[NRR] Denver on list of potenial World Cup Venues

I think Denver could host a game or two, with the Opener played in New York/DC and the Final in Dallas's new stadium! Who knows though! A lot changes during the bidding process!

Our city, airport, and transit system should help us get at least a game or two! Hummm...

 

IMO the purpose of listing these 70 stadia is US Soccer's attempt to show that USA has infrastructure that no other country in the world can match.

Real possible sites narrows down to no more than 25/30 sites with likely sites at 15.

Having attended WC matches since 1974, and most recently Germany 2006, I know that infrastructure is critical. Appropriately, lotsa good things were said about Germany. The atmosphere was fabulous, the Germans terrific, the restaurants quaint & delicious and the countryside picturesque; however, there was inadequate beds in every town, therefore, commuting to matches was de rigeur and very difficult as the transit system was massively overtaxed. In the USA everyone can be housed in the venue city which is a huge advantage, although, organizers and other bigwigs, all of whom are housed in fancy local hotels, may be unaware of exactly how difficult getting to matches was for the rest of us.

 

To be clear they would not be talking about DSGP but rather Invesco and the "2018" is a red herring as FIFA (I believe his Sep-ness Himself) has said that after Brazil (2014) they will be returning to Europe so 2022 would be the real serious bid, 2018 is a 'practice' interview. I'm not sure how FIFA would feel about altitude (elevation not television) they made a rule eliminating some of the highest stadia in the world from sanctioned (non-friendly) competitions but then after enough whining rescinded it (iirc). Who knows maybe by 2022 MLS might not still be playing right through FIFA dates and more exciting than that some of the U-8s playing right now at DSGP's recreational pitches might be wearing their Country's colors and representing for the USMNT? DSGP may help in the inter-place competition by providing awesome training facilities for any matches hosted in Denver.

 

With the US currently holding the record for the highest attended cup ( 94 ) I think that this record could be broken in 2018. Not so sure though that Invesco's field deminsions could support a FIFA W.C. game.

 

Back in 1994 there were two primary reasons that Denver wasn't chosen as a World Cup venue.

#1) The old Mile High was a shared stadium, with the Rockies being the primary tenants and the city (and the Rockies) weren't willing to go on a month-long road trip to ensure that the venue was unoccupied during the World Cup (which was a pre-requisite).

#2) The old Mile High wasn't 100% ideal for soccer. If I remember, the field dimensions were either too thin or too short, and as a result, FIFA and USSF considered other venues were better overall. When Invesco was built, this was specifically addressed so that in the event of a future World Cup (or future soccer friendlies/matches/etc...) the field would accommodate a standard 125x75 regulation field.

Ultimately, it came down to two things that kept Denver from hosting the World Cup in 1994. The Rockies being also occupants of Mile High and unable to take a month-long road trip, and then mayor Wellington Webb being lukewarm on the idea (even though it would have brought in significant $$'s and attention to the city)

Really, a poorly thought out decision based on the false presumption that the World Cup would draw the attendance of a midweek Colorado Foxes game held at Englewood High School stadium. I think Denver has changed a lot since those days (there was still a vociferous debate regarding light rail at the time, too).

Yes, I'm bitter. I was still in high school when the decisions on venues were made (early 1993 IIRC) and I was bummed, really hoping that a World Cup match would have been staged in my back yard.

As for the altitude restrictions, those only apply to venues above 2500 meters which would include South American locales like Bogota and La Paz, but wouldn't apply to Denver. Honestly, I don't remember altitude even being a factor in the discussions back in 1994, and I don't think they would be for any future World Cup ('18 or '22).

 

I certainly hope the Rapids are working with the Invesco folks to get put on the final list of host cities. Invesco would be a great place for a few WC matches.

 

http://www.denverpost.com/rapids/ci_12112089

The president of the U.S. Soccer Federation said Thursday that Invesco Field at Mile High already meets qualifications to host a World Cup match and will not need alterations in the United States' bid to land the 2018 or 2022 World Cup.

