Could Canada pull off hosting the World Cup?

[Howie_16]

Saw the following article on TSN this morning: http://www.tsn.ca/soccer/story/?id=326674

Could Canada pull off hosting the World Cup? I think so, and any new stadiums that might get built could still be used by CFL teams.

Vancouver's BC stadium is already undergoing renovations. Despite the hate by some for McMahon, a World Cup bid could lead to major renovations/expansion of the concourse area. There could even be a new outdoor stadium built in Calgary that the Stamps could move into! A new stadium in Halifax is probably the only obstacle to the CFL moving into the Maritimes. Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium would be a much better for football and soccer if they would dig down and get rid of that useless running track.

I know that any possible successful bid to FIFA is a long, long way off, but why not? As well, by 2034, perhaps Calgary would be ready for an MSL franchise.

Cue the soccer haters...

[Locke]

It'd be tough. One thing I think would have to happen is localization, you cant spread it out over the entire country, you have to localize it.

Further, one of the stipulations that FIFA tends to put into a developing soccer nation hosting a World Cup is the requirement to have a domestic league up and running within a designated period of time after the competition if one doesnt already exist.

[corporatejay]

Originally Posted by Locke

It'd be tough. One thing I think would have to happen is localization, you cant spread it out over the entire country, you have to localize it.

Further, one of the stipulations that FIFA tends to put into a developing soccer nation hosting a World Cup is the requirement to have a domestic league up and running within a designated period of time after the competition if one doesnt already exist.

Would MLS not qualify as a domestic league?

Further, I think the best chance Canada has for hosting the world cup is a joint Canada/US bid, with canada getting a few groups in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Locke

It'd be tough. One thing I think would have to happen is localization, you cant spread it out over the entire country, you have to localize it.

Further, one of the stipulations that FIFA tends to put into a developing soccer nation hosting a World Cup is the requirement to have a domestic league up and running within a designated period of time after the competition if one doesnt already exist.

You can spread it out, but maybe the semifinal and final needs to be in one area? For example Group matches and a 1/8th final match can be in Calgary and upto a 1/4 final in Vancouver but then the rest would have to be down East.

In 1994 Italy played a Wednesday semifinal in New York and then a Sunday final in LA.

[You Need a Thneed]

For Canada to get a world cup, we'd probably require around 10 stadia with a capacity of 40,000, including 2-3 larger ones (60-80k).

In no particular order:

1.Edmonton - Commonwealth stadium
would require a full renovation, and likely some sort of partial roof.

2. Vancouver - BC Place - getting a renovation currently, likely would require a bit more.

3. Calgary. - I think a new 40-45k stadium would be required - the Stampeders would take over the new stadium after the world cup.

4. Toronto - BMO field would require a major expansion, likely need to be torn down and replaced with a large, spectacle stadium.

5. Vancouver - Whitecap Stadium - require a major expansion

6. Montreal - Olympic Stadium - would require a major upgrade.

7. Winnipeg - An upgrade/expansion to the currently proposed new CFL stadium

8. Regina - A new stadium that would be used for CFL after the world cup

9. Hamilton - A New stadium that would be used for CFL after the World cup.

10. Halifax - a new stadium that would be used for a CFL expansion team after the world cup.


All that, and I think that would be the MINIMUM required.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

For Canada to get a world cup, we'd probably require around 10 stadia with a capacity of 40,000, including 2-3 larger ones (60-80k).

In no particular order:

1.Edmonton - Commonwealth stadium
would require a full renovation, and likely some sort of partial roof.

2. Vancouver - BC Place - getting a renovation currently, likely would require a bit more.

3. Calgary. - I think a new 40-45k stadium would be required - the Stampeders would take over the new stadium after the world cup.

4. Toronto - BMO field would require a major expansion, likely need to be torn down and replaced with a large, spectacle stadium.

