UEFA EURO 2024 bids

[Fizmo1337]

Originally Posted by neiliog93

Neither Ireland nor Scotland have ever hosted a major championships, and UEFA haven't gone this far West in Europe since Euro 96 went to England. I think it's reasonable for one of Euro 2024 or Euro 2028 to go to Ire-Sco. An Eastern European combo will get Euro 2020, with one of Euro 2024 or Euro 2028 going to Italy or Spain, and the remaining championship from 2024 and 2028 going to Sco-Ire (hopefully anyway). That is fair and makes sense. Ireland-Scotland have also already been overlooked for previous tournaments as well.

If the Ireland-Scotland idea does not work out, although I think it will, Ireland-Scotland-Wales could launch a triple-bid, as has been proposed before. Although UEFA discourage this, they have said that they'd allow it in "exceptional circumstances".

Apologies for the length of this reply, but I've done a lot of research and as an Irishman I'm passionate about this happening.

Thoughts?

Isn't the problem that neither Ireland, Scotland nor wales have borders with each other? UEFA is probably not against it but I understand they would prefer 2 countries who border to each other. I guess it can be quite a hassle to go from Ireland to Scotland. And have both countries sufficient infrastructure to cope with a few million fans? Can the ports/airports handle the intra-movement from scotland to ireland and vice versa? Maybe it's better to do it like Ukraine & Poland and keep the teams from 2 groups in 1 country and the teams from the other 2 groups in the other country so there's a minimum of transport hassle between both countries.

Stadium-wise it should be feasible to organise it. Upgrading a few smaller stadiums to 30k, temporarily or not, isn't that big of a deal and is perfectly possible.

Ireland-Scotland have also already been overlooked for previous tournaments as well.

When did you already bid? Don't forget most countries have to bid multiple times to win it. Turkey even bid 3 or 4 times and still don't have it. There can only be 1 winner you know!

If the Ireland-Scotland idea does not work out, although I think it will, Ireland-Scotland-Wales could launch a triple-bid, as has been proposed before. Although UEFA discourage this, they have said that they'd allow it in "exceptional circumstances".

It probably depends how good the countries are. If 2 of them directly qualify for the euro 2016 tournament and the euro 2020 tournament (24 teams), I don't see a problem really. Only 1 of them would 'really' take a spot instead of another team but in a 24 team format that shouldn't be a problem. With the 16 teams format, 3 teams was indeed too much but with the 24 teams tournament from 2016 on, it shouldn't be.

[neiliog93]

Ireland-Scotland put in a bid for both Euro 2004 and Euro 2008, but I accept your point, just because you've entered the race before and weren't awarded the championships doesn't necessarily mean you'll get them this time.

I don't really accept your point about the border issue. South-Korea and Japan hosted a much bigger tournament, the world cup, and are much further apart than Ireland and Scotland. Fair enough, they've got better infrastructure and a bigger population, but Dublin airport was the 14th busiest international airport in 2007 and recently completed a new terminal. There are ferry crossings from the North of Ireland to Scotland, which I assume would be made more regular during any prospective tournament. There are several international ports along Ireland's east coast including Dublin, Rosslare (south-east Ireland) and Dún Laoghaire (southern suburb of Dublin with major harbour). Very profitable routes could be added from some/all of these harbours to Scotland during the tournament.

Ryanair, the world's biggest airline, has its base in Dublin. Glasgow is also an international airport, and Ireland has smaller airports (that would probably need an upgrade) in Cork and Shannon (near Limerick).

The one legacy Ireland has from its boom is great roads and a much-improved public transport system - really efficient and comprehensive motorways connecting all the cities and large towns. Despite having budget surpluses for years, our health service remained poor and inequality remained a real problem, but they did build good motorways and upgraded tram/train services in Dublin.

You raise an interesting point about the triple bid, hopefully a triple bid would be a possibility. I know less about Wales' infrastructure, but there's regular ferry crossings from Dublin. They also have the Millennium Stadium (capacity 75,000), the Cardiff City Stadium (27,000), Liberty Stadium, Swansea (21,000) and Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli (15,000)...Pretty sure they're Wales' only usable (or potentially usable) stadiums. Having said that, the Millennium Stadium is a magnificent arena, probably my favourite in the world, with a closable roof.

This is a bit irrelevant but watch this to see the stadium's magic, sends a shiver up the spine:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQy4xnKgt28

[alexandru.mircea]

The more I think about it the more I like it, Neil. Scotland and Ireland are easily accessible via low cost airlines, three out of the cities are major European tourist attractions anyway (Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dublin), and while the smaller Irish cities are not amazing they're surely much better than some of the host cities from the 2010 World Cup.

