With the semi-final of the Rugby World Cup taking place tomorrow, Saturday 21st October 2023, we can advise you how sports events like these can boost your takings and show you how to get the punters in.
Excitement is brewing over the upcoming rugby World Cup semi-final between England and South Africa. Tournament viewing figures have been beating those of the last World Cup in 2019 and following their defeat of Fiji last weekend, England will be arriving at Stade de France on Saturday night to fight for their ticket to the final. Rugby fans will be gearing up to visit their local establishment this Saturday to support Steve Borthwick’s team against 2019’s World Cup winners, South Africa’s Springboks.
If you are showing the game in your pub (or considering it) then statistics, from CGA by NIQ, show this can bring a big boost to takings and get people to your pub that wouldn’t normally stop by. The group stages and quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup have already shown big uplifts for these licensed businesses and sales on matchdays in 2023, on average, were 16% higher than any normal day. The final day of the rugby group stages, on the 7th October this year, gave a 17% increase. The research company has also concluded that showing sporting events in freehouses makes 87% of people more likely to stay for another drink and 89% more likely to revisit.
So, to help customers choose your establishment to enjoy the big night there are a few things you can do.
Get the message out. Make sure you advertise that you are showing the rugby in your pub. If people don’t know, they won’t turn up! Social media can be a great way to raise awareness, posting on your Facebook page or just on your website can make the fans aware and get them to your door on game day. More simply, a poster in your window or word-of-mouth can spread the news. Perhaps some bunting out the front would make you more noticeable to passersby as decoration can engage customers and capture their interest to attend your establishment and feel evoked by a good game.
Once you get the patrons in, ensuring great service will keep them coming back, potentially to see England in the final? We hope. Ensuring everyone can see and hear the game will keep the mood high and increase enjoyment. If you have Wi-Fi, it’s good news as 64% of match day pubgoers said poor connection would make them less likely to return. Finally, a drinks offer can add that extra incentive for sports fans to visit your business. Slight price reductions can bring even more punters in and encourage them to spend more.
If you’re looking to buy a licensed business, whether to show sports events or not, click here to view our current properties on the market or email sales@sidneyphillips.co.uk
(20th October 2023)