Chicago Plan Changed

[ChicagoFan90]

Chicago has now changed from a two stadium plan to a 80,000 seat temporary, and results from the international polling showed Chicago with the highest scores, above LA and San Francisco.

Chicago has also scrapped the VERY compact bid, for a 3 cluster bid, similar to London's.

Link:

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sp...-home-headlines

[baron-pierreIV]

Well, all that sounds very promising. So long as 1 city comes up with a solid plan, I really don't mind so much as to which one will get it. Altho of course, a SF would be convenient.

[dave199]

Chicago has now changed from a two stadium plan to a 80,000 seat temporary, and results from the international polling showed Chicago with the highest scores, above LA and San Francisco.

Chicago has also scrapped the VERY compact bid, for a 3 cluster bid, similar to London's.

Link:

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sp...-home-headlines

It's better than the two stadium plan for sure!!

I wonder how "temporary" this stadium will be?

[ChicagoFan90]

For those who can't read the article:

chicagotribune.com >> Sports >> Olympics

CHICAGO'S OLYMPIC BID

A new plan for 2016 Games

2-stadium plan out; city considering temporary facility

By Philip Hersh

Tribune Olympics reporter

Published August 17, 2006, 10:32 PM CDT

Chicago's 2016 Olympic bid planners have shifted their vision to having only one stadium, a temporary 80,000-seat structure, as the venue for both Opening and Closing Ceremonies and the track and field competition.

The decision to drop the unprecedented idea of having dual Opening and Closing Ceremonies in two stadiums, Soldier Field and an adjacent temporary structure, was made after an Aug. 9 meeting with U.S. Olympic Committee officials, the Tribune has learned.

Mayor Richard Daley and Patrick Ryan, who is chairing the city's bid effort, insisted immediately after the meeting that a two-stadium plan was still alive, but it since has been shelved for two principal reasons.

One was advice from USOC officials, who said the dual-ceremony idea would not fly internationally. The other was the realization that Soldier Field was unsuitable even as a single-ceremonial venue—with track and some soccer matches in the temporary Olympic stadium—because its seating capacity and field size are insufficient and would need costly renovation.

"We're not giving up on the idea of using Soldier Field, even if it cannot be for ceremonies or track," Ryan, the executive chairman of Aon Corp., said in a telephone interview Thursday. "It might be as a light venue—a place where people can come to watch the ceremonies on Jumbotrons and be entertained in other ways."

Ryan also said Chicago's Olympic bid will continue even if Daley chooses not to seek re-election next year. USOC leaders have cited Daley's presence as a major asset to the bid.

"I'm not speaking for the mayor, but I don't expect that to happen," Ryan said of the possibility of Daley not running again.

The main stadium issue is one of the areas Chicago planners must address in the 52-page questionnaire they were given last week by the USOC delegation, which included Vice President Bob Ctvrtlik. Chicago must respond to the 26 questions in the document by Sept. 22.

The USOC advised Chicago to reconsider the number of sports it was planning for a relatively small stretch of the lakefront as well as its plans for an aquatic center on 31st Street.

"We don't expect at the end of the questionnaire phase that cities will have a rock-solid plan," Ctvrtlik said by telephone Thursday. "But we do expect them to have taken major steps in that direction."

No decision

The USOC has yet to decide whether to have a 2016 bid city, and there is no firm timetable for the next phases of the domestic selection process, which would end in late March or early April 2007.

Last month, however, the USOC eliminated two of the five cities that had expressed interest in bidding, Philadelphia and Houston. That left Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco in contention. The cut was made based on results of international polling and evaluation of 15 areas each city addressed in a preliminary bid plan.

Chicago scored highest in the international polling and domestic evaluation, according to sources familiar with the results. The significance of that is diminished because the results were very close and because the USOC made it clear none of the finalists' plans was acceptable without considerable revision.

The international polling asked 48 International Olympic Committee members, who would vote on the 2016 host, and 52 other international sports leaders whether the time was right for a U.S. city to serve as Olympic host and which city might have the best chance to win the bid.

The USOC weighed the international part of the evaluation four times as heavily as the domestic part, which covered such things as the Olympic stadium, Olympic Village, security, transportation and finances.

While Chicago is pushing the advantages of having a compact Olympics in the heart of the city, a congregation of sports in one lakefront area also could create transportation and crowd-management issues. A similar feeling led Beijing, the 2008 Olympic host, to change some of its venue plans.

