Bristol's Ashton Gate in the running to be Rugby World Cup 2015 venue
Bristol is in the running to host games during the Rugby World Cup in 2015.
Ashton Gate has made it to a longlist of 17 venues across England and Wales which was announced this morning.
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Ashton Gate is one of the potential venues for the Rugby World Cup 2015.
The list will need to be whittled down to a total of 12 - which should be finalised by the spring.
The venues selected comprise some of sport’s most iconic stadia with the best facilities from 15 different cities across England and Wales.
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Confirmation comes after approval from the Rugby World Cup Limited (RWCL) Board and follows an extensive and thorough evaluation process, undertaken by England Rugby 2015 (ER 2015) in collaboration with tournament owners RWCL, host broadcaster ITV and commercial stakeholders.
The next stage in the venue selection process is for ER2015 to continue positive discussions with the venues in collaboration with their respective city councils, regional authorities and other stakeholders.
The World Cup is due to be played between September 18 and October 31, 2015.
Back in 1999, when the Rugby World Cup was last hosted by England - as well as Wales, France, Scotland and Ireland - Ashton Gate hosted a tie between New Zealand and Tonga.
This is the full list of longlisted venues:
1. Villa Park, Birmingham
2. Brighton Community Stadium, Brighton
3. Ashton Gate, Bristol
4. Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
5. Coventry Stadium, Coventry
6. Pride Park, Derby
7. Kingsholm, Gloucester
8. Elland Road, Leeds
9. Leicester City Stadium, Leicester
10. Olympic Stadium, London
11. Twickenham Stadium, London
12. Wembley Stadium, London
13. Old Trafford, Manchester
14. Stadiummk, Milton Keynes
15. St James' Park, Newcastle
16. St Mary's Stadium, Southampton
17. Stadium of Light, Sunderland
Comments
by goldisgod
Tuesday, October 09 2012, 1:27PM
“Dazzyboy I'm no Glos Rugby fan, but Kingsholm is a better ground for rugby in atmosphere and capacity than the Rec. Ok Gloucester is not as nice as Bath or as big, but there are not many rugby stadiums in this country that can create the same atmosphere.”
by BCFCfinker
Monday, October 08 2012, 11:54PM
“As much as I'd like to see games played here, I feel somewhat embarrassed for our great city when it comes to stadia.
It's not a great advert is it?
Let's see if the judges are basing their decisions on stadia alone or whether token stadia i.e. geography representation is a factor. If the later comes into play, we might have a chance. If it's the former, then I don't hold out much hope.”
by DazzyBoy
Monday, October 08 2012, 6:06PM
“As long as we have got Nimby's saying that an unused landfill site is a village green, this city will always miss out on events like this! A stadium to hold events like this would have been built ages ago anywhere else!!”
by Robthepoor
Monday, October 08 2012, 5:33PM
“The two smallest stadia are Ashton Gate and Kingsholm so if either were selected it would be for a game expected to attract a minimal attendance.......”
by DazzyBoy
Monday, October 08 2012, 4:05PM
“The two worst stadiums on the list of 17 are both the West Country ones (surprise, surprise) but the West Country is the hotbed of Rugby Union in England and should be represented! Ashton Gate is the best stadium in the West Country and with Bath being close by should be chosen over the much smaller city of Gloucester!
I am quite surprised that the South West have not been included with a venue at Exeter or Plymouth as well. My guess though that they will choose Gloucester and Cardiff, which will mean that the whole South West is not really represented!”
by andyyandyy
Monday, October 08 2012, 2:35PM
“Cant see why not. It has been used in the past for international rugby which was praised for the facilities.
Even though it doesnt have the best stadiums Bristol is still one of the major cities in the country which goes along way. I guess most fans would have thought that Ashton Vale may have been also short listed for then but it shows that it wont happen any time soon”
by RobBradStoke
Monday, October 08 2012, 2:19PM
“Negative point - may be that Kingsholm and Ashton Gate look the poorer of the stadiums & several of the football stadiums are used by club sides for bigger games.
Postive Point - support for Rugby UNION in the West Country and the tournament likely to spread games around the regions. No excuse if fail to stage some games here, as even the Mem has a Rugby League WC match to look forward to!.
I tend to agree with Goldisgod that they may use Cardiff/Glos - but its up to BCC and the New Mayor (when elected) to get the message out that Bristol is a very suitable venue. Rather visit Bristol than Derby or MK.”
by goldisgod
Monday, October 08 2012, 1:10PM
“It would be nice, but with Kingsholm and the Millenium Stadium both approx an hour away I would be very suprised”
by i8city
Monday, October 08 2012, 1:08PM
“at least it will give the locals some decent sport to watch”
by BristolDJ
Monday, October 08 2012, 12:32PM
“Never going to happen i'm afraid. It's not set up to be a rugby stadium, drinks facilities are non-existant, and expecting people travelling to a world cup to drink/eat from kebab vans just isn't suitable.
Look at the line up it's against, not a chance.”