World Cups 2018 and 2022 Just Awarded

[MUFC9295]

2018 to Russia and 2022 to... QATAR! 

[jaybilaswho?]

WTF!?!?!? US lost to Qatar?

here is what i found on ESPN. Just a portion of the article...

http://espn.go.com/sports/soccer/news/_/id/5872089/us-world-cup-bid-swings-misses

In comparison to its competitors, the U.S. presentation, touching on the usual inane fare about being multicultural and professing how much the country loves the game, looked timid and was marred by gaffes. Morgan Freeman accidentally skipped a page of his speech and interrupted himself to correct it; several people misspoke and all speeches but Freeman's were flat and uninspired -- most notably former President Bill Clinton's meandering talk about many things other than the World Cup, including his foundation's work. Then there was the ill-advised spell when the slouching Gulati nixed the dais embraced by everybody else and paced around, giving his speech through a hand-held microphone.

But regardless of its flaws, the presentation, as indeed did the entire bid campaign, focused on the U.S. as a practical, flexible (18 World Cup-ready cities to choose from!) and profitable choice. It was eminently clear that the U.S. had chosen to appeal to the bean counters, rather than those voting from the heart. Many of the talking points revolved around the record number of tickets sold when the U.S. held the '94 World Cup -- while steering clear of having hosted so recently, the second-biggest strike against the 2022 bid. Then the U.S. tried to induce salivation by hyping the potential riches flowing forth from sponsorship and broadcast rights, while pointing out that the necessary stadiums, airports, train links and hotels exist and are operational.

Ultimately, Qatar, which had been in a dead heat with the U.S. according to insiders and bookmakers, ran a stirring campaign, offering FIFA what it so craves: a new market. The tiny oil-fueled state's beautiful proposition was reflected in a presentation that blew the U.S.'s out of the water aesthetically and emotionally. "When?" one of the stunning videos asked. When would the Arabs finally get the tournament of tournaments?

[jesmu84]

Is anyone going to be surprised when, in 5-10 years, we hear about how much money Russia and Qatar gave to FIFA officials?  I'm not saying it's unspeakable that we could have lost, but I am saying from a profit, attendance, and logic standpoint, the US and England make so much more sense.

[GGGG]

I think you may here more about vote trading than you will bribery.

And anyway, if the US sells the most tickets wherever the Cup goes, such as South Africa, what is the incentive to actually put it here?  They can make American $$$ in Qatar and in Russia instead.

Americans f*cked this up as much as they did the Olympic bid.

[Ari Gold]

Can we say with any certainty that Qatar will still be around in 2022? It's like a 10 minute flight to there from Baghdad (which will probably be named Rumsfeld) or Iran. Can't imagine that is risky or anything

[jaybilaswho?]

In response to the heat, I heard that Qatar has promised to air condition every stadium.

[DJO's Pump Fake]

Who cares?

[reinko]

Who cares?

Billions of people care.  Billions.  Me included.

[chren21]

Who cares?

I care. This is devastating.  Definitly some bribing going on.

[groove]

so no beer and no scantily clad women in 2022?

[reinko]

Deadpsin NAILS it.

Headline: 
Pandemonium, Jubilation In The Streets Of Doha As Qatar Wins 2022 World Cup

[LON]

so no beer and no scantily clad women in 2022?

Definitely not the hundreds of thousands of prostitutes/condoms that South Africa saw.  That's for sure.

Also, don't be gay in Qatar, you'll go to jail.

[reinko]

Definitely not the hundreds of thousands of prostitutes/condoms that South Africa saw.  That's for sure.

Also, don't be gay in Qatar, you'll go to jail.

Ronaldo might be in trouble then, hope he is too old to play.  He could end getting stoned to death.

[GGGG]

Deadpsin NAILS it.

Headline: 
Pandemonium, Jubilation In The Streets Of Doha As Qatar Wins 2022 World Cup

http://deadspin.com/5704434/pandemonium-jubilation-in-the-streets-of-doha-as-qatar-wins-2022-world-cup

The comments are fantastic!