"The USOC asked us to look at crowd concentration, and we are," Ryan said.

Cluster idea pushed

Chicago's preliminary plan called for 12 sports to take place in the north, south and west pavilions of McCormick Place: badminton, basketball preliminaries, fencing, rhythmic gymnastics, team handball, judo, modern pentathlon (fencing), table tennis, taekwondo, volleyball, weightlifting and wrestling.

PAGE 2

Some of those events almost certainly will be moved to other locations in the next iteration of Chicago's bid plan. Having two or three clusters of venues is a more workable idea, which, Ryan confirmed, might lead Chicago officials to make more extensive use of the University of Illinois-Chicago facilities than originally planned.

Chicago proposed extensive use of McCormick Place not only for compactness but financial reasons. Fitting out the convention center for Olympic sports would undoubtedly be the least expensive way to stage them.

Chicago has proposed funding all its sports venue construction with about $700 million in private funds. That included $200 million for the temporary Olympic stadium, $127 million for a permanent aquatics center on 31st Street between State Street and Michigan Avenue and $93 million for temporary work at McCormick Place, including a warmup track on the roof of the Lakeside Center.

The Chicago plan also called for private developers to build a $1.5 billion Olympic Village to be used as commercial and residential space after the Games.

The experience of New York's failed 2012 bid, when the USOC felt it was blindsided by politicians' 11th-hour rejection of the Manhattan stadium plan, means USOC officials will assure a 2016 bidder has all its financial ducks in a row.

"They don't want to have a repeat of New York," Ryan said.

In an interview this spring, USOC Chairman Peter Ueberroth said the main Olympic stadium and Olympic Village must be "existing or fully committed to" in any city that wants to be selected U.S. bidder for 2016. Chicago must also identify and guarantee revenue sources for all its other venue construction.

"We have left the exact configuration of the guarantees up to the cities," Ctvrtlik said. "We told them the international community and the USOC won't be falling for any gimmickry. We need solid guarantees that give a level of confidence that the various places will be built."

Chicago officials already are scaling back plans for the aquatics center, the Tribune has learned. Rather than have several permanent pools, there could be a permanent swimming pool and a diving well and temporary pools for warmup, water polo and synchronized swimming.

"We are looking at legacy application of an aquatics center and what will be the appropriate location," Ryan said.

Financing questions

One gray area in the funding of Olympic projects involves how much of Games-generated revenues—from sponsorship, TV rights, licensing, marketing and ticket sales—can be used for venue construction.

Atlanta's decision to use $550 million of its $1.7 billion operating budget for construction, including the Olympic Stadium that became the Braves' Turner Field, long has been a sore point internationally especially because many believe that money might have solved the transport and technology problems that plagued the opening days of the 1996 Olympics.

"Funding coming in for sports should be used to put on the Olympics," Ctvrtlik said. "We don't want funding for Games organization going into rebuilding a city in ways that won't have a sporting legacy."

[SOlympiadsW]

much better, but where is this stadium still going to be?

[ChicagoFan90]

much better, but where is this stadium still going to be?

Probably still on the lakefront, near McCormick Place and Soldier Field.

[SOlympiadsW]

Probably still on the lakefront, near McCormick Place and Soldier Field.

thanks ...is it still going to be 100% temporary?

[Rafa]

its going to be in cape town...just kidding...prob the same spot?..

btw..theres NO way u can fit an olympic stadium in the space proposed in that one graphic...its just not possible...soldier field would not even fit in that sort of space, not unless u build the seating at 85 degrees...

[nykfan845]

Temporary?

[SOlympiadsW]

Temporary?

yes, as in it disappears after the Games....can anyone answer that for me?

[nykfan845]

yes, as in it disappears after the Games....can anyone answer that for me?

I know, I just don't like the idea of a temporary Olympic Stadium.

[SOlympiadsW]

I know, I just don't like the idea of a temporary Olympic Stadium.

oh that's what you meant (sorry)...I agree I don't either that's why I asked if that changed

[ChicagoFan90]

yes, as in it disappears after the Games....can anyone answer that for me?

When Daley and Ryan first announced a temporary stadium design, their plans included either keeping part of the stadium, and making into an outdoor theater and park, or reducing the capacity to about 15,000 and keeping it as an athletic stadium.

No matter what though, it's not going to completley disappear.

