U.S. Winter Bid for 2022 or 2026

[Quaker2001]

As for facilities, they're in better shape than your beloved Reno.

Now who's stating opinion as fact. Do you actually know anything about Anchorage's facilities? You and I both know the story with Reno.. they have 2 arenas, 1 which is completely unsuitable for a Winter Olympics and another which is probably too small for anything other than curling or maybe your secondary ice hockey venue. But Reno has a pretty decent-sized stadium, which Anchorage does not have. They have a convention center that is twice the size of what's in Anchorage.

I'm sure you're seeing this post and assuming I'm just being argumentative here, but I'm legitimately curious where the basis for that comment is? I don't know much about Anchorage myself, but aside from 1 arena that would definitely serve as a venue, I'm not aware of what else they have that puts them above Reno.

[Athensfan]

I don't know a lot about Anchorage's facilities, but I've been reading what others are posting as well as what sounds like a willingness on the part of the city to invest in brick and mortar. Perhaps I'm reading in too much there, but it definitely doesn't sound like the "it is what it is" philosophy coming out of Reno.

And Baron, everyone seems to be surprised Im a creative professional when I don't agree with them. I don't see Reno as a viable option, therefore you question how I can make a living in a creative field, much less run a firm. Apparently the only way I can prove to you and Snow that I know what I'm talking about is to fall all over myself praising London's OC and Reno. I guess my ability will have to remain unproven. Oh well.

[baron-pierreIV]

AF, no. IT's that your unabashed hatred for Reno is just puzzling. Like...every other city can plan, dream, improve themselves...yet in your mind it seems a city like Reno (or call it whatever other city/town you want -- which BTW, is only HALF of the coin) is just STUCK in its 2013 state. Like what is there right now...WILL ALWAYS be there. U can give every other town the benefit of the doubt; room to grow, present other plans, yet... Oh, y am I even bothering explaining it 2 u? U'r just plain bigoted and close-minded in this matter. Hell, who knows, it might even present jobs for urban planners??

And I RESENT all the put-downs which of course make me strike back! .

[Quaker2001]

Far be it from me to insert myself into this spat, but since I just can't seem to help myself sometimes (and this is in no way personal for me; I'm not touching that one with a 20 foot pole)..

Athens, I almost hate to say this, but baron has a point here. As much as we've grown tired of his over-the-top support of Reno (which has gotten absurd at times, no question), he's not wrong when he says you've unfairly passed judgment on them and refuse to give them a chance. Then you hear about a city like Anchorage and are all curious about what they're going to offer. That's largely based on now. It's probably gonna be another year or 2 before the USOC takes a look at their Winter candidates (if they look at them at all). A lot could change between now and then. Reno may change their tune from "it is what it is" if they see a real opportunity. And/or Anchorage may not have the goods and some of those "ifs" don't look so good anymore.

You and I both know that when it comes down to it, Reno probably won't have the goods. I'm sure more than a couple of times in the future, you and I both will probably want to tell baron to shut up about Reno. But to go so far as to say "Reno cannot possibly be a competitive candidate" is such a jaded viewpoint and yea, given what's gone on in this forum, I can understand that. You're the one who always says here "let's wait and see" when it comes to these things. Maybe it's worth applying that logic to Reno and at least, when the time comes, hear them out before we all dismiss their chances outright.

[baron-pierreIV]

Urban renewal; hello?? Barcelona? Beijing? London? Sochi? parts of Rio? PC? ...hello??? And this is a smallish city of over 400,000 -- so anything on 1/10th the scale of whatever went on in the aforementioned cities.

[Athensfan]

AF, no. IT's that your unabashed hatred for Reno is just puzzling. Like...every other city can plan, dream, improve themselves...yet in your mind it seems a city like Reno (or call it whatever other city/town you want -- which BTW, is only HALF of the coin) is just STUCK in its 2013 state. Like what is there right now...WILL ALWAYS be there. U can give every other town the benefit of the doubt; room to grow, present other plans, yet... Oh, y am I even bothering explaining it 2 u? U'r just plain bigoted and close-minded in this matter. Hell, who knows, it might even present jobs for urban planners??

And I RESENT all the put-downs which of course make me strike back! .

Baron, if Reno wants to reinvent itself, great! The problem is that you yourself quoted bid organizers who said "it is what it is", meaning that they planned to stage the Games with minimal outlay. No major building. No significant infrastructure improvements.That leads me to expect that the Reno of 2013 is not going to be much different from the Reno of 2026.

