The Welsh Rugby Union has welcomed the findings of a Welsh Assembly Government review which recommends a renewed effort to support major sporting events in Wales.
The WRU says the impact of the recommendations in the review document will serve to help support the union’s efforts to attract mass audience events into the Millennium Stadium.
The Group Chief Executive of the WRU, Roger Lewis, gave evidence to the Communities and Culture Committee inquiry and called for a centralised strategy to help organisations such as the union stage the best events possible.
He explained that the WRU attracts up to one million paying customers into the Millennium Stadium for major sporting and non sporting events every year which help boost the wider south east Wales economy by £100million a year.
The WRU says the Millennium Stadium is an iconic symbol of Wales which attracts a wide range of major events helped by factors such as its city centre location, retractable roof which guards against any weather threats and a removable pitch.
Roger Lewis said: “The WRU is proud of the work we do to deliver an annual calendar of major sporting events which attract hundreds of thousands of people in the Millennium Stadium to watch some great sporting action year after year.
“With the right support and help we know we could achieve even more to create an even bigger success story for Wales.
“One of our key objectives is to take Wales to the world through the Millennium Stadium which we own and operate so our strategy is clear.
“Recently we secured next year’s Heineken Cup Final for the Millennium Stadium and we’ll be hosting Rugby World Cup games in 2015 and international soccer matches when the Olympic Games come to the UK in 2012.
“An independent survey we commissioned stated that events at the Millennium Stadium boost the south east Wales economy by some £100million a year and support up to 2,400 full time jobs.
“There are clear incentives for us all to ensure we work together to get the best from this great stadium of ours.”
