Chicago 2016

[LA84]

That old thread was getting too crowded and since Philly has it's own thread, time to start one for Chicago

Anywho -

Mayor Daley met with Bejing officials and toured the preparations for the 2008 games:

Mayor Tours Bejing Olympic Sights

[baron-pierreIV]

So tell Daley to build the d*mned Olympic Stadium already.  That seems to be the sticking block for any US bid.  Tokyo is talking about its new stadium by the bay -- as if to say to the US - ha! ha!  you can't get one built!  

Let's stick it to 'em.  With the Pritzker Prize coming out of Chicago, hold an int'l competition for its design.  That way there is buzz immediately about the project; and thus the idea of a Games.

With Tokyo blabbing away -- and see near-orgasmic comments of the IOC liaison on how the new Beijing Stadium is shaping up ("...“it’s marvellous, marvellous.”) .-- I think it's going to come down to either Chicago, Philly or SF saying: OK, we can build a new stadium.   There's no 2 ways about it.  The IOC gets very big hard-on's when it sees new Olympic Stadium designs; that's what it'll take to win 2016 -- as it did for 2012.  I hope Daley & his Philly counterparts realize that.  

Maybe we can get Habitat for Humanity or ABC's Home Make-over (or whatever the name of that show is...) to throw in a stadium for free...  :wwww:

[dave199]

It is very obvious that a major roadblock for a Chicago bid is the Olympic Stadium. What will it be used for post-Olympics? They already have Soldier's Field which is inadequate to host Athletics. If I'm not mistaken, they renovated and revamped the stadium not too long ago. Will Chicago abandon this stadium for a new Olympic Stadium? I doubt it with all the money invested in it and the history behind it. I just feel like a new stadium would become a white elephant for the city.

[Rafa]

this isnt a good start as i said much earlier...any reference to an issue with an olympic stadium...well u know the rest..althourgh USOC has not officially announced any city..anything that sounds remotely close to the new york stadium debacle will def count in chicago's favour...i think i support houston...the best chance at repeating an atlanta games...

[LA84]

The stadium issue is going to be a problem with every city except Los Angeles.  And in the case of Chicago, they are proceeding very carefully as they don't want to make any promises that they can't keep and then have a repeat of the 2012 stadium debacle.

[dave199]

It would be great to see a Chicago games but if they are chosen as the USOC 2016 candidate, I see them having the same troubles as NYC did with their Olympic Stadium.

About the other U.S. cities, I'm really not certain on the stadium problems that they might be experiencing. Where is Philly proposing to host the Opening/Closing ceremonies and Athletics? It would be great to get a description of each cities stadium situation and compare and decide which cities Olympic Stadium plans are more realistic and doable.

[Koolshundle]

I have a feeling this stadium issue is going to work out for Chicago, but not without politics, etc. Daley can either come up with some new plan to expand Soldier Field w/o using City money, or they can invest in Ryan Field at Northwestern (which has previously been discussed).

Moving the opening/closing ceremonies to Notre Dame or Camp Randall Stadium at UW-Madison just isn't going to cut it.

[dave199]

I have a feeling this stadium issue is going to work out for Chicago, but not without politics, etc. Daley can either come up with some new plan to expand Soldier Field w/o using City money, or they can invest in Ryan Field at Northwestern (which has previously been discussed).

Moving the opening/closing ceremonies to Notre Dame or Camp Randall Stadium at UW-Madison just isn't going to cut it.

Have we ever had a host city holding the Opening/Closing ceremonies in a different venue than the Athletics? I just don't like this idea.

[Cato the Elder]

Expanding Soldier Field has almost zero chance of success.  They recently spent a fortune to redo it (without the foresight of expansion).  If you look at the new, much-maligned design, you will see that you can't simply add seats.  The spaceship-landing-in-the-old-stadium design is too self-contained and integrated to the old fascade and surroundings.   One can't simply knock down a side and redo it.

[dave199]

Expanding Soldier Field has almost zero chance of success.  They recently spent a fortune to redo it (without the foresight of expansion).  If you look at the new, much-maligned design, you will see that you can't simply add seats.  The spaceship-landing-in-the-old-stadium design is too self-contained and integrated to the old fascade and surroundings.   One can't simply knock down a side and redo it.

That isn't good news. Chicago officials have themselves a big problem to solve, if they actually can.