5. Vancouver - Whitecap Stadium - require a major expansion

6. Montreal - Olympic Stadium - would require a major upgrade.

7. Winnipeg - An upgrade/expansion to the currently proposed new CFL stadium

8. Regina - A new stadium that would be used for CFL after the world cup

9. Hamilton - A New stadium that would be used for CFL after the World cup.

10. Halifax - a new stadium that would be used for a CFL expansion team after the world cup.


All that, and I think that would be the MINIMUM required.

If you put it in those terms it's probably not worth it. That's alot of rennovating! Just let the US host it every 20 years. They wouldn't have to rennovate a thing!

[Matty81]

I think the poster above who detailed the current state of Canada's stadiums is spot on.

We have a random assortment of poor stadiums for outdoor sport at a high level. The CFL and the World Cup, with all due respect, are not on the same planet. Combos of dated or non existent buildings with bad or no grass.

I think the only way Canada could be involved in hosting a World Cup it would be co-hosting with the US where we'd only have to build 2 or 3 stadiums which I don't think the US would ever want to do.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Locke

It'd be tough. One thing I think would have to happen is localization, you cant spread it out over the entire country, you have to localize it.

Further, one of the stipulations that FIFA tends to put into a developing soccer nation hosting a World Cup is the requirement to have a domestic league up and running within a designated period of time after the competition if one doesnt already exist.

USA was spread out across the country.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

If you put it in those terms it's probably not worth it. That's alot of rennovating! Just let the US host it every 20 years. They wouldn't have to rennovate a thing!

No, I don't think it's worth it, not unless the federal government wants to give a HUGE boost to the CFL by giving almost every team a new stadium.

There would definitely be some underused facilities after the World Cup - I suppose there is for most events like this (USA 1994 and others where they pretty much just used existing stadia are the exceptions).

Toronto wouldn't require both the Rogers Centre and the New stadium. Vancovuer wouldn't require both BC place and the expanded stadium. Some of the other expanded stadia would likely be a little too big for the amount of fans they would get most of the time for CFL games. Regina, Winnipeg, Hamilton, Halifax probably would want to shrink their stadia a bit after the world cup in order to not feel too large for CFL football.

Calgary could use a 40-45k stadium for CFL if the stadium was nice (it would have to be), Montreal too (perhaps Montreal could get a new CFL stadium out of the world cup too, I didn't have it in my original list). However, If Montreal got a nice new stadium at around 50,000 seats, that would definitely be the end of the Big Owe.

[You Need a Thneed]

Also, I forgot to mention that all of the CFL stadiums would require natural grass to be put in. Fieldturf is FIFA approved, but I don't think you are going to see world cup games on it anytime soon.

The only stadium that had natural grass on the list was Commonwealth, but they got rid of that for this CFL season. All the current CFL teams play on Fieldturf.

[GirlySports]

USA have 18 stadiums lined up for their 2018 or 2022 bid

Rose Bowl
LA Coliseum
Cotton Bowl
FedEx Field
Cowboys Stadium
New Giants Stadium
Dolphins Stadium
Relient Stadium
Arrowhead Stadium
Invesco Field at Mile High
Raymond James Stadium
Gilette Stadium
Husky Stadium
U of Phoenix Stadium
Georgia Dome
Lincoln Financial Field
Qwest Field
Qualcomm Stadium
Lucas Oil Stadium

Wow, this will probably be narrowed down more. Which would you leave out?
Canada can never match this, why bother trying? It'll cost too much.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

USA have 18 stadiums lined up for their 2018 or 2022 bid

Rose Bowl
LA Coliseum
Cotton Bowl
FedEx Field
Cowboys Stadium
New Giants Stadium
Dolphins Stadium
Relient Stadium
Arrowhead Stadium
Invesco Field at Mile High
Raymond James Stadium
Gilette Stadium
Husky Stadium
U of Phoenix Stadium
Georgia Dome
Lincoln Financial Field
Qwest Field
Qualcomm Stadium
Lucas Oil Stadium

Wow, this will probably be narrowed down more. Which would you leave out?
Canada can never match this, why bother trying? It'll cost too much.

