Plymouth Argyle World Cup Bid

[handbags_harris]

Forgive if a Dodd, but this slipped me by completely. The main question, I suppose, is what Plymouth will do with a 40k+ capacity stadium in the lower half of the Championship?

Today's attendance, 11,241

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/8213536.stm

Plymouth Argyle football club is to bid to bring World Cup football matches to Devon.

The club is leading a consortium bid to become a host city for the 2018 World Cup, should England should be chosen to host the tournament.

The Football Association (FA) is in charge of selecting host cities. At least 15 others are making bids.

Argyle's bid is anticipated to include proposals for a new 40,000-plus seat stadium and modern training facilities.

These would be built near Plymouth for teams competing in 2018, including sites in South Devon and Cornwall.

The Pilgrims [Argyle's nickname] are also expected to submit proposals which would see investments in transport, hotel and leisure facilities.

Argyle will head a consortium of regional supporters, including Plymouth City Council, Devon County Council, Cornwall Council, the University of Plymouth and the Plymouth City Development Company.

The bid will be managed by a company called Plymouth World Cup Bid Ltd (PWCBL).

Economic impact

Proposals have to be submitted to the FA by November and successful host cities will be announced early next year.

Douglas Fletcher, PWCBL chairman, said: "Historically, Devon and Cornwall have been overlooked when major tournaments have come to the UK.

"Being a host city in 2018 would be an enormous honour for the people of Plymouth and a hugely positive experience for football fans throughout the South West."

Becoming a host city is also expected to have a positive knock-on effect for the local economy.

Councillor Vivien Pengelly, Leader of Plymouth City Council, said: "A successful bid would have a catalytic impact on the economy and fabric of both Plymouth and the wider region."

[Focher]

GREEN ARMY!

[soggy biscuit]

Van Nostrilboy agrees

[Dirk Gently]

Forgive if a Dodd, but this slipped me by completely. The main question, I suppose, is what Plymouth will do with a 40k+ capacity stadium in the lower half of the Championship?

Have it paid for out of the WC money.
Increase their attendance through having better facilities (difference between Elm Park 98 & Mad Stad 99).
Make money from an attached hotel and conferecne centre.

It'd be free as far as they're concerned - it's a no brainer for them to bid, especially as the FA have said that they want one of the groups to be based in the West /South West.

[Thaumagurist*]

Bloody janners.

[papereyes]

Forgive if a Dodd, but this slipped me by completely. The main question, I suppose, is what Plymouth will do with a 40k+ capacity stadium in the lower half of the Championship?

Have it paid for out of the WC money.
Increase their attendance through having better facilities (difference between Elm Park 98 & Mad Stad 99).
Make money from an attached hotel and conferecne centre.

It'd be free as far as they're concerned - it's a no brainer for them to bid, especially as the FA have said that they want one of the groups to be based in the West /South West.

The last few major tournaments 98, 02, 04 certainly, maybe 08 have all seen stadia built or improved in areas that, at first glance, would not 'deserve' a stadium.

There will be a World Cup stadium built/improved in Bristol, Plymouth, that part of the country.

[handbags_harris]

It makes a certain amount of sense, yes. But the cost of running a 40k stadium with regular gates of no more than 20k max doesn't make sense. Plymouth are no bigger than RFC, and everybody laughed their tits off at the prospect of the Madejski being expanded to 38k!!

[Smoking Kills Dancing Doe]

All these teams building new grounds for the World Cup are gonna be a bit gutted when they realise how much of fcuk up the FA and the others involved have made of the whole things.

At least they've got rid of Bradey etc now and got Thompson and Dean in to sort out the mess.

[Tony Le Mesmer]

Forgive if a Dodd, but this slipped me by completely. The main question, I suppose, is what Plymouth will do with a 40k+ capacity stadium in the lower half of the Championship?

Have it paid for out of the WC money.
Increase their attendance through having better facilities (difference between Elm Park 98 & Mad Stad 99).

Not picking holes, but we were getting bigger crowds at EP in 98 than we were at Mad in 99. Forgotten 5000 v Bury?

Take your point though, if you can jump on the World Cup band waggon and get a new stadium out of it, good luck to 'em.

[Dirk Gently]

Forgive if a Dodd, but this slipped me by completely. The main question, I suppose, is what Plymouth will do with a 40k+ capacity stadium in the lower half of the Championship?

Have it paid for out of the WC money.
Increase their attendance through having better facilities (difference between Elm Park 98 & Mad Stad 99).

Not picking holes, but we were getting bigger crowds at EP in 98 than we were at Mad in 99. Forgotten 5000 v Bury?

Yep, there'll always be individual matches that buck the trend but as a general rule of thumb once you get a new stadium you get the nice middle-class families who appreciate toilets that work and baguettes at half time etc. Generally a new stadium gets you a 15-20% increase in average attendence.

And if someone else is paying ......

[Kitson12]

Starvin'

[Terminal Boardom]

All these teams building new grounds for the World Cup are gonna be a bit gutted when they realise how much of fcuk up the FA and the others involved have made of the whole things.

At least they've got rid of Bradey etc now and got Thompson and Dean in to sort out the mess.

They would do better with Torville and Dean

[Terminal Boardom]

Yep, there'll always be individual matches that buck the trend but as a general rule of thumb once you get a new stadium you get the nice middle-class families who appreciate toilets that work and baguettes at half time etc. Generally a new stadium gets you a 15-20% increase in average attendence.

And if someone else is paying ......

I think that the only clubs that have not shown an upturn in attendances are Millwall and, predictably, Darlo.