[RAP]

Expanding Soldier Field has almost zero chance of success.  They recently spent a fortune to redo it (without the foresight of expansion).  If you look at the new, much-maligned design, you will see that you can't simply add seats.  The spaceship-landing-in-the-old-stadium design is too self-contained and integrated to the old fascade and surroundings.   One can't simply knock down a side and redo it.

I f you look at the current version of Soldier Field, it will be very difficult to put a 400m track in the infield.

Someone better come up with a plan to this, as I doubt the IOC is going to go for two stadiums for Ceremonies and Track & Field.

http://www.soldierfield.net/History.aspx

[baron-pierreIV]

Simple solution:  put the track on the outside and have the spectators inside watch from big screens!!  

Correction: maybe have the track start and end in the stadium - but snake it outside.  After all, who follows those 10,000 meter races?  Then the other field events (javelin, high jump, etc.) can all be in the infield.   :wwww:

Kidding aside: if they sliced off part of the ringside seats -- say, 6 rows all around, they could accommodate an Olympic track.  But then they would have to add more upper tiers to come close to the minimum 80,000 capacity the IOC likes.

Naah.  They'll need a whole new stadium.

[Koolshundle]

Nevertheless, a Summer Games in Chicago would be just perfect. Other cities such as Tokyo (1964) have used the Olympics to show their "rebirth" to the world, and Chicago could do just that. Chicago in the 70s and 80s had some major issues with urban decay and crime (akin to New York City). But now it has slowly come out of it and has adapted itself around the world's changing economy: it's now the country's second largest business center. The city is on upswing: population growth, appeal to the younger generation, cultural contributions, etc.. Crime has also been down in recent years. It's also known for being one of the more cleaner, greener major cities in the USA. Plus, it's a well known fact that summers in Chicago are simply beautiful (albeit the annual mid-july heatwave.)

Honestly, Mayor Daley and Chicagoans really should find a solution to stadium problem. If they don't, they will miss the opportunity of a lifetime that could show why the city is one of the best kept urban secrets of the world.

[baron-pierreIV]

Honestly, Mayor Daley and Chicagoans really should find a solution to stadium problem.

Maybe it's easier said than done.  New York couldn't get its stadium act together.  Can Chicago?

[SOlympiadsW]

posibbly, but it is going to be very difficult...I think this will nudge the door open especially for Philly....which I think is better equipped and will have a better bid

[Koolshundle]

But Philly really doesn't have any international appeal. Even though it is the Unite States' fourth largest metro, it will always be overshadowed by New York and DC. That's something hat Chicago already has, an established international reputation and appeal. It stands out on its own.

[baron-pierreIV]

But Philly really doesn't have any international appeal. Even though it is the Unite States' fourth largest metro, it will always be overshadowed by New York and DC. That's something hat Chicago already has, an established international reputation and appeal. It stands out on its own.

yeah - but so what?  Chicago will always be #2 to New York.  New York couldn't put an Olympic plan together at the right time.  Can Chicago?  First you have to assemble the package so it passes technical muster.  If you pass technical muster - i.e., if the 23 or 24 summer sports federations sign off on your plan, then you can move to the int'l appeal stage because most of the IOC members belong, one way or another to at least 1 of the federations.  The IOC members talk to each other.  And while some may superficially study the bids, to a certain degree they do a little homework for fear of appearing stupid or ignorant.  And then there are the final presentations where maybe the crucial votes are won or lost.  

If you are going to present 2nd rate facilities but you have this int'l aura, like say, a Geneva or a Monaco or a Miami -- so what?  The Evaluation Reports would expose the deficiencies of your bid.  First and foremost, you must have very good venues.  What good is reputation if you don't have the goods?  That's how Atlanta did it.  It's a 2nd tier US city, but it had assembled a nearly excellent set of venues -- which for all of Athens' history or reputation in 1990, the Greek favorite could not match; hence it lost in 1990.  

Fine, Chicago's there in terms of int'l reknown -- but can it present a technically superior Olympic plan?  I think Philadelphia can and then Philly (and the USOC) can work on its int'l appeal thereafter.  If Atlanta and Seoul did it, so can another city.

[Guardian]

Right on, baron. Even though Chicago is not "well known" to some of us, it doesn't mean it can't host an Olympic Games based on that superficial factor. The real test here is whether the city can get its act together and put an appealing Olympic proposal for all to see and back it up. If Atlanta could do it, then why not Chicago and its potential competitors? "You can't win, if you don't try," as the saying goes.

[NewYork2016]

Right on baron...  

