Inside Arizona's bid to host the Rugby World Cup
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New Zealand and South Africa players at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in Paris. Photo: Thomas Samson/AFP via Getty Images
Arizona is making a push to host games in the 2031 men's Rugby World Cup, which will be held in North America for the first time.
Why it matters: Nabbing a few Rugby World Cup games would further burnish the Valley's image as a leading host of top-tier sporting events.
Zoom in: The bid is being handled by the Arizona Sports & Events Alliance, a nonprofit that has worked to bring major events to the state since 2022.
- The organization declined to discuss the state's bid in detail, but spokesperson Sarah Kezele tells Axios that the alliance "is always looking at new opportunities to bring major sporting events to the Valley and Arizona."
- According to a study commissioned by the French Ministry of Sport, the 2023 tournament in Paris attracted 425,000 international visitors and contributed the equivalent of more than $1 billion to the country's economy.
How it works: World Rugby, which organizes the international tournament, announced in October that Arizona is one of 27 North American markets in the running to host games for the event.
- Similar to this year's FIFA World Cup, multiple cities will host games throughout different phases of the tournament.
- Arizona's games, should the state be awarded any, would be played at State Farm Stadium in Glendale.
- Per World Rugby spokesperson Peter Hannon, cities will be evaluated in part by "team base feasibility visits, in-depth venue evaluations and sharing of detailed hosting requirements, opportunities and legacy potential."
Context: Arizona has hosted the Super Bowl four times, as well as recent men's and women's NCAA Final Fours.
- But the state did not bid to host games in the 2026 FIFA World Cup earlier this year, citing onerous requirements from FIFA.
Driving the news: As part of Arizona's bid, the Alliance has sought letters of support from several state and local entities.
- Last week, Gov. Katie Hobbs wrote World Rugby a letter touting her "enthusiastic support" for hosting games, citing Arizona's status as "a premier destination for major sporting events."
- On Wednesday, the Phoenix City Council voted in favor of a resolution to support the state's bid.
What they're saying: The possibility of hosting games excites Scott Mead, who is the general manager of the International Rugby Academy New Zealand, which opened its only U.S. outpost in Phoenix earlier this year.
- "Culturally, it'd be a great opportunity for Arizona to see what the rest of the world is like," Mead tells Axios, "and to have the rest of the world see what the Southwest is like."
What's next: Hannon says that World Rugby will narrow the field of hosting candidates later this year. Final decisions will be announced after the 2027 tournament, which will be held in Australia.
- There is no fixed number for how many hosts and venues will ultimately be chosen, Hannon says.