FAQs

The overall vision

What is the RFU’s vision for the Allianz Stadium in the short and long term?

Our long-term vision for Allianz Stadium is to continue its role as a best-in-class, multi-event venue; one that enhances the performance of England’s national rugby teams, offers unforgettable experiences for visitors, and stands as a source of pride and benefit for the local community. To achieve this, we are developing a long-term masterplan for the stadium, setting out a bold vision for its evolution over the next decade. This plan will ensure the stadium remains competitive, embraces modern standards, and meets the expectations of all who engage with it.

It is also true that bringing this vision to life requires significant investment. With the stadium supporting 85% of our revenues, we must ensure that it remains a valuable source of income for us.

As we announced in the autumn of last year, to generate the revenue needed to invest we are looking to increase the number of concerts hosted at the stadium. These events will unlock the financial potential of the venue, enabling us to elevate the stadium experience for visitors and neighbours alike, while investing in the game of rugby across England.

The stadium we see today has evolved over time, requiring continuous investment. While all four stands have been upgraded at some point, the West and North stands have not been updated since the 1990s. As would be expected this has meant that our maintenance bill has continued to grow, as wear and tear becomes more of a problem.

Why can’t the stadium stay as it is now?

INCREASING THE NUMBER OF MAJOR NON-SPORTING EVENTS

Why do you want to increase the number of non-sporting event days you can host at Allianz Stadium?

The stadium provides the RFU with 85% of its revenues, with all profits reinvested into the game of rugby across England, from grassroots right up to our national teams, and more locally in our surrounding communities across Richmond and Hounslow.

Like all stadia of its age the stadium needs a level of continual refurbishment. However, with the pitch and stands remaining empty for as many as 340 days a year, we need to look at other revenue streams to make these necessary improvements while still investing in the game.

To strengthen our financial footing, we are therefore exploring the potential of hosting more major non-sporting events, including concerts with a desire to attract the world’s biggest artists.

Currently, we are limited to hosting no more than three concerts per year, each with a significantly reduced capacity (55,000 people compared to 82,000 people on rugby game days), with two mandated to be on a Saturday and with no single act able to play across three consecutive days.

To deliver the revenue we need, we estimate that over the coming years we need to increase this to a maximum of 15 per year. We will also look at these events being able to cater to a higher capacity of 75,000 and with greater flexibility on when they can be held. It is expected these would mostly be held in weekends across the summer months.

This would make us more competitive compared to other stadia, such as Tottenham and Wembley which can hold 30 and 32 non-sporting events per year respectively.

This would be a staggered process, with the number of non-sporting event days we can host increasing gradually over a number of years, and subject to rigorous review mechanisms from the Council.

How many non-sporting event days do you want to host each year and how does this compare to other stadia?

What type of non-sporting events would you be looking to host?

We are open to a range of different performances and events. Ultimately the more competitive we are against other stadia, the more selective we can be about who and what these are.

As part of the planning application, we imagine this would mainly be music concerts, though potential other events include comedy, tv shows, outdoor cinema, circus performance snad educational events and conferences – though would explicitly exclude monster truck displays.

These events would all have a curfew of 10:30pm and a capacity of 75,000.

No – we currently have no plans to host Premier League football matches at Allianz Stadium and no conversations have happened.

Is it true that football matches may be held at Allianz Stadium?

How have you decided on the number of non-sporting events you want to hold, and what stakeholders have you spoken to as part of this process?

This is a figure based on analysis undertaken to generate additional revenue we think we need over the coming years to make a range of necessary improvements to the stadium, while still investing in the game of rugby across England.

In determining what the right number of events should be, we have consulted with our local communities, and spoken to a range of stakeholders, including Richmond and Hounslow councils, Transport for London, South Western Railway and other key stakeholders.

Allianz Stadium has a long and successful history of holding non-sporting events. Over the years, it has played host to concerts by Depeche Mode, The Rolling Stones, Metallica, Beyonce and Lady Gaga, often attracting sell-out crowds.

We know from previous experience that we are not competitive against other stadia and as such many international artists have gone elsewhere. We want to be in a position where we can therefore attract major international artists on a more consistent basis, and this means revisiting what we can offer to promoters.

Currently, we are limited to hosting no more than three concerts per year, each with a significantly reduced capacity (55,000 people compared to 82,000 people on rugby game days), with two mandated to be on a Saturday and with no single act able to play across three consecutive days.

How do you know there is a demand for extra capacity for non-sporting events?

Would these changes to non-sporting event days be brought forward all at once?

This would be a phased approach, with the number of major non-sporting event days increasing gradually over a number of years:

2025: 3 (our current limit)
2026: 6
2027: 12
2028: 15

These increases would be subject to review by Richmond Council, with restrictions primarily based on the number of ‘events’ (multi-day performances by the same act) we can host. The council will only allow us to increase if the events meet specific criteria. We recognise the importance of local residents’ experience on event days and remain committed to ongoing dialogue with the community to ensure improvements for both our neighbours and those traveling to and from events.

