The Sporting Events Bill: what it means for the future of hosting major sporting events in the UK

Fresh from successfully hosting the UEFA Men’s Under-19 Championship in North Wales, and with preparations for UEFA Euro 2028 already underway, the UK is entering a significant period for major sporting events.

The Sporting Events Bill, currently progressing through Parliament, is intended to make the UK a more attractive destination for future international competitions. It aims to create a permanent framework for hosting major sporting events by removing the need for bespoke legislation for each tournament, strengthening protections against ticket touting, ambush marketing and unauthorised trading, and improving transport planning and event logistics.

While those measures are important in themselves, the Bill also signals something much bigger. It reflects a shift in how the UK views major sporting events, not simply as individual tournaments, but as long-term strategic opportunities for economic growth, investment and international profile.

For those involved in sport, the legislation raises an important question: what will it take for the UK to remain one of the world’s leading destinations for major sporting events?

More than a legal framework

Hosting a major sporting event is about far more than staging the competition itself. Every tournament relies on governing bodies, rights holders, host cities, venues, sponsors, broadcasters and public authorities working together successfully within a complex commercial and legal framework.

The Sporting Events Bill seeks to provide a more consistent framework for doing exactly that. More importantly, it reflects the Government’s recognition that major sporting events have become valuable economic and strategic assets, capable of attracting investment, generating tourism and showcasing the UK on the global stage.

The competition for major events is intensifying

Competition to host major sporting events has never been greater. Countries around the world are investing heavily to attract global competitions, meaning successful bids increasingly depend on more than world-class venues alone.

Event owners want confidence that host nations can provide certainty, collaboration and a framework capable of delivering successful events from bid to final whistle. Demonstrating that capability is becoming an increasingly important factor when competing on the international stage.

What successful hosting really involves

Major sporting events often appear seamless from the perspective of spectators. Behind the scenes, however, successful delivery depends on years of planning, collaboration and careful coordination.

That is something we have seen first-hand through our work supporting organisations involved in the delivery of major international sporting events, including the Rugby World Cup, the UEFA Champions League men’s and women’s finals in 2017, the UEFA Men’s Under-19 Championship, preparations for UEFA Euro 2028 and the successful bid to bring the World Climbing Series to Manchester in 2027.

As an example, for the Champions League finals in 2017, my colleagues and I worked on over 100 contracts – sometimes complex, often inter-linked, and always time-critical.  It was fast-paced, and a pragmatic approach, creative thinking and patience were daily requirements. When the other party pondered a deal point , my favourite negotiating line became “I don’t think UEFA will  be pushing the date back for you”.

Each event presents its own challenges, but the fundamentals remain remarkably consistent. Successful delivery depends on effective governance, carefully structured commercial arrangements and strong collaboration between public and private sector partners.

Governance structures need to be robust. Commercial arrangements must align the interests of multiple stakeholders, while issues such as sponsorship, procurement, safeguarding, employment, intellectual property and regulatory compliance all need to be carefully managed.

The legal work itself is only one part of the process. The broader challenge is creating an environment in which governing bodies, host cities, venues, commercial partners and public authorities can work together effectively towards a common objective.

Looking ahead

The immediate focus may be on UEFA Euro 2028, but the implications of the Sporting Events Bill extend well beyond a single tournament.

As competition to host major sporting events continues to grow, success will depend not only on world-class venues, but on the strength of the governance, partnerships and legal frameworks that sit behind every successful event.

The UK has already demonstrated that it can host world-class competitions. The challenge now is ensuring it remains the destination of choice for the next generation of major international events.

Successful major sporting events are built on far more than what spectators see on the day. Behind every event is a network of organisations working together to manage legal, commercial and operational challenges. We are proud to support clients across the sport sector in delivering events that leave a lasting legacy.