Oakland moves forward in bid to host World Cup games
on November 17, 2009
Oakland is one step closer to being chosen as the site for a future World Cup Series soccer match, that is, if the Federation Internationale de Football Association picks the US as a host country for either the 2018 or 2022 tournament.
City officials have been vying for the title of US host city since June, and earlier this month they passed a resolution to continue bidding. Although Oakland has already survived a few stages of the bidding process, it faces some fierce competition from 26 other cities – many of whose residents have much more aggressively voted in favor of hosting what could arguably be the most-watched international sports event in the world.
However, the governing body of the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, home to the Raiders and A’s, signed an agreement today with the USA Bid Committee and Federation Internationale de Football Association stating the Coliseum has the capacity to organize and plan World Cup-related events. One possible event would include hosting an indoor Oakland Fan Fest that would carry live broadcasts of all 64 matches, according to the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Authority resolution.
The games could generate as much as $300 – 500 million for its host city and create 5,000 – 8,000 new temporary jobs, according to a study commissioned by the USA Bid Committee.
In December the Federation Internationale de Football Association will announce its choice of host countries for both the 2018 and 2022 matches. If the US is selected, the bid committee will narrow its list of the 27 contending US cities down to 18.
To vote for Oakland to host the World Cup, click here.
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