The masterplan

How can I have my say?

A licensing application has now been submitted to Richmond Council. The local authority is now holding its own statutory consultation.

You can view the licensing application on the Council’s licensing page under reference number WK/202497933.

We want to create an exceptional stadium experience for visitors and our neighbours alike, while increasing our investment in the growth and future of rugby across England. In developing a plan for the future, we have established five core principles that will drive everything we do:

Delivering a world-class fan experience, through enhancement of the fan zone offer, creating an inclusive, welcoming environment with improved hospitality and entertainment, as well improving the basics, such as toilets, accessibility and wayfinding.
Making the stadium work better for local communities, through greater access to tickets and facilities, and generating more overall economic benefit.
Improving local transport and ensuring continued progress and improvements to services in the years to come.
Ensuring the stadium remains a secure source of income by increasing the number of major non-sporting events we host here each year.
Being sustainable now and in the future, by seeking to work with the existing structures and utilising the latest green technologies.

What is your longer-term vision for the stadium as part of the masterplan?

Do you have any longer-term aspirations to increase the overall capacity of the stadium, or rebuild parts of it?

We do not have any current aspirations to increase the overall capacity of the stadium for rugby events. As we think about the long-term future of Allianz Stadium, we are exploring ways to enhance the experience for both our neighbours and those traveling to and entering the stadium. Many of these improvements will depend on generating new revenue streams through major non-sporting events, which require approval from Richmond Council.

Improving the match day experience

How are you seeking to improve the match day experience for fans?

While we remain at an early stage of the design process and are not yet ready to show anything publicly, we can set out the principles behind this work:

Enhancing the fan zone experience with vibrant spaces, world-class entertainment, and diverse culinary options
At the forefront of inclusive design – ensuring equitable experiences for all visitors through improved seating arrangements, seamless wayfinding, step-free circulation routes, and assistive technologies
The in-stadium experience – improving the experience of all visitors by enhancing concourses, fan facilities, and overall stadium comfort
Our hospitality offering – introducing state-of-the-art hospitality suites, premium lounges, and versatile spaces designed to cater to a wide range of audiences

Alongside aspirations to improve the stadium for rugby fans and visitors alike, we also want to improve the stadium for our neighbours. This includes improvements to local transport services and making the stadium work better for communities.

We have designed a number of transport interventions to respond to this including:

Promotion of additional local stations
Introduction of new wayfinding
Digital interventions
Optimisation of traffic management and pedestrian crossings

We hope that these methods will ensure better arrival and dispersal of visitors before and after event days and matches. The usual lines for residents to speak to members of the stadium team on event days will remain open. The RFU aims to be the best neighbour possible.

To read more about our transport interventions, please read our dedicated transport pack here.

What can you do to respond to the concerns of residents around match days?

How are you proposing to improve local transport services?

We have now submitted a planning and licensing application to increase the number of major non-sporting events we can host at the stadium. If approved, these changes would allow us to deliver improvements to local transport services over the coming years:

Promotion of additional local stations – with 90% of rail journeys passing through Twickenham Station, enhancing event-day services at Whitton and Hounslow, along with better wayfinding and shuttle buses to Hounslow East, will encourage more spectators to use alternative stations and reduce congestion.
Introduction of new wayfinding – to address the current lack of pedestrian signage along key walking routes between the stadium and local stations, we propose introducing fixed, branded signage to guide and improve pedestrian movement.
Digital interventions – an upgraded website with improved pre-event transport information, together with a redesigned mobile app and enhanced digital signage, will help better promote shuttle buses and alternative stations, ensuring smoother navigation and reducing congestion for visitors.
Optimisation of traffic management and pedestrian crossings – enhancing traffic and crowd management around the stadium would help reduce congestion and disruption. Key measures include promoting additional pedestrian crossings on the A316, improving shuttle bus operations, and optimising road closures to minimise delays and improve efficiency.

The planning and engagement process

What is the process for approving any changes to the number of major non-sporting events you can host?

Changes to the number of non-sporting event days we can host at the stadium require both planning and licensing applications to be submitted to the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.

A licensing application has now been submitted to Richmond Council and the local authority is now holding its own statutory consultation. We expect the planning application to follow in the coming weeks.

You can view the licensing application on the Council’s licensing page under reference number WK/202497933.

The planning application will seek to increase the number of non-sporting events and the capacity of such events. The application for a new premises licence will be submitted to accommodate this change whilst ensuring that we have the appropriate operational measures in place, in particular those relating to security, sound management, traffic management, the safe movement of attendees to and from the stadium and an ongoing commitment to local community engagement.