US is bidding for 2018 and 2022 World Cups

[ProjectMaximus]

Can Jacksonville be a host city?

Very speculative, but one writer mentioned Jacksonville in his article on the subject.

http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news;_ylt=AtpI2tTzuJXSa9WoEDg1rxMmw7YF?slug=ap-worldcupbids&prov=ap&type=lgns

Since 1994, large new stadiums also have opened in Baltimore; Charlotte, N.C.; Cincinnati; Cleveland; Denver; Glendale, Ariz.; Houston; Indianapolis; Jacksonville, Fla.; Nashville, Tenn; Philadelphia; Pittsburgh; St. Louis; Seattle; and Tampa, Fla. In addition, the Superdome in New Orleans was refurbished after Hurricane Katrina.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090202/sp_nm/us_soccer_world_us_1

No U.S. cities have yet been penciled in as potential hosts for matches said Gulati, who added that an initial shortlist could feature as many as 40 stadiums.

"We haven't reached out to cities yet although a few have reached out to us. We have 25 to 40 venues that could host the World Cup," said Gulati who noted that the decision on cities would not be made until after the bid vote.

"We have an abundance of choices," he said citing the many existing and planned stadiums in the country.

Remember, this would be for 2018 or 2022. In my informed but far from expert opinion, the US is as much of a lock as a country can possibly be to get one of those two World Cups. Can we ride the strength of our country's bid and host a few of the games? Is this realistic? Forget the Super Bowl, the World Cup is much much bigger.

Just some facts about hosting:

-There were 9 venues in 9 cities for the 1994 World Cup in the US. The Citrus Bowl in Orlando was the only one in the Southeast.
-There were 10 venues in 9 cities for France '98. This World Cup also saw an increase in teams from 24 to 32 and increase of total games from 52 to 64. 
-10 stadiums in Japan and 10 stadiums in South Korea for 2002, all in different cities (Obviously, fewer games at each stadium)
-Germany '06 had 12 venues in 12 cities.
-South Africa in 2010 was originally to have 13 venues in 10 cities. Now it is down to 10 in 9 cities, assuming there are no more changes due to delayed construction.
-Brazil in 2014 has 19 cities vying for what is planned to be a total of 12 hosts.
-Current FIFA regulations require venues to be minimum 40,000 capacity.
-Regulations also require host nations to have between 8 and 10 host cities. (A nation can petition to have more...SEE Brazil '14)
-South Africa's preparation for the World Cup has spurred construction of a major 80 km railway to connect Johannesburg and Pretoria as well as an expansive BRT system elsewhere.
-Brazil has also announced a $15 Billion high-speed rail network to be completed ahead of their World Cup.
-The 1994 US World Cup averaged 69,000 attendance per game...still the current record for a World Cup.
-The '94 World Cup had a total of just under 3.6 million total attendance...also still the current record despite having 12 fewer games than all the subsequent Cups played.
-The '94 World Cup is the highest-attended single sporting event in US history.
-Even if they don't have tickets, World Cup fans travel to the games in droves to support their country just by being in the same city. 

This might all just be pie in the sky, but I wanted to share anyway.

[Charles Hunter]

Does the stadium accommodate a FIFA standard field?  I know that pro fields in the US are flexible about size, but what about World Cup "pitches"?

[copperfiend]

There was a match in which the German national team played here about ten years ago. I was pretty sure that it was to FIFA standards. If Miami, Tampa and Orlando are able to accomodate matches, we would be in a difficult position.

[blizz01]

I wonder if summer heat factored into the limited number of venues in the South. 

[copperfiend]

I think they played in Orlando in 94.

[blizz01]

I think they played in Orlando in 94.

Yes, they did.  By the way, North Florida did have some involvement in the '94 World Cup.  If I recall, at least 2 teams held remote practices at the Eagle Harbor Soccer complex.

[KenFSU]

For whatever it’s worth, the Citrus Bowl in Orlando has turned into quite the dump since 1994.

[Jason]

That sure help's Jacksonville's chances then. 

[KenFSU]

That sure help's Jacksonville's chances then. 

I couldn’t imagine the Citrus Bowl playing host to the World Cup in its current state. The facility is badly outdated, traffic is miserable coming in and out, and the surrounding area is really sleazy. The WWE had Wrestlemania at the Citrus Bowl last year, and I know they were really disappointed with the whole experience. 2018 gives them some time to either renovate or rebuild, but in these economic times, that doesn’t seem likely. Maybe Jax will have a shot at landing a few games? It would be great for the city.

[copperfiend]

The Citrus Bowl is scheduled to be fully renovated. Not sure if that is still going to happen based on the economy.

