World Cup bid is worth £292m to city
THE football World Cup could net Plymouth a staggering £292million if the city is chosen as a host venue.
Fans pouring into Plymouth – and the rest of Devon and Cornwall – would bring a massive cash injection, councillors will be told on Monday.
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The cost of bringing at least four World Cup matches to the city, along with training camps around the region and "Fan Fests" on the Hoe, would be about £15million, a special meeting of the full council will hear.
The council will decide on Monday whether to go ahead and submit an application to be a host city as part of the England bid to host the 2018 or 2022 FIFA World Cup.
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Final bids are due to be submitted on Thursday next week.
Council leader Vivien Pengelly said: "If we go ahead we all need to be in this together – it will take the full co-operation of everyone in the city to make us a real contender.
"We will have to put aside politics and any doubts and all strive to make Plymouth FIFA's choice for a host city.
"The benefits are potentially enormous, but there are substantial costs and obligations which need careful consideration.
"I've made no secret about my feelings – I think this is a wonderful opportunity for Plymouth. It really would raise the city's profile, help to continue the development of sporting facilities, as well as hotels and bed and breakfasts, and generate what is potentially a massive income for the economy.
"If local businesses benefit, then local people will benefit – I'm told being a host city could create more than 3,000 extra jobs.
"Improvements to the city will be a lasting legacy, plus the effects of international exposure will be priceless for the city and region's reputation as a tourist destination."
A report to the council says: "Costs are likely to be in the region of £15million in the period from 2010-2019, with the majority in the last three years.
"The event would generate substantial revenue into the city and region with an estimated total spend in the city of around £292 million. The benefits of this would largely flow to the private sector."
The private sector will need to pick up a large part of the tab.
If councillors agree on Monday, the city council will be committing itself to fulfilling its obligations as a host city if Plymouth is eventually selected.
The England 2018 team has to submit its bid to FIFA by May 2010, and the winning countries which will host the 2018 and the 2022 World Cups will be announced on December 2, 2010.
The council is part of a bid consortium led by Plymouth Argyle and chaired by Douglas Fletcher, chief executive of the Plymouth and South West Co-operative Society and chairman-designate of the Chamber of Commerce.
Also in the consortium are Devon and Cornwall Councils, Plymouth University and the Plymouth City Development Company.
Plymouth is one of 16 cities competing to be chosen as one about a dozen venues.
Tudor Evans, the Labour group leader on the council, said: "We offered our support initially, but like everything the devil is in the detail.
"If we are selected we will guarantee everything FIFA asks. They are asking for a massive blank cheque from the taxpayers. If we get over the next hurdle the costs will escalate exponentially."
The critical point of the bid is that Plymouth Argyle delivers a stadium with a total capacity of 43,000.
To pledge your support, go to http://www.plymouthworldcupbid.com,
click on the red square link to the FA's England 2018 site and then
scroll down the page to the voting registration web link.
Alternatively, text 'Plymouth' to 62018.
Plymouth Argyle World Cup Bid promotional video.
Argyle press conference: Plymouth bid to host World Cup. Filmed August 21. 2009.
Comments
by Jan M, Plymouth
Thursday, November 19 2009, 10:37PM
“Hi Bod. When I saw your posting yesterday I took a look and you are right. But if you take a look again at the date of that posting it's the eighth of July, and the powers that be did come and visit Plymouth during in the summer.
What remains to be seen, though, is if the World Cup even comes to England. That cannot be guaranteed. No-one should make up their minds just yet.
The 3,000 jobs that are mentioned will probably be only temporary.
The 43,000 seater stadium had better come with a back up plan, because Argyle will never fill it on a week to week basis. It'll take a lot more concerts or other major sporting events to be staged to make the stadium pay for itself in the long run. Montreal staged the Olympics in 1976 and it took thirty years for the stadium, named 'The Big Owe' ,to finally be clear of debt.
I'm not sure I like the outlay of £15m either. What will our council have to sell to budget for that, or will there be a huge hike in our Council Taxes? It will turn out being a lot more expensive than £15m. I'd say a blank cheque is more accurate than we would like to think.
And how many ordinary Plymothians will be able to obtain tickets to watch games, assuming the new stadium happens to stage matches at the latter stages? Take out the allocations for the nations involved, prominent F.A. and Civic officials, and the likes of us who have funded most of it might get the odd pair of tickets offered in a radio competition.
I know I'm coming across as cynical, but I see beyond the hype. I don't even trust the figure of £292m that this could earn the City. It's all spin.
World Cup - no thanks!”
by Bod, DeepestDarkestDevenport
Thursday, November 19 2009, 8:51PM
“PLYMOUTH, I repeat PLYMOUTH is not LISTED on the Official FA Website as being One of the 16 Nominated Clubs or Cities. Bristol is as are the other usual suspects like Liverpool & Manchester. BUT NOT PLYMOUTH. Has the Herald, the Council, PAFC or the Bidding Committee noticed this..?”
by Jan M, Plymouth
Thursday, November 19 2009, 8:25PM
“Pipe dreams at our expense.”
by Hermes (and Thelemia), Plymouth
Thursday, November 19 2009, 1:26AM
“Thirst did my pyre:
Aloft in Drake's Beacon.
Free flowed in love; one cup
Memoried Eden;
golden dawn”
by James, South West
Wednesday, November 18 2009, 11:15PM
“Where do they get these figures from? Earlier this week it was said Bristol would make £150 million if the tournament went there.
Are more people going to turn up at Plymouth or are the figures, as I suspect, simply plucked out of the air?”
by david, higher compton
Wednesday, November 18 2009, 10:26PM
“Wow ... cant wait for the bigknobs of the city to have their shindigs etc .... the public will see virtualy none of this £292 million .... take the transat race for example .... how many of you actualy got richer out of that ? a few pubs and a few restraunts and a lot of fat cats dressing up for a ticcket only do in a tent on the barbican ... and the public were banned from it .”
by jim, ply
Wednesday, November 18 2009, 10:21PM
“is this serious or what you have a problem getting a bag of chips in plymouth after nine oclock at nite,let alone looking thousands of football fans”
by Fathertime, Grantham
Wednesday, November 18 2009, 9:56PM
“What a triumph if Plymouth is selected, but at what cost. Are Plymouths' taxpayers really happy for the Consortium to sign a blank cheque for "costs that will escalate exponentially" for benefits which COULD reach £290 million. Benefits which will be spread across the local enconomy and not directly repay the costs.”
by argyleultra, derby
Wednesday, November 18 2009, 7:57PM
“The critical point of the bid is that Plymouth Argyle delivers a stadium with a total capacity of 43,000.'
er.......... thats going to mean at least 29k seats empty per home game the operating cost of a 60% per cent empty stadium will bankrupt the club - look at dalington 25k capacity 2.5k home gates whoops !”
by David Mavin, Eggbuckland
Wednesday, November 18 2009, 6:43PM
“I am backing the bid....but £15 millions to complete a Stadium fit for purpose seems relatively cheap, but if the private sector is prepared to put in the majority of the capital potentially £2 millions per year between 2010 and 2019, the least that we can do as city residents is support them, especially if the expected revenue is achieved, some of which would benefit city residents.
I suspect the £15 millions quoted are the costs for the host city to organise itself (not stadium related) and as long as the council are not underwriting the entire costs then what is the problem.
Fifteen million over 9 years seems reasonable to raise the cities profile on an international stage, offset of course by potential advertising revenue streams, job creation and tourist exposure.”