According to one Edmonton councillor, Toronto has already bid for two expos and failed, so now it's Edmonton's turn to make a pitch. I agree with him, let Edmonton waste money on this. Toronto needs to fix it's waterfront, but it shouldn't attempt to do it by hosting an event that is sure to create many white elephants, and crushing debt that will run the city into the ground. Alberta is rich and can afford to host this kind of stuff.
http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/EdmontonSun/News/2005/04/05/982893-sun.html

I disagree. Expos are ussually 6 months long and bring in mountains of visiters and ussually gobs of fed money. They are niot a two week circus like the Olympics. They are lon enough to show Toronto to the world.
Remember too that by 2015 the last time the Expo would have been held in Canada was 84 in Vancouver. Thats 31 year spread which bodes well for Toronto's chances.

We learn by our mistakes and I would be baffled if Toronto screws this Expo up (assuming they win of course). And as ssman said Toronto's chances are well above Edmonton's. But, all the best to Edmonton and good luck on your bid.

I agree. This may be Toronto's only opportunity to grab some (well-deserved) cash from the feds.

Fed money for the waterfront money (promised years ago) still hasn't appeared, so Expo would definitely help.

I disagree. Expos are ussually 6 months long and bring in mountains of visiters and ussually gobs of fed money. They are niot a two week circus like the Olympics. They are lon enough to show Toronto to the world.
Remember too that by 2015 the last time the Expo would have been held in Canada was 84 in Vancouver. Thats 31 year spread which bodes well for Toronto's chances.

FYI Vancouver held expo in 86.

Expos dont showcase cites in the same way that an Olympics does. Example there is an expo in some Japaness city I dont even know the name, it was buried in the back of the news. But I know the Olympics were held in Nagano Japan a city of only 360,117 people an a city I had no idea even existed until 1998. My point is that expo is a big event but an Olympics is much much bigger and bring many many more tourist from futher abroad. I still think Toronto should go for it since all of Canada's three major cities have or will host both a world Expo and an Olympics except Toronto the nations largest city which hasnt hosted either.

I dont think it would be to smart of a move. Edmonton doesnt really have a large tourist market, its kind of out of the way.

Looks like Toronto has some competition ;)

I don't know. See Toronto definatly has a huge advantage, but its not like Edmonton can't run for it. Plus Edmonton could actually pull it off and take the Canadian bid. Its all about politics and cash. If the provincial government in Alberta get behind the Edmonton bid and guarantees everything, then its a whole different ball game.

Thats assuming the Ontario government doesn't do anything and the Alberta bid has a high speed rail connection to Calgary.

Isn't expo completely scaled down now? Its nothing like it used to be back in the day. I think Vancouver's was the last big one.

^ they're still big, just not that internationally popular and recognized like how Vancouver's was. 1986 was probably the last time.

i'd support a Edmonton Expo bid and in return, i will support a Toronto Olympic bid.




I dont think it would be to smart of a move. Edmonton doesnt really have a large tourist market, its kind of out of the way.

that's what everybody thought for Vancouver's Expo '86. it was estimated to attract 10 million people over the 6 month period, instead it was 22 million. not only in this way but in so many other ways, '86 was so successful that the fair was upgraded from international to universal status and even though it doesn't have the status to be put in the top 10 of best, it was put in the top 10 anyway because it was such a success.

Edmonton can definetly do it.

Go for it Edmonton!

can there be two bids from the same nation for Expo?

Although I love Edmonton, I think Toronto would make a better host city. It's closer to the American market, and I think foreign travellers would be more willing to go to Toronto. Sorry Edmonton.

I am not so sure. I honestly think it could pull it off. Remember Calgary was the runner up for the one this year I believe thus the size of the city is not really an issue. Edmonton could very well do it, as long as its a very strong bid and done to perfection. It could displace Toronto as Canada's bid. Plus as I said earlier, if the provincial government backs it then its a whole different ball game.

Why would that make it a whole different ballgame? The Ontario government has already hinted that they will fully support Toronto financially, why does it matter if Alberta does the same??

I hope Edmonton gets this... Toronto doesn't need this 'world's fair'.
In the self proclaimed 'most diverse' city in the world, we already get to see what the rest of the world has to offer.
Plus, we got Caribana, CNE, the Ontario Science Centre, Ontario Place, Harbourfront Center... and the list goes on.

