Neptunus to create Rugby World Cup 2015 Fanzone in historic town of Rugby

Northampton: May 18, 2015: Rugby Borough Council has appointed temporary structure specialist Neptunus to create an Official Fanzone for Rugby World Cup 2015 in the town which was the birthplace of the game.

The Fanzone will be located on Old Market Square in Rugby town centre just a short distance from Rugby School, where the game originated. It is the first time in the tournament’s history that Rugby will host an Official Fanzone, along with 11 host cities across England and Wales.

Matthew Deaves, Infrastructure Lead for Rugby Borough Council's World Cup, said: "Rugby World Cup 2015 will be one of the biggest sporting events in the world, and we are incredibly proud to be hosting an Official Fanzone.

“Since 1823, when William Webb Ellis first took the ball and ran with it, we have been proud of our history and keen to share it with the world. With our Fanzone and wider cultural programme we will have a wonderful opportunity to share our history even wider, while giving residents and businesses a unique opportunity to get involved with the tournament."

Mr Deaves added: “We have appointed Neptunus to supply our Fanzone facility as a result of the company’s reputation for supplying high quality temporary structures to major sporting occasions such as the Six Nations Rugby, London 2012 Olympics and last year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Neptunus is tremendously experienced at providing fans with a great environment to enjoy big sporting occasions.”

April Trasler, Managing Director of Northamptonshire-based Neptunus, said: “The Rugby World Cup is the biggest sporting event anywhere in the world this year and we are delighted to have been selected to create the Official Fanzone in the historic town of Rugby, where the great game has its roots. The tournament will be a terrific spectacle for fans.”

Neptunus will construct a 750 square metre Evolution II structure that will stand on 8m tall legs with a capacity for up to 1,000 people to watch live screenings of the matches. It will take a team of 12 Neptunus technicians just four days to erect the stylish temporary building at the end of August which will then be dismantled in November at the end of the tournament.

The project is being overseen on behalf of Rugby Council by world-leading branding specialist ICON who are responsible for the conceptions, design and final delivery of the completed facility including the internal fit-out of the structure and external graphics. ICON’s innovative branding and graphics have appeared at global live experiences and major sports events which have been seen by over half of the world’s population.

Inside the structure there will be a clear span floor space to view games on a giant 5m x 3m screen with bar areas and external toilet facilities. Neptunus is also responsible for providing the building’s steel under structure, air-conditioning, flooring, ramps and handrails.

More than a million people are expected to watch the Rugby World Cup from Official Fanzones around the UK which will be situated in city centres, parks, match venues and waterfronts.

About Neptunus
Founded 78 years ago, Neptunus remains a family-run business known for the creativity and innovation of its temporary structures. With a head office in The Netherlands and divisions in the UK, Belgium, Germany, France, Poland and Austria, Neptunus has a proven track record in the design, manufacture and delivery of all types of temporary buildings.

Neptunus Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of Neptunus BV based in The Netherlands. Its UK operation is located in Swan Valley, Northampton, where the company has purpose built offices, storage and maintenance facilities. Neptunus has over 450,000 square metres of high quality structures in a wide range of styles. The company supplies structures to leading sports events and exhibitions including the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and Farnborough International Air Show.

With cassette flooring systems, Neptunus’ flexible and spacious structures provide ideal solutions for short-term or longer-term rental requirements. For more information on Neptunus visit: www.neptunus.co.uk

Neptunus contact:
April Trasler, Managing Director: Tele: +44 (0) 1604 593820
E-mail: a.trasler@neptunus.co.uk

Rugby Borough Council contact:
Matthew Deaves, Communications Manager: Tele: +44 (0) 1788 533562
E-mail: matthew.deaves@rugby.gov.uk

PAUL SMITH ASSOCIATES
18th May 2015