.jpg)
Kansas City is bidding to become a host city for
either the 2018 or 2022 FIFA World Cup soccer
tournament.
At a press conference today at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Mo., Mayor Mark Funkhouser signed the Host City Agreement, one of the key procedural steps in Kansas City’s bid to be considered as one of the U.S. sites for the 2018 or 2022 FIFA World Cup™.
Kansas City is one of 27 cities and 32 venues still under consideration to be part of the United States’ bid for the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup matches 8 or 12 years from now. That is down from an original list of 52 U.S. cities and 72 sports facilities.
Sometime in December, the USA Bid Committee is expected to narrow the list down to 18 cities that will be part of the United States’ formal bid to FIFA, which must be submitted by May 14 next year. FIFA will announce its final decision in December 2010 on the country and cities that will serve as the hosts for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
If the U.S. and Kansas City are successful in their bids
to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cups, some matches
would be held in Arrowhead Stadium. Photo/KC Chiefs.
If the U.S. is selected to host the World Cup and Kansas City is named as one of the host cities, matches will be played at Arrowhead Stadium.
The United States is one of seven countries that have expressed a serious interest in hosting the World Cup in either 2018 or 2022. In addition to the U.S., the countries are Australia, England, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico and Russia. The Netherland and Belgium and Portugal-Spain submitted joint bids for both years. Qatar and South Korea have applied to host the international event in 2022 only.
“The benefits of hosting this world-class sporting event are unmatched,” Funkhouser said. “This would mean jobs, revenue and international recognition for Kansas City.”
The mayor’s comments were echoed by Neal Patterson, co-chairman of the Kansas City Bid Committee and co-owner of the Kansas City Wizards soccer club. “Bringing the world’s greatest sporting event to our city will benefit Kansas Citians in all walks of life and forever enhance Kansas City’s reputation throughput the world,” said Patterson, who is also chairman and CEO of Kansas City-based Cerner Corp.
A study released earlier by the USA Bid Committee estimated the total economic impact for any one World Cup host city to be in the $400 million to $600 million range. That estimate is based on 12 cities hosting five to six matches each. The study also estimated that 5,000 to 8,000 jobs would be created in each host city during the time cup matches were hosted there.
The World Cup is staged every four years. The event is ordinarily held over a 31-day period in June and July and consists of 64 matches involving 32 international teams. The matches are normally played in 10-14 cities/venues in the host country. Each venue normally hosts four to six matches, which are scheduled over a two- to three-week period.
The U.S. cities that are still in consideration are: Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Los Angles, Miami, Nashville, New York City, Oakland, Orlando, Philadelphia, Glendale-Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, St. Louis, Tampa and Washington, D.C.
The Kansas City Bid Committee includes members and content experts from a wide range of Kansas City metropolitan area public and private entities from both sides of the state line.
For more information:
Additional information on KC's bid for the 2018 or 2022 World Cup
Comments