It's a game-changer – literally! The top two Premiership Rugby clubs, Saracens and Harlequins, are pulling out all the stops to stay ahead in the financial stakes. By opening up their stadiums to other sports, these trailblazers are rewriting the rulebook on revenue generation and taking the lead in securing their long-term futures.
Rugby's fixture list has always been a juggling act – just nine home league matches per season is a slender margin for error. Throw in a handful of cup fixtures and European competition games, and those stadiums are largely dormant for most of the year. But these innovators aren't content to sit on their laurels; they're getting creative to boost their coffers.
Saracens have landed a major coup with Alexis Ohanian's all-women's athletics extravaganza, Athlos, set to make its London debut at StoneX Stadium this year. This is no one-off – it's a regular fixture that will inject fresh revenue and new energy into the stadium.
Over at The Stoop, Harlequins are gearing up for a hockey hat-trick by hosting the EuroHockey 2027 Championships. And get this: they'll be doing it during their pitch maintenance period – talk about making the most of every moment!
This is more than just a clever business move; it's a bold statement of intent from two of rugby's powerhouses. By shaking up the way they use their venues, these clubs are not only securing new revenue streams but also opening themselves up to fresh audiences. It's a blueprint for long-term financial stability that others would do well to follow.