Twickenham residents branded 'anti-fun' amid rugby stadium concert row

Key facts

• Twickenham residents have signed a petition opposing England Rugby's plan to host more concerts at Allianz Stadium.
• The Rugby Football Union (RFU) is seeking to increase the number of non-sporting events allowed at the stadium from three to 15 per year.
• Concerns raised by residents include noise, sleep disruption, and traffic.
• An advocacy group has criticized the opposition as part of an "anti-fun lobby."
• The RFU estimates potential earnings of £400,000 per concert.

Twickenham residents have been labeled as part of the "anti-fun lobby" following a petition that has garnered over 3,000 signatures against England Rugby's proposal to significantly increase the number of concerts held at Allianz Stadium. Currently, the stadium's license permits only three non-sporting events annually, with specific restrictions on timing. The Rugby Football Union (RFU) is seeking to raise this cap to 15 events per year, arguing it would allow the 82,000-capacity venue to compete with other major stadiums for multi-date concert tours.

Residents opposing the plans have cited concerns about noise pollution, disruption to sleep, and increased traffic congestion, particularly during midweek events. Some locals, however, believe that increased events could benefit local businesses. Tom Willerton-Gartside of the lobby group Looking For Growth criticized the opposition, stating it exemplifies the "stranglehold the anti-fun lobby has on Britain today" and that the hospitality industry is under attack.

The RFU is understood to be engaging with the local community and has proposed measures to mitigate anti-social behavior. Richmond Council, which is now entirely composed of Liberal Democrat members, is reportedly hesitant about the proposed increase and the allowance of 36 smaller events like weddings. Industry experts suggest that each concert could generate around £400,000 for the RFU, highlighting the financial incentive behind the proposal. Any formal meeting regarding the future of the events structure is not expected until at least September.