I like toronto's chances due to draw factor, but Edmonton could host a great EXPO IMO. We have CHAMP car, did a good job with the IAAF, host more international events per capita than most cities in the world and have a very dedicated volunteer base as seen in prior events. WE also have a site...HELLO MUNI....

"Plus, we got Caribana, CNE, the Ontario Science Centre, Ontario Place, Harbourfront Center... and the list goes on."

hahaha...good things indeed, but over an EXPO? come on.

Toronto would benefit Expo better, having bigger global presence and nearby population. I can't think of the last big city to host an Expo. Plus, Edmonton's already hosted a Commonwealth Games, while Toronto's not hosted anything major.

It doesn't get much bigger than Shanghai in 2010.

This whole underwater train sounds like an even dumber idea than the Sheppard subway, and that's saying a lot. I really hope Toronto council does not waste more of our taxes on a bid for an event that would be the final nail in the coffin for the city.

Toronto would benefit Expo better, having bigger global presence and nearby population. I can't think of the last big city to host an Expo. Plus, Edmonton's already hosted a Commonwealth Games, while Toronto's not hosted anything major.


But is there a reason why Edmonton host so many events?

2001 IAAF (I think the third largest in tv numbers behind Summer Olympics and World Cup)
Commonwealth Games
World University games (also supposed to bid for winter version for 2007(?))
World Master Games
Etc....

Perhaps Edmonton just does a better job at hosting large events than cities many times it size...

It's pretty remarkable when you think about it.

"But I know the Olympics were held in Nagano Japan a city of only 360,117 people an a city I had no idea even existed until 1998. My point is that expo is a big event but an Olympics is much much bigger and bring many many more tourist from futher abroad."


Well, I know that Salt Lake City hosted the Olympics too....but unless I was actually interested in attending the Olympics, I have no other desire to go there, despite my better knowledge of it because of the Olympics. So, sometimes the exposure may be there, but it amounts to nothing...if all it's known for is over. I really have no desire to visit Salt Lake City...."let's go to Salt Lake City because it hosted the Olympics back when"???...I don't think so.

I mean...unless you have something else to show off and are using some one-time extravaganza to promote it or advertize it...what's the point?




"an event that would be the final nail in the coffin for the city."


Just a tad mellow-dramatic perhaps?






KGB

Well, I know that Salt Lake City hosted the Olympics too....but unless I was actually interested in attending the Olympics, I have no other desire to go there, despite my better knowledge of it because of the Olympics. So, sometimes the exposure may be there, but it amounts to nothing...if all it's known for is over. I really have no desire to visit Salt Lake City...."let's go to Salt Lake City because it hosted the Olympics back when"???...I don't think so.


Yes, but I HAVE been to Salt Lake City...on the 4th of July...not because of the Olympics though...

Please, your point is entirely subjective. You might not want to go to Salt Lake City, but how about everyone else watching the Olympics?


Toronto would benefit Expo better, having bigger global presence and nearby population. I can't think of the last big city to host an Expo. Plus, Edmonton's already hosted a Commonwealth Games, while Toronto's not hosted anything major.


Toronto would benefit how? It is already large, well-known, and draws its share of tourists already. Giving the Expo to TO would just be a boost to its bragging rights. Edmonton would benefit much more from hosting such an event.

EDIT: Oh, wait...you mean TO benefiting the expo, not the other way around...I guess I could see the point of that...but still, I believe smaller cities should always get the big events...


Perhaps Edmonton just does a better job at hosting large events than cities many times it size...

It's pretty remarkable when you think about it.
Today 03:45 PM


Indeed, it's almost too hard to bear with... :jk:

Any news if Edmonton's still bidding?

Toronto would benefit how? ... well-known, and draws its share of tourists already.

Actually, Toronto really isn't and doesn't. Canadian cities which have held these types of large events in the past (Montreal and Vancouver in particular) have benefited significantly from them, and in all likely hood Vancouver will benefit significantly from the 2010 Olympics.

Toronto is well known within Canada and most of the US, but the futher away you get the less people know about it in comparison to our other large cities unless they have family or friends within the city.

All that said, if Edmonton can put together a better plan, then I would far prefer it to be held within Canada than lose the event to another country.

^amen....toronto or edmonton...it would be nice to have it in canada.