Twickenham tops the table for electric atmosphere in Six Nations showdown

Date: 04/03/25

The Six Nations Championship, the world’s oldest international rugby union tournament, is a highlight of the sporting calendar, captivating fans with its fierce rivalries, historic moments, and unparalleled passion. 

But beyond the tries, tackles, and trophies, the Six Nations is renowned for its electric atmosphere, with fans creating an unforgettable experience in each of the six iconic national stadiums. To settle the long-standing debate over which stadium delivers the most electrifying environment, emergency power specialists Central Power Services conducted research analysing fan reviews to determine which venue truly lights up on game day.

*See notes at end of article for details on methodology

The results are in, and Twickenham Stadium, England’s home of rugby, has claimed top spot. A staggering 27% of reviews praised the stadium’s electric atmosphere, with fans highlighting the energy and camaraderie.

One fan explained: “The atmosphere was electric, and even though England lost, the fans were in great spirits.” Another echoed the sentiment, stating, “the atmosphere at a competitive rugby game is second to none.”

At the other end of the spectrum, France’s Stade de France struggled to energise its crowd, with just 6% of reviews mentioning the atmosphere positively. 

One disappointed visitor noted, “compared to other international matches I have attended at Twickenham and the Principality Stadium, the Stade de France falls very short.” Others pointed to issues such as location, lack of facilities, and safety concerns as factors dampening the stadium’s vibe.

Russell Pritchard, Sales Manager at Central Power Services, commented on the findings: “Creating an unforgettable atmosphere during major tournaments like the Six Nations is crucial, but nothing is more important than ensuring fan safety. 

“In a stadium packed with tens of thousands of passionate supporters, planning for every eventuality is essential, especially when it comes to safely evacuating attendees in an emergency.”

Indeed, critical infrastructure, from turnstiles and public address systems to smoke extractors and fireman’s lifts, must always operate flawlessly. When these systems fail, the consequences can be severe. For this reason, it’s vital for stadium managers to prioritise both fan safety and atmosphere in their planning.

Central Power Services provides back-up power systems and maintenance for a range of elite stadiums in the UK. Russell continues: “Our research reinforces that when fans are uncomfortable in their surroundings and don’t feel safe and secure, they can’t fully enjoy the atmosphere. By prioritising safety, stadiums can create an environment where unforgettable memories are made.”

With that in mind, Central Power Services has shared four key tips for ensuring life safety systems remain operational in all circumstances:

1. Develop a clear plan outlining which systems must remain functional during a power failure.

2. Evaluate back-up power arrangements to ensure continuous supply for critical infrastructure.

3. Regularly review maintenance schedules for generators and back-up equipment to avoid unpredictable failures.

4. Train staff thoroughly in maintenance processes, emergency checks, and power outage protocols.

For more information on how Central Power Services can help your stadium ensure optimal back-up power systems and life safety infrastructure, get in touch: 0845 437 9750. 

*Methodology: Central Power Services analysed all the reviews on TripAdvisor.co.uk for the top six major stadiums in the Six Nations Championship. For each stadium, the researchers filtered mentions of ‘atmosphere’ in four- and five-star reviews, to identify the number of positive reviews where stadium atmosphere was a factor in the positive experience. The resulting number of positive atmosphere-mentioning reviews was then divided by the total amount of reviews for the venue to give the percentages used to determine the ranking. Research conducted on 13th February 2025.

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