If they had plans to develop themselves as anything other than a cheap casino town, I'd be interested. I've seen no evidence that that is the case. I feel like Reno is asking to be embraced as-is and that simply will never fly with the IOC. Not after Sochi, PC and Munich or whoever hosts 2022.

[baron-pierreIV]

Mmmmmmmm. If the USOC opens up bidding for 2026 or 2030, by my understanding, then they will move the chess pieces. (I believe there'll be some big Curling event there after the Sochi Games next year.) Otherwise, if the US is not going to bid for Winter for the next 20 years; then their planning won't be for an OGs that will never happen. Is that difficult to comprehend?

[Athensfan]

Mmmmmmmm. If the USOC opens up bidding for 2026 or 2030, by my understanding, then they will move the chess pieces. (I believe there'll be some big Curling event there after the Sochi Games next year.) Otherwise, if the US is not going to bid for Winter for the next 20 years; then their planning won't be for an OGs that will never happen. Is that difficult to comprehend?

This doesn't address the core issue. You said I didn't have the imagination to envision a transformed, revitalized Reno. I pointed out that, according to you, Reno had no plans for such transformation.

The sports schedule is irrelevant because you've already said that if Reno hosted the Olympics almost everything would be temporary.

If the city wants to reinvent itself, more power to them. Reno needs it. But those plans should be in the work whether or not they host a two-week sports festival. Landing the Olympics might expedite the process, but it isn't going to drive it.

I see absolutely zero evidence that Reno wants to grow or change. All I hear is "It is what it is. Now give us the Games."

It doesn't entice me and it won't entice the IOC.

[baron-pierreIV]

Nah, AF. U're just close-minded. Good luck w/ future jobs.

[paul]

I never really heard anything from Reno about “it is what it is” regarding how a future games might be accommodated in the city. How did that become a narrative around here? I think Reno is HIGHLY underestimated here.

[zekekelso]

I don't think it is so much "the narrive around here" as it is one poster's narrative. It's certainlly won't be the official position of the bid committee.

[Rob2012]

I think Athensfan is quoting someone though, but it's got lost in amongst all these threads. I definitely seem to remember that being said.

That said, any US bid would be barely past any initial planning stages, so I don't see why such quotes should be taken too seriously. If a city is serious it'll see what it needs to do and do it, and if it doesn't it won't be selected by USOC, let alone the IOC.

[Quaker2001]

I never really heard anything from Reno about “it is what it is” regarding how a future games might be accommodated in the city. How did that become a narrative around here? I think Reno is HIGHLY underestimated here.

Neither have I. And I know better than to listen to baron as some sort of official spokesperson for Reno.. he's not, he knows he's not, he tells us he's not, and everyone else seems to accept that. I mean, I don't think baron takes baron seriously most of the time!

The truth is.. we have NO idea what Reno's plans for an Olympics are. If bidding ever got serious (which obviously it hasn't yet), then that would be the litmus test of what they'd be offering. It amazes me that you don't either want to give them the benefit of the doubt, but then you want to hear all about Anchorage (and seem to have convinced yourself they've got more infrastructure ready to go than Reno, a fact which I'm pretty sure you pulled out of your ass). You have clearly let your own personal bias cloud your judgment on this one. For all the times you tell the rest of us to dismiss or discount something, how can you say that to us and be as dismissive of Reno as you are? I'm with you that the little we've heard from them that has me encrouaged (them being their official committee, not the person here who goes on and on about the place), but either way, I'd rather hear them out in a much more official capacity before I write them off.

[Quaker2001]

I think Athensfan is quoting someone though, but it's got lost in amongst all these threads. I definitely seem to remember that being said.

That said, any US bid would be barely past any initial planning stages, so I don't see why such quotes should be taken too seriously. If a city is serious it'll see what it needs to do and do it, and if it doesn't it won't be selected by USOC, let alone the IOC.

He's not completely off the mark.. I do agree that the message we've gotten from them seems like they want the Olympics to revitalize their city and that they assume the IOC will be interested in them on that basis. In that regard, I can't blame a certain poster here from thinking along those lines. But I think it's a step too far to believe that the RTWGC thinks it's that simple and that minimal effort would be required. But again, I'm 100% with you that we're way too early in the planning stages to know how serious these cities truly are, just like it is on the Summer side of things. It's 1 thing for a city like Los Angeles or Philadelphia or Dallas or Boston to tell us how enthusiastic they are about the Olympics, but eventually they have to put up or shut up. Kudos to the USOC for wanting to find that out BEFORE they open the floodgates to let cities start spending their money and resources in order to put together a bid.