[Jason]

Well, the new Orlando Arena is officially under construction.  Once finished in 2010 the economy might be solid enough to warant the upgrades to the Citrus Bowl next.

[civil42806]

Can Jacksonville be a host city?

Very speculative, but one writer mentioned Jacksonville in his article on the subject.

http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news;_ylt=AtpI2tTzuJXSa9WoEDg1rxMmw7YF?slug=ap-worldcupbids&prov=ap&type=lgns

Since 1994, large new stadiums also have opened in Baltimore; Charlotte, N.C.; Cincinnati; Cleveland; Denver; Glendale, Ariz.; Houston; Indianapolis; Jacksonville, Fla.; Nashville, Tenn; Philadelphia; Pittsburgh; St. Louis; Seattle; and Tampa, Fla. In addition, the Superdome in New Orleans was refurbished after Hurricane Katrina.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090202/sp_nm/us_soccer_world_us_1

No U.S. cities have yet been penciled in as potential hosts for matches said Gulati, who added that an initial shortlist could feature as many as 40 stadiums.

"We haven't reached out to cities yet although a few have reached out to us. We have 25 to 40 venues that could host the World Cup," said Gulati who noted that the decision on cities would not be made until after the bid vote.

"We have an abundance of choices," he said citing the many existing and planned stadiums in the country.

Remember, this would be for 2018 or 2022. In my informed but far from expert opinion, the US is as much of a lock as a country can possibly be to get one of those two World Cups. Can we ride the strength of our country's bid and host a few of the games? Is this realistic? Forget the Super Bowl, the World Cup is much much bigger.

Just some facts about hosting:

-There were 9 venues in 9 cities for the 1994 World Cup in the US. The Citrus Bowl in Orlando was the only one in the Southeast.
-There were 10 venues in 9 cities for France '98. This World Cup also saw an increase in teams from 24 to 32 and increase of total games from 52 to 64. 
-10 stadiums in Japan and 10 stadiums in South Korea for 2002, all in different cities (Obviously, fewer games at each stadium)
-Germany '06 had 12 venues in 12 cities.
-South Africa in 2010 was originally to have 13 venues in 10 cities. Now it is down to 10 in 9 cities, assuming there are no more changes due to delayed construction.
-Brazil in 2014 has 19 cities vying for what is planned to be a total of 12 hosts.
-Current FIFA regulations require venues to be minimum 40,000 capacity.
-Regulations also require host nations to have between 8 and 10 host cities. (A nation can petition to have more...SEE Brazil '14)
-South Africa's preparation for the World Cup has spurred construction of a major 80 km railway to connect Johannesburg and Pretoria as well as an expansive BRT system elsewhere.
-Brazil has also announced a $15 Billion high-speed rail network to be completed ahead of their World Cup.
-The 1994 US World Cup averaged 69,000 attendance per game...still the current record for a World Cup.
-The '94 World Cup had a total of just under 3.6 million total attendance...also still the current record despite having 12 fewer games than all the subsequent Cups played.
-The '94 World Cup is the highest-attended single sporting event in US history.
-Even if they don't have tickets, World Cup fans travel to the games in droves to support their country just by being in the same city. 

This might all just be pie in the sky, but I wanted to share anyway.

Not much of a soccer fan anymore, but I think I was one of about 10 season ticket holders for the Jax tea men. Would be a blast to get a world cup game here, hopefully involving Brazil.  Know I would attend if I could score a ticket

[Beloki]

With no direct international flights.. I don;t think Jax will make it on the shortlist. Would be great to have a couple of games here. Lots of supporters.
Another problem is the humidity in July (WC is almost always played in July). Especially when the games are played at noon to reach the tv audience in Europe at night.

[ProjectMaximus]

http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news;_ylt=Ao43EGWzAMKGBUIZCr2DsYsmw7YF?slug=ap-wcup-trinidad-us&prov=ap&type=lgns

U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati said letters will soon be going out to about 65 cities, stadium authorities and sports commissions inquiring about interest in hosting matches at the 2018 or 2022 World Cups, should the U.S. be awarded hosting rights next year.

[ProjectMaximus]

Hey, somebody somewhere was readin my discussion. No, not really, but it turns out we did receive a letter.

http://jacksonville.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2009/04/06/daily31.html

Jacksonville Municipal Stadium and The University of Florida’s Ben Hill Griffin Stadium are among 70 U.S. venues that could host soccer’s World Cup in 2018 or 2022, the USA Bid Committee said Wednesday.

The committee mailed letters last week to public officials and stadium operators in metropolitan markets across the United States in a first step toward preparing a formal bid to play host to the FIFA World Cup in 2018 or 2022.