Munster Rugby has announced the appointment of Repucon Consulting as its official
Economic Research Advisor partner. The partnership will see the Ennis based firm
work closely with Munster Rugby to measure the socio-economic and tourism
benefits generated by major games and concerts at Thomond Park Stadium and
Virgin Media Park. The collaboration will involve comprehensive data collection and
analysis, including visitor spending profiling and assessing the overall economic
contributions of events hosted at their venues.
Repucon Consulting who specialise in economic research and strategic planning with a
focus on tourism, sport and recreation will undertake a series of independent studies on
behalf of Munster Rugby. The partnership with Munster Rugby will include analysis of nine
summer concerts in Virgin Media Park, Cork, three concerts and the Munster Rugby
versus All Blacks XV game in Thomond Park Stadium.
Mark O’Connell, Director at Repucon Consulting, said “Repucon is delighted to
partner with Munster Rugby in this exciting initiative. The socio-economic and
tourism contributions of sport and entertainment events are often underestimated
particularly in terms of their reach across the county and region. We look forward to
working with Munster Rugby to quantify the immense value the venues bring to the
region. This collaboration is an opportunity to provide robust evidence of the impact
of events in Cork and Limerick and provide the basis for continued investment in
major events.”
Ian Flanagan, CEO of Munster Rugby, highlighted the significance of the
partnership:
“Munster Rugby is committed to making a positive impact on the communities we are
based in. By partnering with Repucon Consulting, we aim to deepen our
understanding of the tangible benefits the stadium events bring to Cork, Limerick,
and the broader Munster region. This data will not only validate the economic and
tourism contributions of rugby and concerts but also reinforce our role in stimulating
year round community and economic benefits.”
He added “The partnership with Repucon Consulting reflects Munster Rugby’s
ongoing investment in data-driven decision-making and understanding the impact
our resources on the local and regional economy. Repucon Consulting’s expertise in
evaluating the impacts of tourism, sport, and recreation will allow Munster Rugby to
quantify these annual economic contributions more effectively.
Mark O’Connell added, “We believe that major events should not only provide
immediate economic benefits but also generate value for host communities. Our
main goal is to examine the socio-economic and tourism impact generated by major
rugby matches and concerts. Whether it’s a high profile fixture in Thomond Park or a
major headline act performing in Virgin Media Park, these events can generate huge
benefits for local communities. It is now opportune to capture this information and
use as a baseline for measuring the impact of future events and games in Cork and
Limerick.”
