Watch another consumption of rubber and fuel or attend what may be the most impactful club soccer game played in the US since the NASL. Sounds like Witty needs to reconsider his priorities. This is what sick days were made for. :-)
If you see Gianni Infantino while you are here please ask him whether he agrees that strong soccer culture/engagement should be a factor in WC26 site selection. Yes that is an intentionally loaded question - there is not much I am above relative to securing Seattle's bid. :-)
I am tired of people knocking Edmonton. It is very underrated and is a great place to visit. It has North America's largest green space full of attractions, activities and festivals. The summers are awesome with late sunsets and good weather. It has fantastic food options from all parts of the world. There is a national park nearby. The mountains are relatively close. It would be totally unfair if Vancouver is in at the expense of Edmonton who has been in this all the way through. That's a red card in my mind if that happens.
I agree 100%. But unfortunately, that's not what counts in this whole bid process.
Its things you will see in the FIFA bid evaluation (you can find on on-line) like accommodations and transportation. And, the need to cluster cities within groups so as to minimize the travel and travel inconveniences for visitors.
Relative to other cities in the bid, there are very few hotels in Edmonton and very few direct flights (excluding cross border) to international destinations. Intercity travel options are limited (eg.;.: there is no convenient rail or shuttle bus intercity options). These are things that you cant fix with money.
Had the stadium been a state of the art facility with the ideal surface, then it might have helped the bid but they would still have had to look at those other factors that I mentioned. The stadium, can you fix with public money, but the other things i mentioned, you cannot.
Bummer Cincinnati is seemingly on the outs. I know Paul Brown isn't the greatest venue in the country but the city is primed with hungry soccer fans and has great facilities for events like this (MLB All-Star game for example). Selfishly was hoping to catch some games no matter who would be playing.
I agree. It is tough to make a case for it geographically and it doesnt compare in size to some of these other markets, but by far is the best place I have ever seen a soccer game in the United States. USA v Mexico last year was simply insane.
I hold the opinion that if FIFA announced venues and a schedule with nothing more than group letters and team numbers, and then opened up ticket sales in June 2022, they could sell out the whole damn 2026 World Cup by the end of the year. Except Edmonton.
IMO it's only your opinion but I know you are correct. :-).
In '94 55k showed up in Foxboro to see juggernauts South Korea draw a tie with Bolivia.
I totally agree with you: This is not really about ticket sales (they will sell everywhere and WC26 will *crush* all previous attendance numbers). The "bad" news there is that this probably gives FIFA all the more leverage with respect to extracting a few more ounces of flesh from the bidding cities (because that becomes the primary financial distinguishing characteristic).
Curious...how does Nashville go from being basically a lock to being left out because they are planning on building a brand spanking new, indoor, air conditioned mega stadium to replace Nissan, completed by 2026, seemingly in time to host matches.
Everything I saw about Nashville's bid was how the aging and kind of bland Nissan Stadium was the Achilles heel. I can't imagine Mayor Cooper and the team behind Nashville's bid not being in constant communication with FIFA about the new stadium timeline/funding/etc. Frankly, I would assume this had to have played a huge role in the city's decision to scrap Nissan and go big.
If you watch a gold cup game from ATT Stadium it is clear that it does not fit a FIFA regulation field. This is objective fact and it is not close. Can you please address this? How will that be fixed?
PSA - As sent in an email to Grant in reply to a recent podcast:
Seattle's Lumen Field was originally approved by voters *very narrowly* and arguably on the basis that the Seahawks group had committed to ensuring the facility is capable of hosting World Cup games. At the time election analysts asserted the ballot measure was successful on the basis of "the soccer vote."
Grant your reporting on WC26 sites is terrific, many thanks for the extra effort!
When I asked about "both" attending CCL I actually meant @ChrisWittyngham but perhaps yours was the better interpretation :-).
Ha! Sounds like Witty is on F1 duty this week in Miami.
