This level of PQ and 4k is what I was expecting from Apple when MLS signed its deal. You're not going to get it at every bar, it'd be nice to know which places will show games in 4k.
To be fair to Rahm, he’s remembering a contract he probably didn’t even read from like 6-8 years ago so we have to kinda give him a pass. I do still wonder what the true knock off effects of a major event are. I do not believe hotel and restaurant revenue are the be all and end all of the equation. @milicz made some interesting points I would like to see factored into a really good analysis.
My kids claim they want to watch team USA tomorrow. Pete (is simultaneously thrilled that they are showing interest and bummed that he won't be out watching with screaming fans)
I forgot to add we headed for the bunker anyways. WGN put in a call to Skilling at 2:00PM while he was still in his bathrobe. Hilarity ensued. He was with them all night. Another Emmy incoming.
My General comments about the deal - I think that all the controversy about the Chicago decision and the multiple articles about “ problems” nationwide clearly indicate a large number of questionable demands by FIFA. The timing of the complaints adds to my concerns. Now is when host cities should be happy. Later, when all costs are known, is normally when the crying starts.
Oh I have no interest in ever being fair to Rahm, seriously ******** him and the My Little Pony he rode in on. The problem factoring in any long term impact like Milicz mentioned is that you can’t really correlate it to the event directly, or match it to the dollars that were spent chasing it, or compare it to the hundreds of millions of cheaper things that could’ve been done instead to draw the same result. “Someone went back to their country and told everyone to visit Chicago” doesn’t equal “a bunch of people that would have never otherwise visited Chicago did because someone saw the World Cup here”, so you aren’t likely to find much more than anecdotal evidence to support it. Host cities love the fable that it’s a long term investment, but (an economist said this about spending taxpayer money on stadiums and I think it applies to spending money on spectacles like this as well) they would generate more economic activity if they simply just gave the money to local citizens directly. What they really love is being the people known for bringing the spectacle, but not the ones that gave away bucketloads of taxpayer dollars. It’s why Johnson is now making noise about keeping the Bears here again- he knows and has said it’s not a wise investment, but he also knows that being known as the mayor that lost the Bears is personally very expensive. I think Rahm is just seeing the spotlight on the other cities and wanting some of it for himself as if he was a savant or some big advocate of responsible spending. He’s just a prick that backed into the right decision on accident and is happy to spike the football to boost his run for prez.
Just over the full course of the game. Kinda harsh in that 5 minute span. Pete (just heard that final whistle blow)
The benefits are not just “anecdotal.” Was the 1893 World’s Fair anecdotal? Was the long-term impact of the 1994 World Cup on American soccer anecdotal? You cannot trace every future visitor to one match or one hotel night. But that is true of every major civic branding investment. Global exposure matters as does reputation. Proving you can host the world is important. You can be skeptical of inflated impact studies and you don’t give away the store. But Chicago should not act like a second-tier city with anxiety. We are Chicago. These are the events global cities host. And because of our scale, visibility, and economic reach, the upside for Chicago can be many times greater than it would be for a city like Kansas City.
The kids enjoyed watching the game on Telemundo after they finished their work in the book. I told them that I'd let them watch at the end of class once they finished and they SPED through everything. Unfortunately it was the most boring part of the game (late first half). And then I ended up in the teachers' office making my lunch during the actually interesting moments. EDIT: We were watching Telemundo because I didn't want these kids exposed to Alexi Lalas.
I'm very excited to be wearing my Mexico jersey to school next week when for that Korea v Mexico game. And I will still have them watching on Telemundo in my room (when they finish their work).
Honestly, all the goals in this game were so messy. You got the Delap-like throw-in benefiting from a beautiful goalie screen in the 5 yard box. Then that first Korean goal was kinda just a lucky bounce off the foot and a scramble to get the chip off. And the game winner was a terrible shot luckily sent in by even worse goalkeeping.
If you can’t tie the benefits to a dollar at some pint in time, and only have as evidence a story someone told, it’s anecdotal. Chicago has proven time and again we can host the world, and will continue to do so. It’s laughable to suggest missing out on hosting some shit tier game between Uzbekistan and DR Congo or whoever means we can’t. We tried not to give away the store, Rahm submitted the contract back to FIFA redlined, but they weren’t having it. Civic investment should benefit the taxpayers that fund it, and I understand not all benefits can be immediately measured in dollar signs- that was part of my point when justifying the expense of the RLE. We already have tons of movies, TV shows, conferences, trade shows, seminars, etc that show the city off/draw from all over the world at a much lower expanse than giving FIFA a blank check. I would’ve loved going to Uzbekistan and DR Congo play at Soldier Field btw. Im just not going to pretend that it would’ve been a wise investment for us as a city.
I would’ve loved going to Uzbekistan and DR Congo play at Soldier Field btw. I'm just not going to pretend that it would’ve been a bad investment for us as a city.
Hosting these events is always a risk. Back in 2007, the Gold Cup final was held at Soldier Field and Benny Feilhaber scored the winner with a laser blast. This whole experience prompted “he who shall not be named” to buy the Fire and run them into the ground. Maybe NOT hosting the World Cup saved us a similar fate again.
I don't think much of anything would wrest the Chicago Fire from Joe Mansueto's hands. He is building a new stadium, he has invested heavily over the 6+ years of his ownership. Joe was already part owner in 2018 when the World Cup negotiations were happening. We have/had a lot of worries, but that is one one of them.
Yeah...none of this bodes well for my Mexico-hate! Pete (thinks Mexico can beat these two teams by more than 2-0)
Or, worse, if Micah Richards and Jamie Carragher were on the tv (I know different networks), trying to explain how they, also, are speaking English. It would ruin an entire year's worth of work! Even with subtitles on, I cannot figure out what they are saying half the time.