Res. No. 60
Resolution in support of bringing World Cup Soccer to the United States and New York City.
By Council Members Chin, Fidler, James, Koppell, Mealy, Nelson, Williams, Rodriguez, Halloran and Koo
Whereas, Soccer has increasingly grown in popularity in the United States in recent years; and
Whereas, According to information of the U.S. Department of State, about 16 million people play soccer in the United States, a number that is growing as a result of increased participation of youth and women in the sport; and
Whereas, Increasing immigration from Latin America, where soccer is widely popular, has also bolstered the popularity of soccer in the United States; and
Whereas, The United States is seeking to be named the host site for the 2018 or 2022 World Cup Soccer games; and
Whereas, The USA Bid Committee is a non-profit organization created to prepare an application to host the FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) World Cup in 2018 or 2022 on behalf of the United States Soccer Federation; and
Whereas, The USA Bid Committee will submit its comprehensive bid to FIFA by May 2010, with FIFA's 24 member Executive Committee making a decision in December 2010; and
Whereas, FIFA's criterion requires a candidate host nation to provide a minimum of 12 stadiums and a maximum of 18 capable of seating 40,000 or more spectators; and
Whereas, To host the Opening and Final Matches, FIFA requires stadiums have a minimum capacity of 80,000; and
Whereas, The USA Bid Committee recently released a study conducted by an independent consulting firm that estimates a conservative domestic economic impact of $5 billion if the United States is chosen to host the FIFA World Cup in 2018 or 2022; and
Whereas, The findings of the study indicate that the total economic impact projected for any host city ranges from approximately $400 million to $600 million at today's dollar value; and
Whereas, The analysis also estimates that between 65,000 and 100,000 new jobs would be created throughout various host cities during the preparation and operation of the tournament in the year of the event; and
Whereas, The United States previously hosted the 1994 FIFA World Cup, which holds the record for the highest attendance (3.6 million) in World Cup history; and
Whereas, It was also the highest attended single sporting event in U.S. history; and
Whereas, The United States used stadiums in nine cities, including Giants Stadium, when it hosted the 1994 FIFA World Cup; and
Whereas, On January 12, 2010, the USA Bid Committee concluded an eight-month city selection process and announced 18 cities to be included in its official bid to host the FIFA World Cup in 2018 or 2022; and
Whereas, Each city could see World Cup matches in their venues if the United States is awarded the honor of hosting the world's largest sporting event; and
Whereas, New York City was selected as one of the host cities in the U.S. bid for the FIFA World Cup; and
Whereas, New York City is the nation's most populous and diverse city and the home of Major League Soccer; and
Whereas, New York City hopes to host World Cup matches at the new stadium being built for the New York Giants and New York Jets, which opens in 2011; and
Whereas, New York City would also qualify to host the Opening and Final matches since that stadium would meet FIFA's capacity requirement; and
Whereas, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg has joined the USA Bid Committee's Board of Directors in its effort to bring the FIFA World Cup to the United States in 2018 or 2022; and
Whereas, Hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2018 or 2022 would be a wonderful opportunity to bring back World Cup Soccer to the United States and New York City and would increase tourism, bolster the economy, and enable our nation and City to be recognized as the epicenter of major international sporting events; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York supports bringing World Cup Soccer to the United States and New York City.
LS#8025-S8
1/14/10
3:30 p.m.
TC