[Superpippo12]

I think Scotland and Ireland are to small alone it will be very centralizes around glasgow and Dublin. If they can get wales to join in 3-country bid they’ll be a serious candidate.

If the euro2024 is open for a 3-country bid Norway, Sweden and Denmark could be good bid. With 24 teams a 3-country bid seems fair. All teams are ranked among the 24 best teams both on the fifa ranking and uefa ranking. Denmark and Norway are the only western europena countries that never hosted the euro championship in football.

Stadiums:
4 stadiums in Sweden, 3 in Norway and 3 in Denmark.
---------------------------------------------------------
Copenhagen:60.000 (final) + quarterfinal
Stockholm:50.000 (semifinal 1) + quarterfinal
Oslo:50.000 (semifinal 2) + quarterfinal
Gothenburg:45.000 (quarterfinal)
--------------------------------------------------------
Malmø:40.000 (1/8 final)
Bergen:40.000 (1/8 final)
Århus:40.000 (1/8 final)
Trondheim:40.000 (1/8 final)
---------------------------------------------------
Odense: 35.000 (group stage)
Stockholm (2): 35.000 (group stage)
---------------------------------------------------

Norway needs to improve infrastructure up to swedish and danish standard with roads and trains to be able to handle the transportation. Stadiums needs to be expanded.

I think a 3 country cooperation is nescescarry to host the euro2024 in scandinavia. It will be to many unused stadiums with a 2 country cooperation and 5 large stadiums in each country. 3 large stadiums (40k+) seems reasonable in Norway and Denmark and 4 in Sweden.

[ForzaD]

Scotland-Ireland could work perfectly but it's reliant on Scotland becoming an independent country as there is no chance of London Government being ambitious enough to invest in Scotland. Hopefully a successful 2014 Commonwealth Games and Ryder Cup will bring the confidence needed to go for it.

I think that the small distances involved are actually a positive point to the bid, the buzz around central Scotland would be phenomenal.

The travel infrastructure between cities in Scotland isn't a problem, I'd imagine there being a train every 5 minutes between Glasgow and Edinburgh during busy times.

I doubt hotel rooms would be a problem either, after all Edinburgh alone supports something like 400,000 visitors every August. The North of England would do their bit in trying to poach some of the visitors.

Getting between Scotland and Ireland in easy with plenty of ferry ports and airports connecting both for very cheap fares.

Stadiums in Scotland that could be possibilities are:
Murrayfield (Edinburgh) - 72,000
Hampden (Glasgow) - 52,000
Celtic Park (Glasgow) - 61,000
Ibrox (Glasgow) - 51,000
New Tynecastle - 30,000 (Lowered after)
New Pittodrie (Aberdeen) - 30,000 (Lowered after)
New Dundee (Shared between Dundee and Dundee United after) - 30,000 (lowered after)

And just a final point. The bid would definitely have to be Scotland-Ireland and not Ireland-Scotland.

[Turkiiish]

Azerbaidjan & Georgia !

[Edvin]

I love the idea of a scandinavian euro 2024 (Why not 2020?). But Superpippo12, the capacity you've specified must be estimated future capacity, right?

[Superpippo12]

Originally Posted by Edvin

I love the idea of a scandinavian euro 2024 (Why not 2020?). But Superpippo12, the capacity you've specified must be estimated future capacity, right?

UEFA demands this, so the stadiums needs to be expanded. I think it is absolutely nesceccary to have a three country bid for scandinavia including Denmark,Sweden and Norway.

2 stadiums with 50.000 or above (A scandinavian bid 3 stadiums)
(Here we’ll get three: Oslo,Copenhagen and Stockholm). Stockholm already has 50k opening this year. If a euro2024 bid comes Oslo can build 50k. Copenhagen can be expanded to 60k.

3 stadiums with 40.000 or above.(A Scandinvian bid 5 stadiums)
My suggestion: Gothenburg,Malmo,Århus,Trondheim,Bergen

4 stadiums with 30.000 or above (A scandinavian bid 2 stadiums)
My suggestions: Odense and Stockholm

Sweden look quite well prepared with two new stadiums in Stockholm that can be used. Gothenburgs nya ullevi must be rebuilt for football. Malmo stadium expanded to 40.000.

Norway:Needs to build a national arena in Oslo for 50.000. Trondheim and Bergen can be expanded to 40.000.

Denmark: Needs to expand copenhagen, rebuild Århus and Odense.

The infrastructure both roads and trains are very poor in Norway compared to Sweden and Denmark so they need to build that to. If not 2024 then maybe 2028?

[JimB]

England should probably consider bidding again some time soon.

