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Los Angeles may have lost its bid to Chicago for the 2016 Olympics (not that they won, anyway), but two City Councilmembers would like to see the 2018 or 2022 FIFA World Cup come here, should the U.S. be selected as the host country. 27 U.S. cities are considered potential host venues--the Rose Bowl in Pasadena was a venue in 1994--but that doesn't mean Los Angeles is a shoe-in.
Cities must soon submit a bid package to the USA committee. Today a council committee will consider a motion, which includes additionally being named as the International Broadcasting Centre. If chosen, that would mean some 9,000 media and staff descending upon the city to cover the games across the country.
For the city's tourism, it's an obvious boon. Just hosting the media center means an estimated $80 million direct impact to the local economy. If games are played here, one study suggests that host cities would see $400 million to $600 million "from the events, including the creation of 4,000 to 8,000 new jobs during the event," according to the motion.
The 2010 and 2014 World Cups will be hosted in South Africa and Brazil, respectively.
(via blogdowntown)
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Build the NFL stadium downtown now and we'll have that World Cup action. Other than that why should we get it? While other cities have built amazing stadiums(Seattle, Pittsburgh, New Meadowlands, Philly) with access by Public Transit we've done nothing since 1994 here in Los Angeles to create a new accessible stadium.
The simple answer is $. It'd be foolish for the US Soccer Federation and other parties involved to ignore the size of the L.A. soccer market and its allure to foreign visitors.
Despite what we might think (good or bad) about L.A., there is still a certain mystique about the city to tourists, especially international tourists.
I remember being in London a few years ago with some co-workers from out of state. One of the locals asked us where we were from. I was the last in the group to respond and when I said "L.A.", the reaction I got was like the one I would get if I was showing them sliced bread for the first time. I've had that happen to me multiple times. People are intrigued by this city in general. I am not sure I could say the same for Pittsburgh, or Portland, which is a great soccer city too.
I think the fact that LA has TWO quality soccer teams here counts more than a new stadium. The Coliseum hosted Manchester United vs Americas and just this year the Rose Bowl hosted Chelsea vs Inter and Barcelona vs Galaxy.
Add all the training facilities at the Home Depot center AND those at UCLA and these are already in place, not something that has to be built.
And please remember that while Becks wouldn't be here in 2018, there will always be football (soccer) fans from Europe working in Hollywood often part of local leagues who would bring their interest and support--something other cities can't bring to the table.
I think a 2018 proposal from the US that does not include LA would not be taken seriously.