[paul]

I think this is old news but I saw a bunch of posts about curling (I think in the Anchorage thread) and though I'd post this.

The World Curling Federation (WCF) has announced that Copenhagen, Denmark will host the 2013 WCF Annual Congress and Reno Tahoe in the USA will host the event in 2014.

The World Curling Federation is looking forward to going to Copenhagen and Reno Tahoe for our next two Annual Congresses. Both the Danish Curling Association and United States Curling Association submitted excellent bids and have forged strong local partnerships to ensure the success of these events. Both Copenhagen and Reno Tahoe offer exceptional environments for our delegates to meet and discuss the key issues shaping the WCF and the sport of curling today.”

[baron-pierreIV]

I think this is old news but I saw a bunch of posts about curling (I think in the Anchorage thread) and though I'd post this.

The World Curling Federation (WCF) has announced that Copenhagen, Denmark will host the 2013 WCF Annual Congress and Reno Tahoe in the USA will host the event in 2014.

The World Curling Federation is looking forward to going to Copenhagen and Reno Tahoe for our next two Annual Congresses. Both the Danish Curling Association and United States Curling Association submitted excellent bids and have forged strong local partnerships to ensure the success of these events. Both Copenhagen and Reno Tahoe offer exceptional environments for our delegates to meet and discuss the key issues shaping the WCF and the sport of curling today.”

That's the one I was referring to. I certainly don't hear them complaining about what a less-than-postcard-pretty Reno is.

[paul]

Location Location Location!!!

A university town!

[paul]

[Athensfan]

I never really heard anything from Reno about “it is what it is” regarding how a future games might be accommodated in the city. How did that become a narrative around here? I think Reno is HIGHLY underestimated here.

Baron quoted a bid organizer he had spoken with personally. That's where it came from.

Have you been to Reno?

That's the one I was referring to. I certainly don't hear them complaining about what a less-than-postcard-pretty Reno is.

As we have said a million times, lack of ambiance is only one problem with Reno and it's far from being the biggest one.

And, Paul, as for your pictures, from a distance and with a hefty dose of photoshopping you can make almost anything look nice.

[Athensfan]

Against my better judgement I just revived the Reno/Tahoe thread with an early reference to "it is what it is." I don't think it was Baron's first reference, but it's the oldest one I can find.

[paul]

And, Paul, as for your pictures, from a distance and with a hefty dose of photoshopping you can make almost anything look nice.

...a hot pink filter does wonders too!

[Athensfan]

...a hot pink filter does wonders too!

Ooh la la!

[stryker]

I don't think is as far fetched as it might look to be. My preference for a future Winter bid would be Denver, but for reasons that have been discussed, it's probably not happening. It's probably too soon for Salt Lake again. So you have Reno. The RTWGC has been laying the groundwork for sometime though we have yet to see exactly what a bid might actually look like and it's unlikely we will until the USOC decides to actually make a push for a Winter Olympics. So far it seems Reno's biggest detraction is the lack of facilities for the ice events. I remember a thread a while back that talked about the possibility of hosting some of the ice events (probably hockey) in Sacramento. If a Reno bid were to go forward, I think it would only be viable if they leave Sacramento out.

Reno Events Center - curling (6,000 capacity)

New Reno Arena - ice hockey (10,000 capacity)

Reno Livestock Events Center - ice hockey (5-6,000 capacity)

Temporary arena - figure skating/short track (12,000 capacity, dismantled afterwards)

South Tahoe Convention Center - speed skating (10,000 capacity)

The Reno Events Center has already been mentioned as a possible curling venue. A new downtown arena, much like the Maverik Center in Utah, could be the main ice hockey venue and be the new home of a minor league team. The South Tahoe Convention Center has been on the drawing board for years. Perhaps an Olympics gets it off the ground. Following in the footsteps of Pyeongchang and London, a temporary arena could be constructed for figure skating and short track. The Reno Livestock Events Center has hosted sporting events before (indoor track and field). A while back I remember a website (I think it was done by grad students at the University of Nevada) that discussed potential venues in Reno. It mentioned the Reno Livestock Events Center as a secondary ice hockey venue and Mackay Stadium as a possibility for speed skating and ceremonies though I would think the ISU would insist on a covered arena.

[Lord David]

My preference is Lake Placid, for the primary reasons of the legacy of 1980, the potential to involve the region, a scaled back village type games and the chance to be 3rd time hosts.

[FYI]

Puhleeze! If some people are citing Anchorage's somewhat smallish size as drawback for a 21st century Winter Olympics, where the heck does that leave dinky Lake Placid.