Invesco Field is one of 70 U.S. sites U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati and David Downs, USA Bid Committee's executive director, listed in their effort to bring the world's most popular sports event to the U.S. for only the second time.

Invesco Field hosted the Colorado Rapids from 2002-06 and drew 48,476 for a Mexico-U.S. match in 2002. Invesco Field features a special grass made in Scandinavia specifically designed for soccer.

"The stadium is fully capable of hosting games today," Gulati

The Denver area also appears to have the amenities that meet FIFA standards. Gulati said other factors involved in the selection include training facilities, hotels, transportation and parking. The Rapids' two-year-old Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City would serve as a training ground.

"We're really fortunate," Rapids general manager Jeff Plush said. "With what our facility provides and how close we and the Broncos' stadium are to downtown and the airport, our facilities would be second to none."

FIFA requires a capacity of 40,000 for first-round games and 80,000 for the championship. Invesco Field seats about 76,000 for soccer.

"Everything equal," Gulati said, "the more seats the better."

"We obviously think we have one of best stadiums in North America," said Mac Freeman, vice president of Invesco Field's stadium operations. "We'd certainly hope to be part of the mix. This is a first-class stadium in a market that would obviously respond to an event of that magnitude."

The U.S. federation and bid committee will submit a group of 25-35 sites to FIFA. The 2018 site will be announced in 2010.

 

For the 2010 world cup FIFA have said that :

The pitch shall have the following dimensions: length 105m, width 68m.

The total surface area shall have the following dimensions: length 125m,
width 80m, in order to provide suffi cient space for warm-up areas and
pitch-side photographer positions.

Looking at the google map of invesco field it appears it has been marked out with a lacrosse field which according to wikipedia is 55m wide.

If that is the case i dont think invesco can fit another 13 metres width for a full size pitch and then get to 80 metres wide for the warm up areas. Length wise its not a problem.

So if we go on what fifa are using in 2010, invesco would have to modify the stadium somehow.

 

Actually found another photo with soccer markings

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Invesco_Field_at_Mile_High_satellite_2004.jpg

The field barely fits in (if thats even a regulation size field) no room for the warm up areas.

 

Its about selling tickets, not having an area for warmups. The USA will again break the mark for attendance when/if they get the WC.

 

This post made me laugh. You're telling me that from a satellite photo, it's definitive that there isn't enough room for warm-up areas. Good thing FIFA won't be using a satellite photo to determine which fields have enough room to accommodate team benches and warm-up areas.

 

Tis true. It took years for light rail to be approved because the argument was put forth that some people wouldn't use it.

And in a way they were right, because I know people who don't use it now because the light rail parking lots are usually full.

 

I saw this while looking for the Gold Cup roster announcement. Denver (Invesco) is now on the short list (if 37 cities is short?) that have received RFPs.

http://www.ussoccer.com/articles/viewArticle.jsp_14876672.html

 

Denver has a lot going for it for sure... It might not be applicable by the time 2022 rolls around, but the city also proved it could provide high level security for a major event with the 2008 Dem National Convention.

Training grounds at DSG, Metro college, DU will defintitely help the arguement.

 

Having D.I.A. as a 'hole card' will certainly help our chances as this would be a once in a life time opportunity for many.

 

Not sure how much if any difference it'll make. The airport lacks direct international flights and it's unlikely to have any more then than it has now because of the altitude.

As for direct domestic flights, it's great. But while it may be more busy than some others I wouldn't the airport to be a difference maker unless somehow Fayetteville or Knoxville actually make the short list.

And if Sepp Blatters at all involved with the decision, it's going to depend on how many women in tight shirts we have and how many greenbacks accidentally get misplaced in some Swiss bank account.

 

I would guess most of the teams will stay in the USA after each match rather than fly back and forth from home, ;>) so domestic connections will be what matters? A direct international flight might matter a little more for the first match in each group but after that, or if Invesco just hosted some knock-out round matches, not being on the coast would matter less and if the matches ended up as being between teams that had finished groups on opposite coasts the inland location would be a plus in such a big country. (It really is like Europe hosting a WC in all of its EU countries instead of just one.