Vegas throws name into hat
- by Paul Kennedy @pkedit, Apr 24, 2009
Three new candidates -- Las Vegas, Nev., Raleigh-Durham, N.C., and Salt Lake City, Utah -- also reached out to the USA Bid Committee to express their interest. Las Vegas -- which hosted the 1994 World Cup final draw -- currently does not offer a suitable stadium but requested to be included as a market for consideration.
"We are very pleased by the impressive response, and are certainly gratified by the enthusiasm and thorough understanding everyone has shown for this unique opportunity," said USA Bid Committee executive director David Downs. "The benefits to a host nation, and particularly to the venue cities where the matches could be played, are numerous and lasting. Tourism, economic impact, meaningful global exposure and a legacy of being at the center of a FIFA World Cup competition await host venues and cities if we are fortunate enough to stage the tournament here in 2018 or 2022."
The letters sent to stadium operators outlined FIFA's bid process and criteria for venue selection, which includes the candidate host nation providing a minimum of 12 stadiums capable of seating 40,000 or more spectators. Stadiums with a minimum capacity of 80,000 are required by FIFA for consideration to play host to the opening match and final.
Twelve stadiums -- five of the 10 with the largest capacities -- declined to be considered as potential candidates, while conversations continue with representatives of two stadiums as local officials there explore various venue feasibility issues before confirming their interest. They are all college stadiums. More than 20 other college stadiums have confirmed interest.
All 30 NFL stadiums contacted confirmed interest. Candlestick Park, home of the San Francisco 49ers, was not listed as a candidate.
"We will soon begin contacting all venue and metro market representatives on a one-on-one basis to ensure that their candidacy is in accordance with FIFA criteria," Downs said. "We are looking forward to working with all the parties involved as we continue this exciting bid process."
BID COMMITTEE'S STADIUM RESPONSES:
(Yes unless otherwise indicated; c=college stadium, NFL=NFL stadium.)
CITY (STADIUM) CAPACITY
NO 1. University Park, Pa. (c-Beaver Stadium) 107,282
2. Ann Arbor, Mich. (c-University of Michigan Stadium) 106,201
3. Columbus, Ohio (c-Ohio Stadium) 102,329
4. Knoxville, Tenn. (c-Neyland Stadium) 102,037
NO 5. Austin, Texas (c-Royal Texas Memorial Stadium) 94,113
6. Los Angeles, Calif. (c-Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum) 93,607
NO 7. Athens, Ga. (c-Sanford Stadium) 92,746
8. Pasadena, Calif. (c-Rose Bowl) 92,542
NO 9. Baton Rouge, La. (c-Tiger Stadium) 92,400
NO 10. Tuscaloosa, Ala. (c-Bryant-Denny Stadium) 92,138
11. Dallas, Texas (Cotton Bowl) 92,200
12. Landover, Md. (NFL-FedEx Field) 91,704
NO 13. Lincoln, Neb. (c-Memorial Stadium) 91,067
PENDING 14. Gainesville, Fla. (c-Ben Hill Griffin Stadium) 88,548
15. Tallahassee, Fla. (c-Doak Campbell Stadium) 88,300
NO 16. Auburn, Ala. (c-Jordan-Hare Stadium) 87,451
NO 17. College Station, Texas (c-Kyle Field) 83,002
18. East Rutherford, N.J. (*NFL-Meadowlands Stadium) 82,500
PENDING 19. Norman, Okla. (c-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium) 82,112
NO 20. South Bend, Ind. (c-Notre Dame Stadium) 80,795
21. Madison, Wis. (c-Camp Randall Stadium) 80,321
22. Clemson, S.C. (c-Memorial Stadium) 80,301
23. Columbia, S.C. (c-Williams-Brice Stadium) 80,250
24. Dallas, Texas (*NFL-Dallas Cowboys New Stadium) 80,000
25. Kansas City, Mo. (NFL-Arrowhead Stadium) 79,409
26. Denver, Colo. (NFL-Invesco Field) 76,125
27. Fayetteville, Ark. (c-Reynolds Razorback Stadium) 76,000
28. Berkeley, Calif. (c-California Memorial Stadium) 75,662
29. Orchard Park, N.Y. (NFL-Ralph Wilson Stadium) 75,339
NO 30. East Lansing, Mich. (c-Spartan Stadium) 75,025
31. Miami Gardens, Fla. (NFL-Dolphin Stadium) 74,916
32. Tempe, Ariz. (c-Sun Devil Stadium) 73,329
33. Charlotte, N.C. (NFL-Bank of America Stadium) 73,250
34. Cleveland, Ohio (NFL-Cleveland Browns Stadium) 73,200
35. Jacksonville, Fla. (NFL-Jacksonville Municipal Stadium) 73,000
36. Green Bay, Wis. (NFL-Lambeau Field) 72,515
37. Seattle, Wash. (c-Husky Stadium) 72,500
38. New Orleans, La. (NFL-Superdome) 72,003
39. Birmingham, Ala. (c-Legion Field) 71,594
40. San Diego, Calif. (NFL-Qualcomm Stadium) 71,294
41. Atlanta, Ga. (NFL-Georgia Dome) 71,149
42. Iowa City, Iowa (c-Kinnick Stadium) 70,585
43. Orlando, Fla. (Florida Citrus Bowl) 70,188
44. Houston, Texas (c-Rice Stadium) 70,000
45. Houston, Texas (NFL-Reliant Stadium) 69,500
46. Baltimore, Md. (NFL-M&T Bank Stadium) 69,084
47. Philadelphia, Pa. (NFL-Lincoln Financial Field) 68,500
48. Columbia, Mo. (c-Faurot Field) 68,349
49. Foxborough, Mass. (NFL-Gillette Stadium) 68,000
49. Seattle, Wash. (NFL-Qwest Field) 68,000
51. Lexington, Ky. (c-Commonwealth Stadium) 67,606
52. Nashville, Tenn. (NFL-LP Field) 67,000
NO 53. Blacksburg, Va. (c-Lane Stadium) 66,233
54. St. Louis, Mo. (NFL-Edward Jones Dome) 66,000
55. Cincinnati, Ohio (NFL-Paul Brown Stadium) 65,600
56. Tampa, Fla. (NFL-Raymond James Stadium) 65,657
57. Detroit, Mich. (NFL-Ford Field) 65,000
NO 57. Provo, Utah (c-LaVell Edwards Stadium) 65,000
57. San Antonio, Texas (Alamodome) 65,000
60. Pittsburgh, Pa. (NFL-Heinz Field) 64,500
61. Minneapolis, Minn. (NFL-Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome) 64,035
62. Oakland, Calif. (NFL-Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum) 63,146
63. Chicago, Ill. (NFL-Soldier Field) 63,000
63. Indianapolis, Ind. (NFL-Lucas Oil Stadium) 63,000
63. Glendale, Ariz. (NFL-University of Phoenix Stadium) 63,000
66. Champaign, Ill. (c-Memorial Stadium) 62,872
67. New Haven, Conn. (c-Yale Bowl) 61,446
68. Washington, D.C. (RFK Memorial Stadium) 56,692
69. Minneapolis, Minn. (*c-TCF Bank Stadium) 50,300
70. Stanford, Calif. (c-Stanford Stadium) 50,000
OTHER CITIES:
Las Vegas, Nev.
Raleigh-Durham, N.C.
Salt Lake City, Utah (c-Rice-Eccles Stadium) 45,017