[SOlympiadsW]

When Daley and Ryan first announced a temporary stadium design, their plans included either keeping part of the stadium, and making into an outdoor theater and park, or reducing the capacity to about 15,000 and keeping it as an athletic stadium.

No matter what though, it's not going to completley disappear.

I should have clarified that by saying "mostly disappears".....anyway no one has still answered my question, is that the plan?

[ChicagoFan90]

I should have clarified that by saying "mostly disappears".....anyway no one has still answered my question, is that the plan?

The only thing CONFIRMED, is that the two stadium plan is out the door.

Ryan is now either thinking of a permenant stadium or a temporary legacy stadium.

Those are the two finalists, and we'll know by October, after the question packets are given to the USOC.

[SOlympiadsW]

The only thing CONFIRMED, is that the two stadium plan is out the door.

Ryan is now either thinking of a permenant stadium or a temporary legacy stadium.

Those are the two finalists, and we'll know by October, after the question packets are given to the USOC.

hope it's the first choice they go with, which is going to be necessary when/if LA and SF have permanent Oympic stadiums in their plans

[Athensfan]

It sounds to me like Chicago's temporary stadium is the American version of the "tin shed" that Seb Coe so passionately rejected for London 2012. Look at Beijing's glorious stadium. The construction photos are absolutely stunning. London may not do something quite so over-the-top, but they're not going to allow themselves to be radically outshone by the Chinese. To this we're going to add Chicago's souped up scaffolding? Does anybody really think the IOC is going to go for something like that? It's going to look like the Americans are a bunch of cheapskates. Frankly, if we're not careful, it's possible that just as 2008 showcases China's rise, 2016 could seem like evidence of the USA's decline. Rio might be able to get away with a temporary stadium if everything else worked because expectations are lower and sypathy would run high. Not so for the United States.

[ChicagoFan90]

It sounds to me like Chicago's temporary stadium is the American version of the "tin shed" that Seb Coe so passionately rejected for London 2012. Look at Beijing's glorious stadium. The construction photos are absolutely stunning. London may not do something quite so over-the-top, but they're not going to allow themselves to be radically outshone by the Chinese. To this we're going to add Chicago's souped up scaffolding? Does anybody really think the IOC is going to go for something like that? It's going to look like the Americans are a bunch of cheapskates. Frankly, if we're not careful, it's possible that just as 2008 showcases China's rise, 2016 could seem like evidence of the USA's decline. Rio might be able to get away with a temporary stadium if everything else worked because expectations are lower and sypathy would run high. Not so for the United States.

One thing's for sure, Daley and Ryan won't create a piece of s#%^ stadium in one of the most prized areas of Chicago real estate. The lakefront cannot be meddeled with, and the Chicago Olympic Committee knows that. Our lakefront is our landmark, and if a "tin shed" is built there it will completley ruin that, example- Soldier Field . Well, the public hated that, and thought it looked like a UFO landed in the middle of the lakefront, so either a permenant stadium, or a temporary legacy stadium will be built to Chicago archetectural standards, which are of the highest caliber in the world.

[SOlympiadsW]

It sounds to me like Chicago's temporary stadium is the American version of the "tin shed" that Seb Coe so passionately rejected for London 2012. Look at Beijing's glorious stadium. The construction photos are absolutely stunning. London may not do something quite so over-the-top, but they're not going to allow themselves to be radically outshone by the Chinese. To this we're going to add Chicago's souped up scaffolding? Does anybody really think the IOC is going to go for something like that? It's going to look like the Americans are a bunch of cheapskates. Frankly, if we're not careful, it's possible that just as 2008 showcases China's rise, 2016 could seem like evidence of the USA's decline. Rio might be able to get away with a temporary stadium if everything else worked because expectations are lower and sypathy would run high. Not so for the United States.

quite frankly I don't see what you are harping about Beijing's stadium so much...I think it's pretty ugly for anything

[baron-pierreIV]

I forget whether it was on these boards or elsewhere, but somebody said that Athens' CLosing Ceremony would "...blow the roof off of their stadium..." Which got me to thinking about Chicago's 'temp stadium' -- if they are really going through with it, and the IOC buys it.

Well, the finale of the Chicago Closing Ceremony, after the Olympic flag has exited and the torch doused, would be the Wrecking the Stadium number. At the count of 3, the audience can rip apart anything they want of the stadium and take it home as a souvenir!! And that would be the quickest 'dismantling of a stadium in history' -- another Olympic first!!

