What's Happening?
Arizona state leaders, city officials, and the Arizona Sports & Events Alliance are actively pursuing a bid to host matches for the 2031 Men's Rugby World Cup. Glendale's State Farm Stadium is being positioned as the primary venue, with Phoenix slated
to host fan festivals and other related events. The Phoenix City Council formally backed the alliance's bid by passing a resolution, confirming a split model for hosting mega-events that has been used previously. Governor Katie Hobbs has also expressed enthusiastic support for the bid in a letter to World Rugby. Glendale Mayor Jerry Weiers supports the effort, citing the economic benefits of increased tourism. Arizona is among 27 cities and regions that submitted letters of intent to enter the Applicant Phase for the 2031 tournament, with World Rugby expected to narrow down the list of finalist cities in late 2026.
Why It's Important?
Hosting the Men's Rugby World Cup could bring significant economic benefits to Arizona. Past major events, such as Super Bowl LVII in February 2023, generated $1.3 billion in total gross economic output and added $726.1 million directly to Arizona's gross domestic product. The NCAA Men's Final Four events in April 2024 also contributed an estimated $250 million to $300 million in economic impact. The Rugby World Cup's funding model, where World Rugby and USA Rugby self-finance the tournament and share profits or losses, is particularly attractive to municipalities, as it does not require host cities to underwrite event costs or grant strict tax exemptions, unlike other international events such as the FIFA Women's World Cup. This model reduces financial risk for the host cities while still offering substantial economic returns through visitor spending and job creation.
What's Next?
World Rugby will assess potential venues for 14 months before selecting finalist candidate cities in late 2026. The final host venues will be announced after the 2027 tournament in Australia. The Arizona Sports and Events Alliance is currently limited in what it can share due to the active bidding process. In preparation for the 2031 event, USA Rugby and USA Youth & High School Rugby adopted T1 Rugby, a non-contact, seven-a-side adaptation of the sport, in August to boost youth participation. This initiative aims to cultivate a larger American rugby fanbase capable of filling large venues like State Farm Stadium, which has a capacity of up to 73,000 for major events. The local Phoenix Rugby Club, which has both men's and women's teams, anticipates growth in the sport within the region.
Beyond the Headlines
The bid for the 2031 Men's Rugby World Cup highlights a broader trend of U.S. cities seeking to host major international sporting events, not just for immediate economic gains but also for long-term cultural and sporting development. The unique financial model of the Rugby World Cup could set a precedent for future international sporting event bids, potentially influencing how other federations structure their hosting agreements to be more appealing to cities. Furthermore, the emphasis on youth participation through initiatives like T1 Rugby demonstrates a strategic effort to build a sustainable rugby culture in the U.S., moving beyond a reliance on one-off events to foster a lasting legacy for the sport. This could lead to increased engagement and investment in rugby at all levels across the country.