It's quite apparent, after all, that FIFA are never going to allow England to host a World Cup again.

Or how about just London?

By 2024, it could probably host one of the biggest possible (in terms of overall capacity) Euro Champs on its own!

Wembley - 90K
Twickenham - 82K
Emirates - 60K
Olympic stadium - 60K
New White Hart Lane - 60K
New Chelsea stadium - 60K

Possibles:

Charlton - 40K (if they return to the Prem and complete their current stadium plans)
Crystal Palace - new 35K stadium replacing the current athletics stadium
QPR - new 30K + stadium near Westfield
Fulham - increased capacity to 30K +

Or cheating a bit:

Reading - 35K ish by then
Milton Keynes - about 32K
Brighton - 30K +

[Laurence2011]

I think FIFA will allow us to host the world cup one day.. they can't put it off forever, England doesn't want the euros, we want the world cup

[JimB]

I'd be very happy having the Euros in England again. They're far more prestigious now than they were even in 1996. And we will have many more, far better stadiums than we did back then.

I'd love to have the World Cup in England but I can't see it happening in my lifetime. Too many FIFA delegates hate England and will do anything they can to stop us hosting the tournament.

[GEwinnen]

After 1966 these european countries hosted the WC: Germany, Spain, Italy, France, Germany again and Russia, the next WC in Europe after 2018 will be England's -2030 !!

[JimB]

Originally Posted by GEwinnen

After 1966 these european countries hosted the WC: Germany, Spain, Italy, France, Germany again and Russia, the next WC in Europe after 2018 will be England's -2030 !!

Isn't 2030 earmarked for Uruguay and Argentina, because of the centenary?

The next World Cup in Europe could be as soon as 2026, now that FIFA has done away with compulsory continental rotation.

But I reckon that Holland / Belgium or Spain would beat England in any vote, simply because England has so many enemies within FIFA.

Heck, I think even Germany or Russia would stand a good chance of winning a vote against England - even though they are the two most recent European countries to have been awarded the tournament!

[Fizmo1337]

Centenary in 2066

[JimB]

Originally Posted by Fizmo1337

Centenary in 2066

Brilliant.

I'll be 100 years old too!

[Laurence2011]

Originally Posted by JimB

Brilliant.

I'll be 100 years old too!

i'll be the youthful age of 73, seeya there

[Fallout]

Originally Posted by neiliog93

The requirements for hosting the European Championships are stipulated as such:

1) All stadiums must be all-seater
2) 9 stadiums required
3) Two stadiums with a capacity in excess of 50,000
4) Another three stadiums with a capacity in excess of 40,000
5) Another four stadiums with a capacity in excess of 30,000
6) An additional 10th stadium with a capacity in excess of 30,000 may be required due to the expanded 24-team format

Come, to think about it, after current and planned investments are complete, Poland could host EURO alone. Too bad our politicians weren't ambitous enough to go for this.

By 2015 Poland will have:

National Stadium (Warsaw) - 58 000, completed
Silesian Stadium (Chorzów) - 55 000, u/c
Municipal Stadium (Wrocław) - 44 000, completed
PGE Arena (Gdańsk) - 44 000, completed
Municipal Stadium (Poznań) - 43 000, completed
Henryk Reyman Stadium (Kraków) - 33 000, completed
Widzew Stadium (Łódź) - 33 000, construction to start in 2013
Ernest Pohl Stadium (Zabrze) - 32 000, u/c
Pepsi Arena (Warsaw) - 31 000, completed

Well, now we'll have to wait some time before bidding again. 2032 perhaps?

[Laurence2011]

Originally Posted by Fallout

Come, to think about it, after current and planned investments are complete, Poland could host EURO alone. Too bad our politicians weren't ambitous enough to go for this.

By 2015 Poland will have:

National Stadium (Warsaw) - 58 000, completed
Silesian Stadium (Chorzów) - 55 000, u/c
Municipal Stadium (Wrocław) - 44 000, completed
PGE Arena (Gdańsk) - 44 000, completed
Municipal Stadium (Poznań) - 43 000, completed
Henryk Reyman Stadium (Kraków) - 33 000, completed
Widzew Stadium (Łódź) - 33 000, construction to start in 2013
Ernest Pohl Stadium (Zabrze) - 32 000, u/c
Pepsi Arena (Warsaw) - 31 000, completed

Well, now we'll have to wait some time before bidding again. 2032 perhaps?

I think Poland and the Ukraine should think about putting together a world cup bid maybe for 2026

[Mr.Underground]

Euro 2024 has to go to Italy.

[alexandru.mircea]

^ I doubt they'll bid for anything in the near future.