127 replies to this topic

[sysfail]

Troupe, on Sep 12 2009, 07:31 PM, said:

Spain
1. Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid - FINAL
2. Camp Nou, Barcelona - SEMI-FINAL

One question here, why everybody assumes that Bernabeu has to host the Final instead of Camp Nou??

Bernabeu has already enjoyed one WC Final (and an European Cup Final), plus Camp Nou is got 18K more sits. That means 18K more people that could enjoy to be at a WC Final. Both are 5 Stars stadiums, and actually Camp Nou got that rating before Bernabeu. I cannot see any reason other than Madrid is the Capital of Spain to favour Bernabeu. Which imho, shouldn't be that important.

Another possibility is to give it to Estadio da Luz, however here you have both the political issue (spain/portugal) plus it is only 65K and it has already host an European Cup Final

What do you guys think?

Thanks.

[RobH]

I think both would be fabulous venues for the final and if Spain/Portugal wins it's up to them and FIFA to decide. I'd be happy with either, though of course I'd have preferred it to have been Wembley

[Troupe]

sysfail, on Oct 18 2009, 11:29 AM, said:

One question here, why everybody assumes that Bernabeu has to host the Final instead of Camp Nou??

I think we assume that because Madrid is the biggest city in the peninsula and because it's actually in the middle of it, very well connected. The connections from Barcelona to Madrid are very good (high speed trains, airlift with most passengers in the world), an by 2018 a high speed train service to Lisbon is expected as well. I wouldn't mind the final in the Camp Nou, but I think Madrid makes more sense, especially if it's a joint bid with Portugal.

By the way, it seems they've been waiting to fully launch the bid till the outcome of Madrid 2016 and the general elections in Portugal. Next tuesday the responsibles of the bid will meet Blatter in Zurich, with the idea of emphasizing the unity of the two countries and the single bid comitee, like in the case of Belgium/Netherlands (logical giving his stated reluctance towards joint bids). The big presentation of the bid to the general public will be made on December 4 in South Africa, coinciding with the draw. Iker Casillas and Cristiano Ronaldo are expected to be the ambassadors.

[sysfail]

Troupe, on Oct 18 2009, 07:32 PM, said:

because Madrid is the biggest city in the peninsula and because it's actually in the middle of it, very well connected.

hmmm, but Barcelona isn't like an isolated place, it is got a brand new airport terminal and actually, it recevies yearly more visitors than Madrid. It is perfectly capable to host the final (also Lisbon is capable with far less infra). Do you really weight that more than the fact Nou Camp is 18K bigger, plus Madrid has already host previous finals?

[Troupe]

sysfail, on Oct 19 2009, 03:42 PM, said:

hmmm, but Barcelona isn't like an isolated place, it is got a brand new airport terminal and actually, it recevies yearly more visitors than Madrid. It is perfectly capable to host the final (also Lisbon is capable with far less infra). Do you really weight that more than the fact Nou Camp is 18K bigger, plus Madrid has already host previous finals?

Yes, I know all that, I know the Camp Nou and Barcelona can be a perfect venue for a WC final. I would even say I prefer Barcelona as a city and I learnt long ago that it's more attractive for international tourism. I'll give you one more reason for the Camp Nou, the future renovation by Norman Foster. Anyway, to make such decisions we need to get the WC first, and it will be difficult.

[baron-pierreIV]

sysfail, on Oct 18 2009, 10:29 AM, said:

One question here, why everybody assumes that Bernabeu has to host the Final instead of Camp Nou??

BThanks.

Because the Finals traditionally happen in the host country's capital city (or its suburb)...especially if the main city also happens to be the capital and conversely so.

1986 - Mexico City
1990 - Rome
1994 - LA (exception),
1998 - Paris
2002 - Tokyo (or Yokohoma, a suburb but part ofthe greater Tokyo metropolis)
2006 - Berlin
2010 - Joburg (main city)

There's a while discussion on this in I think the USA 2018/22 thread.

[RobH]

Or Baron, is it the case that the biggest stadium in those countries just happens to be in the capital?

Spain is an exception to this general rule with its biggest stadium being in Barcelona. That's possibly why the quesiton is being asked.

[Filipe_Golias]

Arriving in Zurich for the meeting of the Iberian bid committee with Blatter, the Portuguese Footblal Federation (FPF) president, Gilberto Madaíl, said that Portugal will probably contribute with three stadiums to the Iberian bid: two in Lisbon - Luz (65,000) and Alvalade XXI (50,000) - and one in Porto - Dragão (50,000). This figure could raise to five venues, but he thinks that the «consequent increase in matches would not justify the required increase in investment».

I, for once, think that four stadiums would be ideal for an already unbalanced bid...

At this stage of the bidding process, this is the only bid still to be officially presented. Nobody, here in Portugal, knows anything concerning this joint bid - the only thing they are aware is that we will be the "smaller part", that this will be Spain's World Cup to whom we 'lent' a few venues.

[Troupe]

Filipe_Golias, on Oct 20 2009, 02:25 AM, said:

I, for once, think that four stadiums would be ideal for an already unbalanced bid...

I agree, three is too little. Four stadiums in Portugal and eight in Spain would mean 1/3 for Portugal. 3-9 is just 25%.

Don't think that in Spain we know much more about the bid, most of the news in the newspapers have been about the clubs negotiating to get funds from the regional governments to upgrade/build their stadia with the excuse of the bid and to position their cities as potential venues. As I said the official presentation will be made in December in SA coinciding with the draw, apparently they've been waiting for the outcome of Madrid 2016 and the Portuguese elections.

[Filipe_Golias]

Two important details revealed after today's meeting with Blatter:

• Madaíl confirmed three Portuguese stadiums - Luz, Alvalade (Lisbon) and Dragão (Porto) - but said that other plans included venues in Braga and/or Algarve, but only after careful assessment of costs, because each would require a 12,000-seat expansion;

• The bid budget will be 6-7 million Euros of which 60% will be covered by the RFEF and the remainder by FPF.

As for the bid logo, it is yet to be officially presented, but we can now have a general idea of its shape and colors. I confirmed that it is the one displayed in these guys suits: