Hillsborough success in World Cup bid
Posted on: Thu 17 Dec 2009
England 2018 has today announced that Sheffield has been selected as a Candidate Host City as part of their bid to stage the 2018 or 2022 FIFA World Cup with Hillsborough Stadium as a potential venue for the biggest football competition on the planet.
Hillsborough is one of 15 venues to be chosen following an intense bid process throughout 2009 where 16 cities battled it out to be part of the England bid. Staging games would see the city benefit from a number of social and economic benefits in the period leading up to and during the event. Sheffield, along with other Applicant Host Cities, were assessed on a number of criteria including the facilities at the football grounds, locations for FIFA fan fests, public viewing areas, training sites, accommodation and event infrastructure etc.
Sheffield's bid included both grounds at Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United. However, in announcing Sheffield, England 2018 have also selected the Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough Stadium as their preferred venue to host games in the city.
Sheffield Wednesday chairman, Lee Strafford, said: "We are really pleased that Sheffield has been selected as a Candidate Host City for the 2018 World Cup as part of England's bid. Our city has a massive amount to offer the world of football and we know that the whole of our community will work together and do everything possible to make Sheffield a fantastic destination for football.
"We are sure that the FA recognises the exciting plans we have put forward for Hillsborough which translate into a great World Cup venue. Our stadium development plans achieve FIFA's criteria for FIFA World Cup stadiums and will provide an excellent matchday experience as well as a genuine hub for the South Yorkshire community. We are committed to making the dream of staging World Cup football in our city become a reality."
Councillor Paul Scriven, Leader of Sheffield City Council, said: "I'm delighted that Sheffield has been chosen as a Candidate Host City but this is tinged with some sadness that only one of our grounds has been selected. There was always a possibility that this would happen and we were well aware that England 2018 might only chose one. We believe that the strength of our bid was our team work and working as a unified force, after all, our bid was a city bid.
"Nevertheless whether you're a Blade or an Owl, the fact that Sheffield has been chosen is great for the city and we should all now be proud of Sheffield's achievement and get behind the bid. If England is successful in bringing the World Cup to the nation, Sheffield stands to gain so much and be recognised, yet again, as a city of sport."
England 2018 / 2022 will deliver their final bid to FIFA in May 2010. FIFA hope to announce the winning destinations in December 2010.
Hillsborough is one of 15 venues to be chosen following an intense bid process throughout 2009 where 16 cities battled it out to be part of the England bid. Staging games would see the city benefit from a number of social and economic benefits in the period leading up to and during the event. Sheffield, along with other Applicant Host Cities, were assessed on a number of criteria including the facilities at the football grounds, locations for FIFA fan fests, public viewing areas, training sites, accommodation and event infrastructure etc.
Sheffield's bid included both grounds at Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United. However, in announcing Sheffield, England 2018 have also selected the Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough Stadium as their preferred venue to host games in the city.
Sheffield Wednesday chairman, Lee Strafford, said: "We are really pleased that Sheffield has been selected as a Candidate Host City for the 2018 World Cup as part of England's bid. Our city has a massive amount to offer the world of football and we know that the whole of our community will work together and do everything possible to make Sheffield a fantastic destination for football.
"We are sure that the FA recognises the exciting plans we have put forward for Hillsborough which translate into a great World Cup venue. Our stadium development plans achieve FIFA's criteria for FIFA World Cup stadiums and will provide an excellent matchday experience as well as a genuine hub for the South Yorkshire community. We are committed to making the dream of staging World Cup football in our city become a reality."
Councillor Paul Scriven, Leader of Sheffield City Council, said: "I'm delighted that Sheffield has been chosen as a Candidate Host City but this is tinged with some sadness that only one of our grounds has been selected. There was always a possibility that this would happen and we were well aware that England 2018 might only chose one. We believe that the strength of our bid was our team work and working as a unified force, after all, our bid was a city bid.
"Nevertheless whether you're a Blade or an Owl, the fact that Sheffield has been chosen is great for the city and we should all now be proud of Sheffield's achievement and get behind the bid. If England is successful in bringing the World Cup to the nation, Sheffield stands to gain so much and be recognised, yet again, as a city of sport."
England 2018 / 2022 will deliver their final bid to FIFA in May 2010. FIFA hope to announce the winning destinations in December 2010.
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