Watch another consumption of rubber and fuel or attend what may be the most impactful club soccer game played in the US since the NASL. Sounds like Witty needs to reconsider his priorities. This is what sick days were made for. :-)
If you see Gianni Infantino while you are here please ask him whether he agrees that strong soccer culture/engagement should be a factor in WC26 site selection. Yes that is an intentionally loaded question - there is not much I am above relative to securing Seattle's bid. :-)
I am tired of people knocking Edmonton. It is very underrated and is a great place to visit. It has North America's largest green space full of attractions, activities and festivals. The summers are awesome with late sunsets and good weather. It has fantastic food options from all parts of the world. There is a national park nearby. The mountains are relatively close. It would be totally unfair if Vancouver is in at the expense of Edmonton who has been in this all the way through. That's a red card in my mind if that happens.
FIFA will do what FIFA will do. I hope they don’t short Canada a venue.
I agree 100%. But unfortunately, that's not what counts in this whole bid process.
Its things you will see in the FIFA bid evaluation (you can find on on-line) like accommodations and transportation. And, the need to cluster cities within groups so as to minimize the travel and travel inconveniences for visitors.
Relative to other cities in the bid, there are very few hotels in Edmonton and very few direct flights (excluding cross border) to international destinations. Intercity travel options are limited (eg.;.: there is no convenient rail or shuttle bus intercity options). These are things that you cant fix with money.
Had the stadium been a state of the art facility with the ideal surface, then it might have helped the bid but they would still have had to look at those other factors that I mentioned. The stadium, can you fix with public money, but the other things i mentioned, you cannot.
So, I assume FIFA's USA office will be for those without outstanding subpoenas.
Bummer Cincinnati is seemingly on the outs. I know Paul Brown isn't the greatest venue in the country but the city is primed with hungry soccer fans and has great facilities for events like this (MLB All-Star game for example). Selfishly was hoping to catch some games no matter who would be playing.
I agree. It is tough to make a case for it geographically and it doesnt compare in size to some of these other markets, but by far is the best place I have ever seen a soccer game in the United States. USA v Mexico last year was simply insane.
I hold the opinion that if FIFA announced venues and a schedule with nothing more than group letters and team numbers, and then opened up ticket sales in June 2022, they could sell out the whole damn 2026 World Cup by the end of the year. Except Edmonton.
IMO it's only your opinion but I know you are correct. :-).
In '94 55k showed up in Foxboro to see juggernauts South Korea draw a tie with Bolivia.
I totally agree with you: This is not really about ticket sales (they will sell everywhere and WC26 will *crush* all previous attendance numbers). The "bad" news there is that this probably gives FIFA all the more leverage with respect to extracting a few more ounces of flesh from the bidding cities (because that becomes the primary financial distinguishing characteristic).
Curious...how does Nashville go from being basically a lock to being left out because they are planning on building a brand spanking new, indoor, air conditioned mega stadium to replace Nissan, completed by 2026, seemingly in time to host matches.
Everything I saw about Nashville's bid was how the aging and kind of bland Nissan Stadium was the Achilles heel. I can't imagine Mayor Cooper and the team behind Nashville's bid not being in constant communication with FIFA about the new stadium timeline/funding/etc. Frankly, I would assume this had to have played a huge role in the city's decision to scrap Nissan and go big.
If you watch a gold cup game from ATT Stadium it is clear that it does not fit a FIFA regulation field. This is objective fact and it is not close. Can you please address this? How will that be fixed?
PSA - As sent in an email to Grant in reply to a recent podcast:
Seattle's Lumen Field was originally approved by voters *very narrowly* and arguably on the basis that the Seahawks group had committed to ensuring the facility is capable of hosting World Cup games. At the time election analysts asserted the ballot measure was successful on the basis of "the soccer vote."
SoFi Stadium is the best sports venue in the world. With a caveat: it was built to FIFA specs!
It’s surprising since owner Stan Kroenke has soccer roots planted in the USA and England.
It’s amazing moreso since LA would be hosting a World Cup, Olympics and would be viable destination for many other soccer matches.
I asked the question of Kevin Baxter of the LA Times: why would the build removable stands to make this an easy solution?
I see your Stan Kroenke point, but as an Arsenal fan I’m not overly convinced he knows anything about the game of soccer.
Also you can fact check me on this but I believe LA’s Olympic plans are for all their soccer games to be played at LAFC’s stadium and the Rose Bowl
Banc of California is too small. They will find a way to make SoFi work.