OT: BC Govt balking at subsidizing 2026 World Cup bid

[MeHateHe]

Maybe a negotiating ploy, but the premier said in a later scrum that he wasn't interested in signing a blank cheque to have a few games at BC Place Stadium. Still, nice to see governments push back on this, especially given how little return there would be.

B.C. may pull Vancouver as a potential FIFA World Cup host city

Click to read more...

 

[cutchemist42]

Glad to hear this. FIFA needs the stadium more than Vancouver needs 8 soccer games.

 

[BKIslandersFan]

What does BC Place really need aside from grass pitch? That can’t cost too much money.

 

[MeHateHe]

Glad to hear this. FIFA needs the stadium more than Vancouver needs 8 soccer games.

It won't be eight games. Canada will get 10 games altogether, so Vancouver might get three or four.

 

[BKIslandersFan]

It won't be eight games. Canada will get 10 games altogether, so Vancouver might get three or four.

More reason to not waste a dime.

 

[StreetHawk]

What does BC Place really need aside from grass pitch? That can’t cost too much money.

Shouldn’t Vancouver get all of th games for 1 pool? Or do they plan on sharing those games with say Seattle?

6 games per pool. Main cost would be putting in and maintaining real grass.

But the ticket prices should cover that.

 

[mouser]

Shouldn’t Vancouver get all of th games for 1 pool? Or do they plan on sharing those games with say Seattle?

6 games per pool. Main cost would be putting in and maintaining real grass.

But the ticket prices should cover that.

World Cup scheduling has never cared about placing all the pool games geographically close to each other. Also it's very common for all 4 teams in a pool to play on the same day--and in the case of the 3rd game of the pool at the same time.

 

[MeHateHe]

Shouldn’t Vancouver get all of th games for 1 pool? Or do they plan on sharing those games with say Seattle?

6 games per pool. Main cost would be putting in and maintaining real grass.

But the ticket prices should cover that.

The main cost will likely be security. Security costs for the Olympics was north of a billion dollars, the bulk of which was covered by the province.

 

[MeHateHe]

More comments from the premier and some arguments from the opposition, who claim that they turned a $2 million investment into a $118 million benefit from the Women's World Cup. (Never mind that that tournament had a lot more involvement in Vancouver, including a final that included a US team strongly supported by fans from the US Northwest.)

B.C. won't sign 'blank cheque' for Vancouver's FIFA World Cup bid

 

[nickp91]

Of all of the governments involved in Canada's 2026 World Cup bid, the BC NDP government are the only ones opposed to hosting games in Vancouver BC Place should already be ready for group play stage, it's not like the stadium needs additional capacity It's still a fairly new stadium after the renovations.

 

[Jumptheshark]

It won't be eight games. Canada will get 10 games altogether, so Vancouver might get three or four.

I was about to point that out.

Mexico and US will get the most games. Toronto would get the most games in canada

 

[tony d]

Given it's only going to be 2-3 games I can see why people are shy on investing. Besides public money should never ever go towards paying for a sports stadium.

 

[CorbeauNoir]

What does BC Place really need aside from grass pitch? That can’t cost too much money.

BC Place isn't a sports venue so much as it is essentially a convention center that somehow manages to fit in the schedules of two sports teams on the side. The priority for the building is in hard-floor events so the field is basically carpet rolled out over concrete; you can't just lay turf down, keep it properly watered, and not expect it to immediately turn into a sloppy mess. People pissed and moaned about the artificial turf for the WWC but the reality is that it's logistically impractical to maintain real grass in that building to an international pro standard for the sake of a couple of soccer games.

 

[BKIslandersFan]

Of all of the governments involved in Canada's 2026 World Cup bid, the BC NDP government are the only ones opposed to hosting games in Vancouver BC Place should already be ready for group play stage, it's not like the stadium needs additional capacity It's still a fairly new stadium after the renovations.

For men’s World Cup, grass pitch is a requirement.

I think someone said why that would be an expensive proposition for only three or four games.

 

[StreetHawk]

World Cup scheduling has never cared about placing all the pool games geographically close to each other. Also it's very common for all 4 teams in a pool to play on the same day--and in the case of the 3rd game of the pool at the same time.

Hen it’s not worth the investment. End, mon, tor and van were supposed to be part of the Canadian hosting contingent. Only 10 games in Canada. That’s an expensive security cost for 3 games edm and mon got 2 each and can and tor got 3 each. Plus if they need to have grass that is another expense.

Rugby 7’s we’re here last week and got over 80k for the 2 day event. Max capacity is 100k.

 

[Fulham]

we'd get a couple of group stage games thats it. Im a Whitecaps STH but cant imagine paying $100++ to watch Togo play Paraguay

 

[cbcwpg]

Vancouver no longer part of North American bid to host World Cup 2026

The provincial government confirmed Wednesday that Vancouver has been dropped from the North American bid to host the world’s largest sporting event.

Beare said the doors to B.C. Place Stadium remain open for hosting 2026 World Cup games, but only if the bid committee reconsiders its demands and provides the province with more cost certainty.

 

[Mightygoose]

Good call by the BC government on this one

Not worth the cost for 3 games at a maximum.

 

[cutchemist42]

Glad to see them standing up for themselves. Why anyone is fawning over this org. is beyond me.

 

[StreetHawk]

Sounds like they are spreading the games too far. Not surprising given the sheer number of football stadiums in North America. Every city wants a share but if security is going to be too high better to concentrate the games into a couple of sites in Canada.

 

[LeHab]

For men’s World Cup, grass pitch is a requirement.

I think someone said why that would be an expensive proposition for only three or four games.

What would be the cost?

 

[LeHab]

Sounds like they are spreading the games too far. Not surprising given the sheer number of football stadiums in North America. Every city wants a share but if security is going to be too high better to concentrate the games into a couple of sites in Canada.

With Vancouver dropping only Edmonton, Montreal and Toronto are considered as hosts. Toronto will have the smallest capacity. We still don't know if host nations will get an automatic qualifier. Joint hosting means FIFA has the discretion on the final decision. Given that tournament will expand from 32 to 48 teams I highly doubt FIFA would risk not having US participating so I think all three will be in.
That is if the joint bid wins in the first place...

If Canada is in, I wonder if they would have a game in each city.

 

[Jumptheshark]

FIFA is still the most corrupt organization on the planet.

considering how much money it takes and the fact FIFA keeps a majority of money and they explain to cities that they make the money back in hotel rooms and tourist money. Vancouver is one of the most visited places on the planet

 

[MeHateHe]

What would be the cost?

The problem, as has been noted a few times in the news stories, is that FIFA wouldn't guarantee a dollar figure. So the provincial government said they weren't going to offer FIFA (or the host organizing committee) a blank cheque.

 

[crobro]

How does the NDP expect a fixed cost on something happening 8 years from now