[reinko]

http://deadspin.com/5704434/pandemonium-jubilation-in-the-streets-of-doha-as-qatar-wins-2022-world-cup

The comments are fantastic!

Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner: Karen Owen is excited about traveling to the World Cup and exploring this exotic, misunderstood culture. She thinks she'll fit in pretty well. She has plenty of practice at spending time on her knees five times a day

[ChicosBailBonds]

To host the olympics is a terrible decision economically. 

Here in Los Angeles we made millions on the Olympics and proved it could be done and done well.

[jesmu84]

Here in Los Angeles we made millions on the Olympics and proved it could be done and done well.

True. That was one of the first Olympics in the modern era that proved the olympics could be profitable.  But seriously? You're going to go back to 1984? How many can you name in the last 15 years that have been profitable? A huge majority of them try to "outdo" each other through ceremonies, new stadiums, technology, etc. and lose money - usually this is because they go significantly over-budget.

After what Beijing did (and threw tons of money away to gain worldwide "envy) every city is going to have to measure up to that standard.  And few can afford to put the money in that they did, without it being a huge loss.

[ChicosBailBonds]

1984: Los Angeles Olympic Games made profits of US $335 million.

1988: Seoul Olympic Games made profits of US $300 million

1992: Barcelona Olympic Games made profits of US $5 million.

1996: Atlanta Olympic Games made profits of US $10 million.

2000: Sydney Olympic Games made a profit of $330 million Australian Dollars

2004:  Athens lost their ass

2008:  Beijing lost their ass

[Henry Sugar]

Yesterday's Entry
http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/02/why-losing-the-world-cup-bid-is-a-big-win-a-guest-post/

Nate Silver implies some shadiness with Qatar.  
http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/02/qatar-a-questionable-world-cup-host/

From July 19
http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/19/should-the-u-s-really-try-to-host-another-world-cup/

[rocky_warrior]

Thread sanitized.  Apologies to those that lost posts.

[Hards Alumni]

Thread sanitized.  Apologies to those that lost posts.

no need to apologize.

[IAmMarquette]

Yesterday's Entry
http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/02/why-losing-the-world-cup-bid-is-a-big-win-a-guest-post/

Nate Silver implies some shadiness with Qatar.  
http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/02/qatar-a-questionable-world-cup-host/

From July 19
http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/19/should-the-u-s-really-try-to-host-another-world-cup/

Interesting reads. Regarding the third article, the main argument makes the selections of Russia and Qatar all the more baffling. The US has the facilities in place, and those facilities wouldn't stand vacant following the tournament. I can't imagine that it would cost the US nearly as much to host such an event as it would countries like Russia, S. Africa, Qatar and Australia (2004 Olympics).

[chren21]

Interesting reads. Regarding the third article, the main argument makes the selections of Russia and Qatar all the more baffling. The US has the facilities in place, and those facilities wouldn't stand vacant following the tournament. I can't imagine that it would cost the US nearly as much to host such an event as it would countries like Russia, S. Africa, Qatar and Australia (2004 Olympics).

It's a complete joke. The rest of the world is scared cause we are getting better at their sport. MLS is succeeding, we are performing better than they hope on the worlds stage.

Good reads and comments. Www.soccerbyives.net

[jaybilaswho?]

http://devour.com/video/qatar-world-cup-stadiums/

Video of 5 of the stadiums Qatar says will be built for the 2022 World Cup.

Some are pretty cool.

One has a 420,000 sq ft media facade... Jerry Jones is gonna be pissed.

I like how one of them had a permanent first tier and the upper tier was modular. shows that they are at least including thoughts of post-World Cup in their design.

[jesmu84]

http://devour.com/video/qatar-world-cup-stadiums/

Video of 5 of the stadiums Qatar says will be built for the 2022 World Cup.

Some are pretty cool.

One has a 420,000 sq ft media facade... Jerry Jones is gonna be pissed.

and, i believe, all climate controlled all the way down to field level. that is gonna be one hell of an A/C bill