has also been secured for event days.
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The RFU plan to introduce a new ‘facility fee’ to all concert tickets, used in part to finance a Community Enhancement Fund.
To administer the fund, the RFU will create a panel comprising local community, business organisation representatives, Richmond and Hounslow councillors, and members of the RFU.
“Bringing the world’s biggest artists here to Twickenham will also underpin the £500m of funding we want to invest into rugby over the next five years,” said RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney.
“More concerts in Twickenham will generate tens of millions of pounds each year for the local and national economies, and hundreds more jobs here in south-west London.
“It will also increase our ability to continue to work as a proud local neighbour, supporting local schools, charities and businesses across Richmond.”
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He added: “The UK has one of the strongest live events industries in the world, and Allianz Stadium – as the second largest stadium in the country and one of our most prized national assets – is best placed to capitalise on that success.
“The stadium is by far our biggest financial asset as a sport, but the fact that it’s use is currently limited to the short rugby calendar is in turn impacting the growth and potential of the game and its benefit to the local community.”
