Knoxville is still alive and kicking in its bid to host some matches for the 2018 or 2022 World Cup.
The U.S. has formally declared its desire to host world soccer’s top event and must have its application to FIFA, the sport’s governing body, by May 2010.
According to a release from the USA bid committee on Tuesday, a final list of host cities/markets will be announced by year’s end. The original list of 58 stadiums considered has been trimmed to 45. Twelve venues are usually selected to host World Cup matches.
Although Knoxville is among the smallest metropolitan areas still being considered, Neyland Stadium, with a seating capacity listed at 100,011 for such an event, is the third largest stadium among those remaining, behind Michigan Stadium (108,000) and Ohio Stadium (101,568).
The bid committee is requesting more information from remaining cities such as tourism, climate, security, transportation and promotion.
© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Comments » 29
bkgunter writes:
Great to still be in the running for such world wide exposure.
VolGraduate writes:
First! and nice!
VolGraduate writes:
chit...still second though. hope this comes to knoxville. it would be a great thing for all the east tn hillbillies to experience some culture
VolinLexington writes:
I think you need to re-evaluate!
SmokyMTNVol writes:
I truly hope you are not a UT grad.
VOLDoll writes:
Bring it on to Knoxville baby! Wooooo Hooooo, Yes.
VOLDoll writes:
I'm with you! We can only hope. lol!
ayrbear#214586 writes:
We lost a great opportunity years ago in the mid 1990's when a travel group went to World Cup events.
Mike Birch (From England now living in Athens TN) and former State Senator Brown Ayres along with UT reps went to Italy hoping to find a way to use our football venue
UT did not want to put grass down..oh those great days of astro turf
K-Town lost 300 million plus..
You should call upon these great men to help you.... UT may just want to plant astro turf again...
BMA
VolGraduate writes:
I hate you all. It takes ballz to claim first.
On topic....ilike how Hamilton said earlier that he didn't object to the world cup being in neyland unless there was a scheduling conflict. What? The world cup is in the middle of the summer???? Hamilton is stupider than I am
bunker_hill#300251 writes:
The host country does have some choice on when to start it and such, but yea basically it is in the summer. I'm thinking Hamilton's comments might be geared towards if it ran into August and/or Sept which is obviously preseason practice and games starting. Also maybe if that AAFL ever gets going (doubt it) that might cause a problem, but yea if you can host the World Cup I think you can work your schedule around that!
4IDVOL writes:
I would so love to see my hometown be one of the host cities for the World Cup. It would be a great way to promote the sport in the city. It would also be great exposure on an international level for the city. Soccer is a great sport. I am a fan of football and baseball--more traditional American sprts, but I love soccer, too. Perhaps, if it does well, it could land a MLS team in the state. That would be awesome... .
FLVOL79 writes:
I still wish they could have had some teams come back in 1994. I wouldnt have had to drive to RFK in DC (ghetto)
VOLuptuous writes:
As a giant UT football fan and a Sam's Army Member (the supporter club for US soccer) this is extremely exciting to me. I know that many people do not realize the world appeal of "futbol" (in spanish to eliminate undue hate), but the amount of international and US exposure this event would bring to Knoxville would be unreal. This is 10x more than a super bowl on the world stage (seriously). The revenue it would bring to the city would be incredible as well. No matter where you stand on this sport, you should be behind this bid. It benefits all Americans, and would specifically benefit this community.
VOLuptuous writes:
and for those concerned....the world cup is traditionally hosted in late June early July (our college off-season). there would be no interference with our infrastructure. BTW, look how much money FIFA has put into South Africa hosting the event. Upgrades occur at all stadia. If you don't want that for Neyland (although it is currently occurring), then what do you want for UT......This IS A GIANT PLUS ALL AROUND.....get over your soccer hate and realize this opportunity for exactly what it is....A GIANT EXPOSURE AND FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY (and yes, cas do make an emphasis)
cantstoptheHOP writes:
As a football (soccer) fan living in Knoxville, I'm stoked that the city still has a chance. The economic advantages of the World Cup far outweigh any sporting event that Americans alone can put on (football and basketball included) and the improvements Knoxville could receive through this are substantial.
This would be great for not only the city, but surrounding cities (Nashville, Charlotte, Montgomery, Chattanooga, Atlanta) if those cities don't receive bids themselves.
