FA World Cup bid team tour Bristol

A team of experts from the England 2018 World Cup bid team have been shown around Bristol as part of the city's bid to host part of the 2018 World Cup.

The visits to the proposed Ashton Vale stadium site, hospitality areas and fan sites yesterday were the first stages in deciding Bristol's suitability to play a part in staging the massive sporting event.

The team leading Bristol's bid said they felt confident that the city offered the right mix of credentials to be a successful host city.

Councillor Simon Cook, executive for culture, sport and tourism projects, said: "Representatives from the FA have come down today to talk to us and we have taken them round to various sites in the cities.

"They've seen possible fan park sites, hospitality areas which will have big screens and the site for the new stadium at Ashton Vale, which can be extended to host 42,000 fans.

"We think we've got a fantastic offer here. Obviously, there's a lot of work to do around transport and where the fan parks will go, how big they would be, a lot of work to get the stadium done.

"I think we can be the city that can host teams and games for the South West – they are looking for a geographical spread across England.

"I think it's gone very well, the response was very good. Obviously, they are playing their cards close to their chest. They've got a lot of cities to go to – we're doing our level best."

As well as stadium facilities, all 15 British cities applying to be host cities must offer hospitality areas, fan parks, excellent transport facilities and show they meet environmental sustainability standards.

"We've sold the city not only on its facilities but on its cultural offerings," added Mr Cook. "It's a diverse city and so many people are enthused by this and want the World Cup to come to Bristol. We've also got strong green credentials – we were the only British city to be finalists in the European Green City awards.

The Ashton Vale stadium would be the new home of Bristol City.

The club's chief executive Colin Sexstone said: "This is something for the whole of Bristol. I'm Bristolian and I feel a pride in our city; this is our chance to express that pride and share it will the millions of people that are involved in a World Cup.

"We only get one chance."

According to figures from FIFA, 18.4 million people attended the fan parks to watch the matches on giant screens, consuming a total of 3.5 million litres of beer.

The team said that final figures of costs to host the World Cup were not yet clear, but that unlike the Olympics, there would be minimal public spending and much of the money could be recouped through money spent in the city at the event.

City Council chief executive Jan Ormondroyd said: "Some of the things which are needed for the final bid are not new costs because of the 2018 bid but things that are planned anyway to improve the city."

The team will get feedback on the visit in early August and there will be a second visit in September.

In December the city will find out if it is a candidate city and in December 2010 we will discover if England will be hosting the 2018 event.

A statement from England 2018 Ltd said: "We have been impressed with the quality of the outline submissions from all Applicant Host Cities and these inspection visits will now enable the England 2018 World CupBid team to provide support throughout the process."