Liverpool is famous for its music, history and culture, but for many visitors it is sport and in particular football that is the real heartbeat of the north-west English city.
Home to two Premier League clubs, major stadia and arenas, Liverpool’s standing as a sporting destination has grown with events such as the Grand National horse race at Aintree and the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon series. Liverpool will also host Rugby League World Cup 2021 fixtures at Anfield and the M&S Bank Arena while next year the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships will be held in the city.
Major sporting events are such a key driver for business and tourism that the city’s destination marketing organisation, Marketing Liverpool, has recently launched the Sport Liverpool board.
Chaired by Brian Barwick, former chair of the Rugby Football League and chief executive of the English Football Association, the board will develop a “10-year vision” and ensure that Liverpool is “best placed to make successful bids for events”.
Wendy Simon, acting mayor of Liverpool said: “In recent years we have hosted the best-ever Netball World Cup which sold 110,000 tickets, and the British Gymnastics Championships which also attracted huge audiences and boosted the city’s global profile.
“It’s never been more vital for us to work together to show what Liverpool is capable of. This will deliver on so many levels for Liverpool and the UK, not just in terms of giving athletes the best possible experience and putting on a show the city and the nation can be proud of – but also encouraging sport participation to increase activity levels in the city, as well as inspiring the next generation of athletes.”
Barwick added: “I am delighted at the calibre of the people that we have been able to put together on the board – it speaks volumes for Liverpool’s track record in putting on world-class spectacles.
“We’ve got amazing venues, an incredible location as the backdrop and an audience who are passionate about attending events. As a total package, it’s pretty unbeatable and we’re determined to crack on and secure and deliver memorable events whose legacy will live on long after the athletes and spectators have returned home.”
For more information on Sport Liverpool see marketingliverpool.co.uk and for sports information see visitliverpool.com