Well, of those, they will definitely not be cutting (IMO):
Cowboys Stadium
New Giants Stadium
U of Phoenix Stadium
QWest Field
Reliant Stadium
Rose Bowl (due to it's sheer size)

I think the older stadia on that list are the ones most likely to be cut:
Arrowhead
Dolphin Stadium
LA Colisseum

One thing to add to the discussion, is that it'l be at least 2034 before North America will come around for hosting the world cup again (likely after the US holds it in 2018 or 2022). A lot of things can change in 25 years. Perhaps the CFL's popularity increases by a huge margin, and all of the CFL teams have nice new stadia capable of hosting the World Cup.

Could happen.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

One thing to add to the discussion, is that it'l be at least 2034 before North America will come around for hosting the world cup again (likely after the US holds it in 2018 or 2022). A lot of things can change in 25 years. Perhaps the CFL's popularity increases by a huge margin, and all of the CFL teams have nice new stadia capable of hosting the World Cup.

Could happen.

This would have to happen on it's own without the World Cup carrot at the end.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

This would have to happen on it's own without the World Cup carrot at the end.

Yup. That's what I'm saying, if by that time, Canada has a bunch of new stadia, it could be less of a financial impact then to upgrade a bunch of them just for the world cup. A bid would become much more feasible.

IF Canada ever hosts a world cup, that's the way it would happen I think, And I think it would happen in about that timeframe, somewhere around 25-40 years from now.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

A lot of things can change in 25 years

Yeah, like most of CP being too old and senile too enjoy it!

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Yeah, like most of CP being too old and senile too enjoy it!

Nah, I don't know about you, but I figure that gives me enough time to practice my soccer so that I can make the team!



Another thing that could help the financial impact is if Toronto won an Olympic bid in the meantime. That might provide Canada with the large (most expensive) stadium for the finals.

[SeeBass]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

You can spread it out, but maybe the semifinal and final needs to be in one area? For example Group matches and a 1/8th final match can be in Calgary and upto a 1/4 final in Vancouver but then the rest would have to be down East.

In 1994 Italy played a Wednesday semifinal in New York and then a Sunday final in LA.

I agree those guys are used to Champions league, travel wouldn't be an issue.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

Well, of those, they will definitely not be cutting (IMO):
Cowboys Stadium
New Giants Stadium
U of Phoenix Stadium
QWest Field
Reliant Stadium
Rose Bowl (due to it's sheer size)

I think the older stadia on that list are the ones most likely to be cut:
Arrowhead
Dolphin Stadium
LA Colisseum

One thing to add to the discussion, is that it'l be at least 2034 before North America will come around for hosting the world cup again (likely after the US holds it in 2018 or 2022). A lot of things can change in 25 years. Perhaps the CFL's popularity increases by a huge margin, and all of the CFL teams have nice new stadia capable of hosting the World Cup.

Could happen.

Not a chance that Miami is left out, so unless there's a new stadium in South Florida by then Dolphin (SunLife) Stadium will definitely be on the list. Considering they're planning major renovations (including a potential roof) I'd say it being a host venue is a virtual certainty.

Husky Stadium is an odd inclusion, two venues in Seattle? One of which is an old stadium with obstructed views for a large number of seats? Strange to see that on the list.

Also, those changes to Canada's stadium infrastructure would have to occur in the next 10-15 years, not 25. Bidding is well in advance of a World Cup. There's absolutely nothing that indicates that any venues capable of hosting a World Cup match are on the horizon in Canada, let alone 6-8 of them. Unless Canada comes into a massive supply of space cash I really don't see how there's any remote possibility of hosting a World cup. Co-hosting could be possible, but FIFA has been against using that model again it seems, so unless they reverse that trend even grabbing a few games might be tough.

[GirlySports]

A summer olympics might bankrupt canada!

Olympics are a waste of money.

[PIMking]

I want it at the GA dome for pure selfishness.