2018|2022 World Cup Bid Feature: Englands Bid
After a successful bid for the 2012 Olympics, the founders of football are taking on the job to bid for the mother of all football competitions the Fifa world cup. England, who have not hosted the tournament since their world cup triumph, are bidding for the 2018 and 2022 competitions.
Firstly we look at why we are bidding for best football competition on the globe.
In 2006, when England reached the quarter final of the Fifa world cup, thirty million people watched- over half of the population showing the support of the sport. Along with football being vastly watched across the country, over eight one percent of boys and thirty one percent of girls play the sport regularly. England’s passion for sport is clearly shown as we host many sporting events every year including: The Fa Cup, Wimbledon, British Open, The Six Nations, The Grand National and many more. England will also be hosting many other sports events in the coming years such as: In 2011 the UEFA Champions League Final; In 2012 The Olympics, The Cricket World Cup, The Rugby World Cup and many more.
In Addition to social benefits of bringing the world to cup to England, the tournament would also provide economic benefits. Not only would the host country receive money for hosting the event, many businesses would also benefit with increased tourism and thousands of jobs would have been created. The world cup if in England would be expected to attract over three million international visitors and contribute over three billion to the uk economy.
With such excellent stadia, England is the perfect place to stage such large scale matches which the world cup brings. We now look over the brilliant stadia of which England has to offer.
Wembley Stadium – Final, Quarter Final
Firstly, we start with the ninety thousand seat extravaganza new Wembley. Although it took seven years to build, Wembley stadium is the largest and most iconic football stadiums in Britain. The eight hundred million creation will stage: the final, a quarter final and a group stage match.
Location: London, England
Opened: 2007
Owner: The Football Association
Surface: Grass, FieldTurf
Construction cost: GBP £800 million
Architect: Foster and Partners Populous
Capacity: 90,000
Old Trafford – Semi Final
Our second potential world cup stadium is commonly known as the theatre of dreams yes it’s Old Trafford. Home to the English champions-Manchester United, Old Trafford is currently the second largest stadium in Britain with a capacity of over seventy six thousand seats. If England’s bid was successful, the one hundred year old monument would host: a semi final, a knockout phase match and a group stage match.
Location: Trafford, Greater Manchester Opened: 19 February 1910
Owner: Manchester United Surface: Grass Construction cost: £90,000 Architect: Archibald Leitch Capacity: 76,212
Stanley Park (New Anfield) – Quarter Final
If built in time, Liverpool’s new stadium will be included in the 2018 world cup line up. New Anfield, which will have a minimum capacity of sixty thousand, is expected to be built by 2012. With an option to increase its capacity to seventy three thousand, New Anfield will also be host to a quarter final, a knockout phase match and a group stage match.
Location: Liverpool, England Opened: Estimated 2012-2013 Owner: Liverpool F.C. Surface: Grass Construction cost: estimated £400 million Architect: HKS, Inc Capacity: 60,000, with potential to increase 73,000
The Emirates – Quarter Final
The third stadium to host both a quarter final is Arsenal’s one of kind stadium the Emirates. Being the second largest club stadium in England, the emirates can hold over sixty thousand people. Along with a quarter and semi final, the gunners stadium will host a knockout stage and a group stage match.
Former name: Ashburton Grove Location: Holloway, Islington, London N5 1BU Opened: 22 July, 2006 Owner: Arsenal F.C. Surface: Desso GrassMaster Construction cost: £ 390 million Architect: HOK Sport Capacity: 60,432 seated
2012 Olympic Stadium- Semi Final
Our second semi final venue is the four hundred and sixty nine million pound 2012 Olympic Stadium. The Olympic stadium, which is the third largest stadium in the UK, is situated in Stratford, London. The 80,000 capacity stadium, which was scheduled to downgrade to 25,000 capacity post Olympics, may open its doors to the world cup as a quarter final venue.
Location: Stratford, London, Great Britain Built: (Expected completion 2011) Surface: Track & Field (Grass) Construction cost: £469 Million Architect: Populous and Sir Peter Cook Capacity: 80,000
Tottenham’s new stadium
Although Tottenham Hotspur’s new stadium is still in the planning stages, it could also take part in the 2018 world cup. With its ideal location, Tottenham’s stadium would be ideal stadium for major games with its close proximity to the airport. If built in time, this stadium would be used for knockout stage matches and a quarter final.
Full name: TBA Former names: White Hart Lane Location: London, England Owner: Tottenham Hotspur F.C. Surface: Grass Construction cost: Estimated at around £400 million Architect: MAKE Architects Capacity: 56,250
Knockout Stage and Group Phase Stadiums
SportsDirect.com@ St James Park Location:Newcastle Capacity: 52,200 (possible expansion to 60,000) Owner: Newcastle United Surface: Grass
City Of Manchester Stadium
Location: Manchester Capacity: 48,500 (possible expansion to 50,000) Owner: Manchester City Surface: Grass
Stamford Bridge
Location: London Capacity: 42,500 ( possible expansion to 55,000) Owner: Chelsea Surface: Grass
Stadium Of Light
Location: Sunderland Capacity: 48,300 (Expansion in planning process) Owner: Sunderland Surface: Grass
Villa Park
Location: Birmingham Capacity: 43,300 (Due to be expanded to 50,000) Owner: Aston Villa Surface: Grass
The Kirkby Project (Everton’s new stadium)
Location: Kirkby, Liverpool, England Owner: Everton F.C. Surface: Grass Capacity: 50,401
As well as these, there are also many other stadiums on the cards including:
St Andrews
MK Dons Stadium
St Marys Stadium
Madjeski Stadium
Pride Park
Ricoh Arena
Kingston Communications Stadium
Bristol City’s New Stadium
Walkers Stadium
Portsmouth’s New Stadium
But with over eight years left until the start of the tournament anything can be possible with stadiums being able to be built in time for the competition.
(c) Oliver McGrath & Blogsfc
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