LAFC has announced that the Banc of California Stadium will host rugby sevens. Partnering with Grand Prix Network (GPN) and GPN’s exclusively sanctioned partner and Olympic member USA Rugby, LAFC’s new 22,000-seat stadium will be the permanent home of the Grand Prix Rugby ‘$1M Champion Sevens’, the world’s richest sevens championship.
“LAFC is thrilled to welcome the rugby sevens to Banc of California Stadium. This championship-level event is a perfect match for our world-class venue,” says Tom Penn, LAFC club president and owner. “We look forward to partnering with Grand Prix Network and USA Rugby Sevens to welcome rugby fans from Southern California and around the world to Banc of California Stadium.”
“With rugby now recognized as one of the world’s fastest-growing sports, and after extending Grand Prix Network’s exclusively sanctioned partnership with US Olympic member USA Rugby through 2024, it was imperative we establish an equally long-term partnership with a world-class venue. LAFC obviously shares our vision for showcasing nothing but the best. Grand Prix Rugby partnering with LAFC’s fabulous new Banc of California Stadium to showcase the world’s greatest teams playing for a world record million-dollar prize is a message to the rugby world that the ‘father of American Football’ is back, and bigger and better than ever,” adds GPN chairman and CEO William Tatham.
GPN’s EVP Kevin Wynne, who negotiated the seven-year venue partnership, adds, “LAFC had the vision and commitment to invest in a state-of-the art stadium that will quickly become Major League Soccer’s signature venue and their innovative approach to giving their fans an amazing game-day experience makes them the perfect partner. We were delighted LAFC enthusiastically embraced a long-term partnership, and we can’t wait for rugby fans from around the world to descend on Los Angeles to witness the richest Champions Sevens tournament ever in the ultramodern Banc of California Stadium.”
April 12, 2017
