Bristol chosen as host city for England's 2018 World Cup bid
Start popping the champagne corks for Bristol has been included as a host city in England's 2018 World Cup bid.
Pinch yourself for a moment and just take it in. The prospect of the world's greatest players playing in a spanking new stadium a stone's throw from the famous Avon Gorge.
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The thousands of fans who will fill the city's hotels, bars and restaurants.
And the years of marketing which could culminate in an injection far exceeding the conservative predictions of £150million into the local economy from international and domestic tourism.
England are yet to win the right to stage the 2018 tournament but, whatever the outcome, Bristol is now guaranteed a bonanza year in the biggest shop window of the marketing world - the football World Cup.
And, perhaps more importantly still, the recognition that it is worthy of a place in such an event. That it has, or could have, the infrastructure, the facilities, the transport connections and the landmarks befitting a World Cup venue.
Delegates from the Bristol bid team will now travel to Wembley on Friday to find out what the next stage has in store for the city.
The others cities selected are Sunderland, London, Birmingham, Manchester, Nottingham, Leeds, Sheffield, Newcastle-Gateshead, Plymouth, Liverpool and Milton Keynes. Derby, Leicester and Hull were not selected.
England must submit its bid to FIFA in May ahead of judgement day in December when football's governing body will decide who will host the 2018 and the 2022 World Cups.
England's bid has been given fresh impetus after sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe confirmed the Government had signed off all the guarantees required by FIFA.
He said: "Signing off the guarantees at this early stage puts the bid in good shape.''
The guarantees have been agreed by all political parties and signed by Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
England bid chairman Lord Triesman said: "The guarantees underpin around £300million worth of financial commitment without which it would be impossible to host the tournament.
"This again demonstrates England's desire as a whole to meet and exceed FIFA's requirements and guarantees FIFA the most secure environment possible for the world's biggest sporting event in terms of security, financial, legal and commercial partner delivery.''
There are still question marks over Bristol's proposed new stadium in Ashton Vale but there is time and opportunity to resolve them.
The refusal of North Somerset Council to grant planning permission for access to the new stadium off the A370 last week will be revisited in January.
The stadia chosen for England's 2018 World Cup bid are: Sunderland – Stadium of Light; London – Wembley Stadium; Birmingham – Villa Park; Manchester – City of Manchester Stadium; Nottingham – the new Nottingham Forest stadium; London – Emirates Stadium; Leeds – Elland Road; Sheffield – Hillsborough; Newcastle/Gateshead – St James’ Park; Bristol – the new Ashton Vale stadium; London – the new White Hart Lane or Olympic Stadium; Plymouth – Home Park; Manchester – Old Trafford; Liverpool – Anfield or new Anfield and Milton Keynes – Stadium MK.
Pick up tomorrow's Evening Post for full reaction to Bristol's selection.
95 Comments
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by Nikita, Bristol
Thursday, December 17 2009, 11:47AM
“I think it would be good if we got the 2022 World cup, we already have 2012 Olympics, RLWC 2013, RUWC 2015 I hope these games will be affordable to all, I love sports, but find it dissapointly expensive in this country. I guess the venue could then be used for music and other shows when sport is not being played?”
by jon, bristol
Thursday, December 17 2009, 11:36AM
“To those poor people who cannot understand why Bristol is guaranteed a bonanza year in advertising, its quite simple.
Even if England does not win the world cup bid, for the next 12 months there will be a world-wide campaign championing Englands cause in order to try and win the bid. During that 12 months the potential host cities will be marketed all over the world as part of this bid. So even if the bid fails Bristol will have had 12 months of wonderful marketing and Bristol City will be getting their new stadium. It really is a win win situation. Even the Long Ashton nimbys will no doubt jump on the band wagon if the bid wins and use their land to sell car-parking like they do during the Balloon fiesta.”
by James+, Olde City
Thursday, December 17 2009, 12:26AM
“COME ON BRISTOL
Just returning to home town and reading here the wonderful news.
In the words of one blogger the other week (Supporter of NS Council) what a fantastic day for news, what a feeling the right decision has been taken.
Well what a time to be from the West Country, so all you boring people who support nothing but egotistic indulgence what view have you now for one of the worlds biggest events and what potential it could bring to our people?
ALWAYS BELIEVE”
by Mark, Madrid, Spain
Wednesday, December 16 2009, 11:33PM
“Simon, good post. Let's hope a few people get past parochial (it's the other team so we're against it) prejudices. This is a real chance to bring some bigger and better facilities to Bristol. Be a proud Bristolian and back the bid!”
by Andy, Hanham
Wednesday, December 16 2009, 11:03PM
“Rob, Hanham.
You really are an arrogant smart ass. Where do you get off telling someone they should stay off this forum? You seem excited, but I suspect in circumstances of excitement you are often premature....”
by Simon, Bristol
Wednesday, December 16 2009, 10:48PM
“All I would say is Bristol
6th largest City in the countrry, but nowhere near the the 6th in terms of facilities”
by ian, Bristol Born & Bred
Wednesday, December 16 2009, 10:42PM
“This is MARVELLOUS news for Bristol.
We are a proud city, with a great heritage, great history, great architecture, a beautiful waterfront, a fantastic bridge, and great people.
What a wonderful vision it would be to have the colour and cultural invasion of the World Cup in our midst.
AND - at the end of it all we will have a stadium fit to host major sports and entertainment events in the furute.
Well done all concerned in the bid. I hope that the North Somerset councillors see sense and seek whatever compromise they need to make the Ashton Vale stadium reality.”
by The Last Bristolian, In Bristol
Wednesday, December 16 2009, 9:42PM
“Sally, at a guess his persona was dreamt up during a brainstorming session of a Queens Sq marketing company
to assist with quashing any opposition to the BCFC superstore proposal.”
by Mark, Madrid, Spain
Wednesday, December 16 2009, 9:39PM
“Personally, I am amazed and extremely pleased, although it has taken a fair bit of digging to discover that the potential stadium is neither Ashton Gate, nor the Memorial Ground, but an as yet unbuilt stadium that not everyone wants.
For years Bristol, despite being the biggest city in the South-West has been a sporting backwater. Over the last fww years though, international cricket has come to Neville Road and been a great success, with sell-out crowds, showing that Bristol CAN host big, televised events successfully. Maybe Bristol will only get a couple of minor group games (although, with 8 groups and 6 marches per group the maths doesn't add up unless someone else is getting a heck of a lot of games), but who cares? It's the biggest festival of sport in the world and a wonderful showcase for the city. When was the last time Bristol hosted top-level, international football?
OK, so it may not happen but, I for one, as a Bristolian in exile, will be hoping that maybe, jusat maybe, the Englanf bid will get lucky, as London 2012 did (how many people thought 12 months before than London had even the remotest chance of success?)
Dream the dream and be proud!”
by derek, Nürnburg,germany 90478
Wednesday, December 16 2009, 9:04PM
“Why are so many people so negative?We had the World Cup here some years ago.Not just the ground but huge screens all over the city and people from all over the World came to watch.They spent money in the city and were astonished at the rivers,open spaces etc.Bristol is a great city so please dont spend all your time dragging it down.Be proud of it!”