THE REDEVELOPED Thomond Park stadium brought €60 million to the Limerick region during the last rugby season, according to figures released yesterday.
A study commissioned by Munster Rugby estimated the value of the four Heineken Cup games and the All Blacks match was €58 million to the local area.
The report carried out by BDO Simpson Xavier found that the Heineken Cup quarter-final match against Ospreys in April generated €10.5 million for the Limerick economy, with visiting fans spending an average of €527 each over the match weekend.
The weekend of the quarter-final against the Ospreys also created an extra 280 part-time jobs and 3,912 hotel bed nights, with most visiting fans staying for an average of two nights in the city.
The authors of the report predict that the two summer concerts at Thomond Park will generate almost €20 million for the local economy.
A sample of 13 city hotels revealed 100 per cent occupancy for the recent Elton John concert while the upcoming Rod Stewart event is expected to generate €9.9 million.
The report, which was published at Thomond Park yesterday, points to the stadium’s redevelopment, which saw its capacity doubled, as a key factor in attracting increased tourism to the Limerick region.
Munster Rugby chief executive Garrett Fitzgerald said: “These findings confirm the economic potential of stadium events for Limerick city.”