I don't know if it was you who said it but I totally agree. A city would be shortlisted if its technical plan passes the IOC's evaluation, international appeal and campaigning starts after the shortlist. In the 2012 race, the ranking from best prepared technical bid to the least was Paris, London, Madrid, New York and Moscow. NYC passed the Sports Federations' muster and it was definitely there with the international appeal, in fact, it was ranked 3rd after the Evaluation Visits, a notch up from the shortlist (technical assessment). And we all know what totally killed NYC's plan.

Like what I'ved posted a few weeks back, NYC2012 exposed the holes in the USOC's procedure in selecting a bid city. The USOC realized it's not like the IOC, and that they can't afford to have a selection process very similar to it.

[la2stl]

the best idea that i've heard was from a tribune writer who suggested that an olympic stadium be built and then reconfigured for baseball and become wrigley field's replacement, similar to what atlenta did for the braves. in order to do this though, the city will have to convince the cubs and their fans that wrigley field will not last forever, which is in fact what red sox fans feel about fenway.

[ChicagoFan90]

the best idea that i've heard was from a tribune writer who suggested that an olympic stadium be built and then reconfigured for baseball and become wrigley field's replacement, similar to what atlenta did for the braves. in order to do this though, the city will have to convince the cubs and their fans that wrigley field will not last forever, which is in fact what red sox fans feel about fenway.

Yeah....not going to happen. Wrigley Field is beloved by all Chicagoans, or at least the Cubs Fans!

Tearing that down is NOT AN OPTION, people will try and renovate it, and if the city does tear it down, the new Stadium would be despised

Best ideas for Chicago's stadium are:

1.) Expand Ryan Field to the north in Evanston, close enough to Downtown Chicago where it's not that remote.

Subway and El connect Evanston to Downtown

2.) Daley admits he was wrong, takes face, and tears parts of Soldier Field to accomidate the track and expand seating.

Lets face it, EVERYONES HATES THE UFO!!  :laughlong:

3.) Or Build a brand new stadium right next to Soldier Field or the South Side on undeveloped land creating a lakeside stadium.

4.) Using the Cicero Racetrack to the West of Downtown.

[baron-pierreIV]

the best idea that i've heard was from a tribune writer who suggested that an olympic stadium be built and then reconfigured for baseball and become wrigley field's replacement, similar to what atlenta did for the braves. in order to do this though, the city will have to convince the cubs and their fans that wrigley field will not last forever, which is in fact what red sox fans feel about fenway.

Yeah....not going to happen. Wrigley Field is beloved by all Chicagoans, or at least the Cubs Fans!

Tearing that down is NOT AN OPTION, people will try and renovate it, and if the city does tear it down, the new Stadium would be despised

Best ideas for Chicago's stadium are:

1.) Expand Ryan Field to the north in Evanston, close enough to Downtown Chicago where it's not that remote.

Subway and El connect Evanston to Downtown

2.) Daley admits he was wrong, takes face, and tears parts of Soldier Field to accomidate the track and expand seating.

Lets face it, EVERYONES HATES THE UFO!!  :laughlong:

3.) Or Build a brand new stadium right next to Soldier Field or the South Side on undeveloped land creating a lakeside stadium.

4.) Using the Cicero Racetrack to the West of Downtown.

#1's not feasible.  Look how tight it is.  

#2 - Would you mayor admit such a major mistake?

#3 - Your best option

#4 - Where would the racetrack go?  It can't be some mickey-mouse stadium.

[LA84]

I saw that article and it wasn't Wrigley that was talked about replacing but Comiskey (I will NEVER call it by it's new name).

But not going to happen. The Sox just spent a lot of money redoing the stadium and the State of Illinois payed for it initially. Alot of downstaters (myself included even though I lived in Chicago at the time) are still pissed that we even had to build that thing when the Sox threatened to go to Florida.

Ryan Field will not be rebuilt. Even though the 'El goes right to it, there isn't enough room to expand it and accomodate the size of crowds that would come in.

[Rafa]

not aNOTHER BASEBALL stadiuma PLEASE!!! pleeeeease noooooo

on paper LA shud win---based on technical merits? or not?

sydney

athens

bejing

london

each with 2 syllables

soo....LA...or houston can win...lol

[Mainad]

not aNOTHER BASEBALL stadiuma PLEASE!!! pleeeeease noooooo

on paper LA shud win---based on technical merits? or not?

sydney

athens

bejing

london

each with 2 syllables

soo....LA...or houston can win...lol

Well,if "LA" can win because it has 2 syllables,then we will have to include "Philly" as well ,won't we??