[SOlympiadsW]

hahahahahaha

[LA84]

It sounds to me like Chicago's temporary stadium is the American version of the "tin shed" that Seb Coe so passionately rejected for London 2012. Look at Beijing's glorious stadium. The construction photos are absolutely stunning. London may not do something quite so over-the-top, but they're not going to allow themselves to be radically outshone by the Chinese. To this we're going to add Chicago's souped up scaffolding? Does anybody really think the IOC is going to go for something like that? It's going to look like the Americans are a bunch of cheapskates. Frankly, if we're not careful, it's possible that just as 2008 showcases China's rise, 2016 could seem like evidence of the USA's decline. Rio might be able to get away with a temporary stadium if everything else worked because expectations are lower and sypathy would run high. Not so for the United States.

The United States doesn't need to prove anything to anyone when it comes to hosting an Olympics. Bejing, much like Berlin and Moscow before them, will attempt to use the Olympics to showcase what they perceive as their emergence as a world power, using billions of taxpayer dollars to do that. If history is any indication, this could be Chinas grand moment before their fall. We'll see.

Any country that builds a multi million dollar stadium just to host the Olympics without having a good use for it afterwards needs to have their head examined IMHO. In the current crop of U.S. candidates only San Francisco has that need. But a stadium is only one element of what it takes to host a games.

As for a "tin can" - visit Chicago sometime. As it is world reknown for it's architecture you can count on any temporary structure being dazzling and innovative.

[Athensfan]

Wait 'til Beijing is done. It's still in it's skeletal phase. IMO what's there is pretty awesome.

I lived outside Chicago for 4 years. I understand the value of the lakefront. My point is that any temporary stadium is likely to look like a tin shed in comparison to recent Olympics (Sydney, Athens, Beijing, London). Oddly enough, the most disappointing recent stadium was in Atlanta. Before that LA, Seoul, Barcelona were all pretty slick.

I fear that Chicago would be willing to put up with a "tin shed" if they know it's going to be dismantled. Hell, they're putting up with Soldier Field and it's permanent. I'm sorry, but I still have zero confidence in the idea of a temporary stadium. It still feels like a 99-Cent Store approach to the Olympics and I suspect the IOC will agree with me. It's going to take some pretty exciting graphic renderings to change that opinion.

[baron-pierreIV]

Wait 'til Beijing is done. It's still in it's skeletal phase. IMO what's there is pretty awesome.

I lived outside Chicago for 4 years. I understand the value of the lakefront. My point is that any temporary stadium is likely to look like a tin shed in comparison to recent Olympics (Sydney, Athens, Beijing, London). Oddly enough, the most disappointing recent stadium was in Atlanta. Before that LA, Seoul, Barcelona were all pretty slick.

I fear that Chicago would be willing to put up with a "tin shed" if they know it's going to be dismantled. Hell, they're putting up with Soldier Field and it's permanent. I'm sorry, but I still have zero confidence in the idea of a temporary stadium. It still feels like a 99-Cent Store approach to the Olympics and I suspect the IOC will agree with me. It's going to take some pretty exciting graphic renderings to change that opinion.

Not if David Cooperfield directs Closing. If they make the stadium's demise a spectacular and breath-taking moment -- Here Tonite, Gone Manana!! -- maybe the IOC will buy it!!

[ChicagoFan90]

Wait 'til Beijing is done. It's still in it's skeletal phase. IMO what's there is pretty awesome.

I lived outside Chicago for 4 years. I understand the value of the lakefront. My point is that any temporary stadium is likely to look like a tin shed in comparison to recent Olympics (Sydney, Athens, Beijing, London). Oddly enough, the most disappointing recent stadium was in Atlanta. Before that LA, Seoul, Barcelona were all pretty slick.

I fear that Chicago would be willing to put up with a "tin shed" if they know it's going to be dismantled. Hell, they're putting up with Soldier Field and it's permanent. I'm sorry, but I still have zero confidence in the idea of a temporary stadium. It still feels like a 99-Cent Store approach to the Olympics and I suspect the IOC will agree with me. It's going to take some pretty exciting graphic renderings to change that opinion.

Well the point is that the stadium really won't be temporary. Most of it will come down, that's true, but Daley and Ryan have both said, that it will either become a theater and centerpiece for a new park, or will turn into a 10,000 seat athletic training center, much like London will have after the Olympic leave.

It will be useful after, so the stadium will have to have some permenant features, as well as mix parts of the temporary fixtures to it.