Villa Park on Rugby World Cup shortlist.

[Steve R]

They need to sell 2.9 million tickets from a 20 team tournament - 47 games?

That's an average of over 61,000 a game. Tough target.

[Handsworth Wood Villa]

The Olympics is bigger than the Rugby World Cup but you turned that down didn't you, Paul. 

[dave.woodhall]

The Olympics is bigger than the Rugby World Cup but you turned that down didn't you, Paul. 

What's your point caller?

[bertlambshank]

The Olympics is bigger than the Rugby World Cup but you turned that down didn't you, Paul. 

What's your point caller?

Dave can I make a point Dave,more money to be made than the sodding Olympics Dave.Up the Baggies Dave.Ta-Ta Dave.

[dave.woodhall]

The Olympics is bigger than the Rugby World Cup but you turned that down didn't you, Paul. 

What's your point caller?

Dave can I make a point Dave,more money to be made than the sodding Olympics Dave.Up the Baggies Dave.Ta-Ta Dave.

Give us yer address and we'll send yer a Bronx hat.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

I don't know much about Rugby. I think they will be trying to kick the ball high in the air so its lands in the Holte or North stand.

Ashley Young ?
 

[Legion]

He's broken my heart.

[PeterWithesShin]

I don't know much about Rugby. I think they will be trying to kick the ball high in the air so its lands in the Holte or North stand.

Ashley Young ?
 

James Collins.

[tomd2103]

The Olympics is bigger than the Rugby World Cup but you turned that down didn't you, Paul. 

What's your point caller?

Dave can I make a point Dave,more money to be made than the sodding Olympics Dave.Up the Baggies Dave.Ta-Ta Dave.

Give us yer address and we'll send yer a Bronx hat.

It amazes me that he still gets people calling up requesting those things.

[usav]

I don't know much about Rugby. I think they will be trying to kick the ball high in the air so its lands in the Holte or North stand.

Ashley Young ?
 

James Collins.

Tony Daley.

[Dave Cooper please]

Surely Bescot would be big enough?

It's rugby.
Lye Town would be big enough.

[The Laughing Policeman]

As Farmer Palmer might say.........."Oi get orf our pitch."

[fredm]

The slight problem at the moment I understand is that the PL are saying that will not announce the fixtures for that season until the usual date.  That would mean that the RU would not know which of the football venues are available until 3 months before the competition starts, which is against the rules of the competition (I believe).  Also would make it very difficult for the teams to sort the logistics re hotels, training facilities etc.

However, knowing how much money the RU will throw at it I would not be surprised if the fixtures are sorted before the usual date even if they are not made known to the general public.

[paul_e]

I can't quite work out why the tigers ground hasn't been chosen as the main venue for the midlands, unless the club refused.

As for our inclusion, I'm sure it's only with the backing of the club and I see more benefit to us from this than I did from the olympics (from a commercial point of view).

I agree with the scheduling being a big issue but I'd expect us to see 2-3 group games and maybe a quarter-final  so our 'involvement' would likely only be up to 3 weeks so it wouldn't be a major challenge for at most a couple of games to be moved, and there's a good chance there will be international football scheduled in amongst it as well.

[rjp]

Leicester Tigers are a bit put out to say the least, Welford Rd is the biggest club ground with a capacity of 24,000.  I think they've shortlisted the "Walkers/King Power/whatever it's called these days" instead.