If there is only college stadium that would be able to sell a city alone, it is Neyland. The sheer size and improvements that have and are being made are great selling points!
sks writes:
Knoxville does not have the necessary public transportation to host.
mbible1utk#324980 writes:
I think we got this... one of the top 3 stadiums, and we have way more to see than Ann Arbor and Columbus. As for transportation, I think we're fine on that front. Worst case scenario we borrow buses. Knoxville is definitely the top spot over the other two though. I think we'll get one. Oh yeah, and our climate is about right too.
kyvol98 writes:
Not a fan, but, as previous posters have stated, this would be HUGE for Knoxville, both for the worldwide exposure and economically
KG5 writes:
The potential cities (and stadium, if multiple in area): Ann Arbor, Atlanta (Georgia Dome), Baltimore, Birmingham, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas (Cotton Bowl and Cowboys Stadium), Denver, Detroit, Fayetteville, Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Knoxville, Las Vegas, Los Angeles (Memorial Coliseum and Rose Bowl), Miami, Minneapolis (Metrodome and the new Gophers' stadium), Nashville, New Orleans, New York (New New Meadowlands Stadium), Oakland, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix (Cardinals Stadium and Sun Devil Stadium), Pittsburgh, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle (Husky Stadium and Qwest Field), St. Louis, Tampa, Washington, D.C. (FedEx Field and RFK)
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
Fear the Sphere (Sun)
John_Galt writes:
Wow! Futbol's really popular worldwide.
It's amazing that there is not a large group of soccer snobs telling us ignorant Americans this every stinking day!
I would love for the event to come to Knoxville, but I would not cherish the 8 to 12 years of soccer snobbery that would definitely come with it. It seems that it is not enough to be a soccer fan, you also have to persuade other people to attend games with you by insulting their intelligence and their preferred sports.
Soccer Fans atitudes are the main reason the sport has never taken off in the USA. (That and a ridiculous off-side rule, game clocks counting up, penalty time, slow pace, no offense and players pretending they've been shot after every inadvertent midfield trip.)
For your reading pleasure:
http://www.sportspickle.com/features/...
smyrnavol writes:
i don't know anything about soccer, so this is a legit question. is the need for security, or lack of a problem. all i see on tv are riots between the two teams fans, and the destruction of the stadium's they play in. i agree this would be a plus for knoxville to host. for all of you that know the game please enlighten me.
TonyGeist writes:
You've clearly never played competitive soccer, and are nothing but a redneck, backwood, fiddle-playin' hick. Euro white trash, that's why it's the most lucrative sport in the world. Try watching a Champions League game. There's more action in those games than NFL games. And when soccer players get hit, they don't have pads on.
TonyGeist writes:
I doubt there would be secret service level security, but I would say it would be about on-par with Florida/UT games. The primary riots occur between rival club teams with religious differences or deeply-rooted hatred. Not much fan violence between the teams that would be participating in the World Cup, because honestly, the teams with enormous amounts of riots don't normally make it into the tournament, think Iraq, certain African countries, etc.
smyrnavol writes:
thanks
jturne44 writes:
wow dude...wow...
cantstoptheHOP writes:
My predictions (Remind me to look this up in 5 years when its announced): Chicago, Dallas (Cowboys Stadium), Houston, LA (Rose Bowl), New York, New Orleans, Phoenix (Cardinals Stadium), Tampa, Knoxville, Las Vegas, Cincinnati, St. Louis
TonyGeist writes:
http://www.worldcupblog.org/world-cup...
Soccer does, in fact, beat the Super Bowl in ratings. Twice as much, too.
And considering that most of the soccer fans have more class than your average Gator fan, how would they tear up Neyland more than them?
As pertaining to your linebacker quip, I would venture to say that if an average linebacker were to hit a soccer player, he would go down. If a player from the EPL were to kick a linebacker, he would die.
And FYI, most riots from soccer games occur in South America, not Europe.
bballvol1234 writes:
thats great but how are we supposed to accomodate these people as of now there aren't enough hotels in the area to have enough rooms during a bike rally...before you answer please dont say we have enough rooms during football season because that is one weekend with a limited number of tickets so that right around 100,000 fans are in town and that even counts those that live within driving distance and dont stay the night...the world cup will more than likely be four teams in a pool that plays for a week or so bringin in fans from four different countries whom are not within driving distance (obviously)...additionally security may be something to consider with rabid soccer fans from different nations...while i would love to see the exposure for knoxville and the surrounding area i just cant see us getting a bid as a city
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