If we believe the media rage today, our hopes of rebuilding the economy are up in smoke thanks to FIFA awarding the 2018 World Cup to Russia.
There’s no doubt that hosting the tournament would have delivered an economic boost to England and the South West. Bristol and Plymouth were candidate host cities.
Regional media in both cities voiced civic leaders’ disappointment at the result, which dashes their hopes for a share of the spoils from the world’s biggest spectator event.
The opportunity cost to Bristol (which does not yet have a stadium that is fit for purpose for such an event) is estimated to be £150m in lost income. That doesn’t account for the £400,000 the city council spent on supporting the bid, which media reported on today.
Recognising the economic potential of the 2018 event, the HCA directly supported the bid through its work in Milton Keynes, which was also a candidate host city.
Not the end of the world
Of course it’s hugely disappointing not to have won the bid. More concerning if the questions FIFA faces questions over its decision to grant the tournament to Russia. But, as some outside the media have rightly said, it’s hardly the end of the world.
We can take a positive from this story. Football clubs and local and national Government showed they can work together for the greater good. They can build on these partnerships and provide a real ‘win win’ scenario for all involved.
Local leaders recognised this, stating that the job of regenerating local communities goes on regardless. This remains their focus, and would have been even if we had won the bid to host the 2018 tournament.
Leaders in Plymouth made this point well at a press conference after the result yesterday in this video is below.
That FIFA could be more transparent and open is hardly ‘news’. It would not have merited a footnote in many reports if England’s bid had triumphed.
As a football fan, I’m disappointed that I will not take my kids to a game in Bristol in 2018. That would be a wonderful event to share.
Looking on the bright side, if England hosts the 2030 World Cup (which, amazingly, is the next possible tournament they could bid for) maybe the kids could take me.