Update:South Africa was the victor in Rugby World Cup last weekend. They won their match over New Zealand 12-11. The numbers behind the World Rugby Cup tournament showed the power of the Sport and why it will be successful in the U.S. Let’s start with 800 million viewers for the WRC tournament and proceed to 3.1 billion impressions. The WRC tournament will be played on U.S. soil in 2031. That data and impending event in the U.S. in 2031 translates into a huge market opportunity for a League to launch a business model in major U.S. Markets like Boston and Seattle. Rugby has the appeal of Football with the entertainment value of the UFC. Expect Fanatics to take notice. They own the apparel business for sports and with their acquisition of Penn Gaming they have entered into the lucrative Sports Wagering industry which is projected to hit $182Bn by 2030. It seems like Philadelphia has now become a epicenter of Sports activity. How much does it cost to scale a siuccessful Rugby League in the U.S. ? Roughly $320 million. Do I want to help the NRFL scale that opportunity? If called upon; yes. #Rugby #RugbyWorldCup2031 #NRFL #NFL #UFC #Fanatics #PennEntertainment #MichaelRubin #MichaelClements #SteveRyan #ArdieSavea #HowieRoseman #MarnieSchneider #DanielBernard # #StaciLaToison #ReneeMontgomery #GrazielleThake #AndrewPetcash #RoyKessel #JeffFrommer #RahulMehta #ObsidianSportsManagement #ZonecapitalPartners #DukeUniversity #GeorgetownUniversity #RutgersUniversity #InfluencerEconomy #DiversityandInclusion #LinkedInSports
Paul Grindrod
12mo
You don't mention that the Rugby World Cup will be in the US in 2031, Ira. That will bring huge awareness of the game to a new audience keen to follow a sport with such close similarities to your NFL. I also feel the that fine college football players who can't make the transition up to the professional ranks would gladly embrace rugby and rapidly adjust to it, thus giving the US a readily available talent pool on which to draw. By all means come back to me if we can help from this side of the pond.
Marnie Schneider
12mo
Ira W. Miller Philadelphia is the city of firsts…. First Public Library -The Library Company of Philadelphia was founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1731. First Volunteer Fire Department - The Union Fire Company was founded in Philadelphia by Benjamin Franklin in 1736. First Hospital in America - The Pennsylvania Hospital, founded by Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Bond, opened its doors in 1751. First Discovery that Lightning was Electricity - In 1752, with his famous kite and key experiment, Benjamin Franklin discovered that lightning is really a stream of electrified air. Although Franklin attained many firsts with his discoveries, Franklin did not invent electricity, but Franklin did invent a rod to tame it. Plus, Franklin's experiment helped him to develop many of the terms that we still use today First Student Newspaper - On June 11, 1777, The William Penn Charter School's Student Gazette became the first English-language student newspaper. First July 4th Celebration - In 1777, ships lined the Delaware River discharging 13 cannon shots to honor the 13 states. First American Flag - The first American flag was sewn in Philadelphia in 1777 by Betsy Ross. A Rugby Team makes sense! The Philly Firsts Rugby Team 🏉
Stewart Wolfenson
12mo
It was an exciting Rugby World Cup indeed!, both final games (3rd and 4th place were exciting as well. The tremendous potential in the U.S., with 800 million viewers and 3.1 billion impressions, is undeniable. The 2031 World Cup on U.S. soil could be a game-changer, blending the appeal of football and UFC. Fanatics' venture into sports wagering is strategic, considering the industry's growth. Scaling a Rugby League in the U.S. at $320 million is significant. I'm intrigued by this opportunity. What do you envision for the future of rugby in the United States?
Daniel Bernard
12mo
The timing is wonderful for the US to take a leadership role in Rugby. With the World Cup 2031 scheduled to take place on American soil, this offers a great opportunity to really build the sport out. 2031 May sound like a long way off, but it will come around quickly. Thank you Ira W. Miller for your excellent insight as always
Vijay Parmar
11mo
It's already a hit on the east coast and played at Boston and NY campuses.. just think a game where you don't need pads or time outs ;)
Jericho Groenland
12mo
Ira W. Miller I'd love to host you at a Major League Rugby match in any of our 13 US Markets. Schedule will be coming soon!
Roy Kessel
12mo
Rugby growing in popularity! Look forward to domestic leagues.
An interesting read! Thank you for sharing!
CEO and Founder First Inning Holdings / Corporate Financial Consulting / Board Member
12moVictory! Thank you #RonStreichmam