Premiership Rugby Scraps Controversial Stadium Capacity Proposal
Premiership Rugby has decisively rejected a contentious plan that would have dramatically increased the minimum stadium capacity requirement for top-flight clubs, City AM can exclusively reveal. The proposal, which emerged from a Deloitte-led study, sought to raise the threshold from the current 10,001 seats to 15,000.
Five Clubs Faced Immediate Disqualification
Had the plan been approved, it would have rendered five of the ten current Premiership Rugby clubs instantly ineligible for the competition. The clubs affected include reigning champions Bath Rugby, whose stadium capacity falls short of the proposed 15,000-seat benchmark.
Other clubs that would have been impacted are:
- London-based Saracens and Harlequins
- Northern clubs Sale Sharks and Newcastle Red Bulls
Notably, this capacity requirement would have exceeded the stadium sizes of every single team currently competing in the second-tier Championship, highlighting the ambitious nature of the proposal.
Stakeholders United in Opposition
Sources within Championship Rugby described the proposals as "hilarious," reflecting widespread skepticism about their practicality. Premiership Rugby ultimately torpedoed the plans after consultation with all stakeholders, who collectively agreed that such a move would represent "a step too far" even for the most ambitious clubs.
The decision comes at a critical juncture for English rugby's domestic structure, with significant financial pressures mounting across the league.
Financial Pressures and Future Restructuring
The stadium capacity debate occurs alongside broader discussions about the future of English rugby's top two tiers, under proposals understood to be codenamed Project Forge. This initiative is examining potential structural changes, including the introduction of ringfencing and franchising models.
Financial realities are driving these conversations:
- Exeter Chiefs recently reported losses exceeding £10 million
- Sale Sharks registered deficits in the high seven figures
- Unpaid COVID-19 support loans remain outstanding across the league
These financial challenges have prompted parliamentary figures to call for House of Commons scrutiny of any proposed restructuring plans, given the public money involved.
Corporate Interest and Future Directions
The recent acquisition of Newcastle by energy drinks giant Red Bull signals potential new directions for English rugby's top flight. Previous reports have suggested that established sports investors, including Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group and Manchester United's majority stakeholders the Glazer family, have explored rugby franchising's profitability potential.
Project Forge represents a comprehensive examination of English rugby's future, with Deloitte and US merchant bank the Raine Group playing significant roles in shaping what the top flight might look like moving forward. A vote on these broader proposals is expected at an RFU Council meeting scheduled for the end of the month.
The rejection of the stadium capacity increase demonstrates Premiership Rugby's cautious approach to radical change, even as it confronts significant structural and financial challenges. The league appears to be balancing ambition with practicality as it navigates one of the most transformative periods in its history.
