2018 World Cup bids

[Gherkin]

An over-discussed topic already, but here are the potential bids with the stadia that would be expected to be used in each bid.
I have only included stadia that meet the 40,000+ regulations and only a maximum of 2 from each city. These are only suggested venues, as there is nothing official yet.

This thread is also for news and pictures of venues etc with anything to do with the 2018 World Cup

England:

Wembley (London)
Cap. 90,000
Completition date 2007


Old Trafford (Manchester)
Cap. 76,000


Emirates Stadium (London)
Cap. 60,000


New Anfield (Liverpool)
Cap. 60,000
Completion date 2010



St. James Park (Newcastle)
Cap. 60,000
Completion Date: ?



City of Birmingham Stadium
Cap. 55,000
Completion Date ?



New Everton Stadium (Liverpool)
Cap. 50,000+


City of Manchester Stadium (Manchester)
Cap. 48,500





Spain

Nou Camp (Barcelona)
Cap. 98,000


The Bernabeu (Madrid)
Cap. 80,400


New Valencia Stadium (Valencia)
Cap. 75,000
Completion date 2007


Estadio La Peineta (Madrid)
Cap. 66,000
Completion date (was scrapped after 2012 olympics went to London, but design could still be used for 2018)


Estadio Manuel Ruiz de Lopera (Seville)
Cap. 55,000


San Mames (Bilbao)
Cap: 56000
Completion Date: 2009+




Nueva Romareda (Zaragoza)
Cap. 43,000
Completion date 2008



Nou Sarria (Barcelona)
Cap. 41,000
Completion date n/a




Australia

Melbourne Cricket Ground (Melbourne)
Cap. 100,000


Telstra Stadium (Sydney)
Cap. 83,500


Perth stadium (Perth)
cap: 60,000+
Completion Date: 2012



Telstra Dome (Melbourne)
Cap. 56,400


Suncorp Stadium (Brisbane)
Cap. 52,500


Queensland Centre (Brisbane)
Cap. 48,400


Aussie Stadium (Sydney)
Cap. 42,000




China

Beijing Olympic Stadium (Beijing)
Cap. 91,000
Completion date 2008


Guangdong Olympic Stadium (Guangzhou)
Cap. 80,000


Shanghai Stadium (Shanghai)
Cap. 80,000


Workers Stadium (Beijing)
Cap. 72,000


Wulihe Stadium (Shenyang)
Cap. 65,000


Nanjing Olympic Sports Centre (Nanjing)
Cap. 60,000


Wuhan Stadium (Wuhan)
Cap. 60,000


Shenyang Olympic Sports Centre (Shenyang)
Cap. 60,000
Completion date 2008


Tianhe Stadium (Guangzhou)
Cap. 60,000


Chonqing Olympic Sports Centre (Chonqing)
Cap. 55,000




Mexico

Estadio Azteca (Mexico City)
Cap. 115,000


Olympic Stadium (Mexico City)
Cap. 72,500


Estadio Jalisco (Guadalajara)
Cap. 56,700


Estadio La Corregidora (Queretaro)
Cap. 50,000


Estadio Chivas (Guadalajara)
Cap. 45,000
Completion date 2006


Estadio Universitario (Monterrey)
Cap. 45,000


Estadio Luis Pirata Fuente (veracruz)
Cap. 43,200


Estadio Cuahutehmoc (Peubla)
Cap. 42,700




USA (suggested venues)

Giants Stadium (New York)
Cap: 80,000


Reliant Stadium (Houston)
Cap: 72,000


University of Phoenix Stadium (Phoenix)
Cap: 63,400



Qwest Field (Seattle)
Cap: 67,000


Dallas Stadium (Dallas)
Cap: 80,000 (Completed 2009)



Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia)
Cap: 68,000


Soldier Field (Chicago)
Cap: 61,000


Fedex Field (Washington D.C)
Cap: 91,000


Invesco Field (Denver)
Cap : 76,000


L.A Memorial Coliseum
Cap: 92,000


Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte)
Cap: 73,000



Pictures from www.worldstadiums.com, www.stadiumguide.com and www.photobucket.com

Feel free to correct mistakes

[LDN_EUROPE]

China has the best stadia in my opinion. England has the history and the love of football though. COMON EENGGERLAND!!!

[Gherkin]

But the Chinese are mad. If they get the World Cup the whole country will go football crazy for the year. The Chinese stadia are far superior to those of Spain and England, but I think the WC will go European. Mexico have no chance.

[dronkula]

Where's 2014 again? Isn't 2018 a 'European' year?

[Gherkin]

It is expected to go to South America, so Brazil are the best bet for the 2014 World Cup.

[Sparks]

All of China's stadiums have running tracks around them, which is simply not acceptable for a World Cup.

Some of the stadium completion dates are well off as well, in particular the Spanish grounds as they haven't even begun construction in San Sebastian, yet the finish date is listed as 2006. While Valencia's new ground is about as far forward as Liverpool's.

[Monkey]

I think England and Spain have the best stadia for football. China and Spain are England's main rivals. I don't think Australia or Mexico have a serious chance.

[Gherkin]

Originally Posted by Sparks

Some of the stadium completion dates are well off as well, in particular the Spanish grounds as they haven't even begun construction in San Sebastian, yet the finish date is listed as 2006. While Valencia's new ground is about as far forward as Liverpool's.

I was relying on www.worldstadiums.com out-of-date data so had presumed it had begun construction. Is there anything else that needs changing whilst I'm at it?

[Latic]

Worth bearing in mind too that Old Trafford could potentially expand to seat over 90,000 by then

[Mo Rush]

England 2018..and thats that ...any other host would be a loss to the game.

[Gherkin]

Originally Posted by Latic

Worth bearing in mind too that Old Trafford could potentially expand to seat over 90,000 by then

Potentially, any club in the UK could expand to 90,000 given the financial input and club success by 2018. We may see at least 60,000 seater stadiums in Brum and Sheffield, perhaps even smaller cities like Bristol by then. Perhaps, even the New Meadow in Shrewsbury could be expanded to over 40,000 seats come 2018

[potto]

I have a feeling the new wembley might swing a vote or two, it was always a pull for international teams and now the facilities are second to none it will be like a temptation the international football world couldnt resist... I reckon

[Its AlL gUUd]

the facilities at the Emirates stadium are pretty awesome too

[CharlieP]

Originally Posted by Sparks

All of China's stadiums have running tracks around them, which is simply not acceptable for a World Cup.

It didn't seem to be much of a problem in 1990...

[richie1878]

Originally Posted by CharlieP

It didn't seem to be much of a problem in 1990...

Look at the Italian clubs who staged the world cup with running tracks now. What crowds do they get?

[Gherkin]

Lol I'm sure if Anfield had a running track it could easily fill 40,000+ supporters every game...

[Danger! 50,000 volts]

Sitting like 30 yards from the pitch in these athletics staduiums is just crap, much less atmosphere during a football match, Englands stadiums all follow the same ideal of being right up close to the pitch, where the action is.
Besides - by 2018 there will be ample stadia accross the country. Birmingham, Sheffield, Nottingham, Leeds would probably all benefit from brand new stadia in order to compete seriously in a world cup bid. These would all be around the 60,000 seat mark. Sunderland may expand theirs to 60,000 also. Obviously London will have its 90,000 seat venue and Manchester Utd will probably have expanded Old Trafford to around 90,000 by then. St James Park would be expandable to 80,000+ if they ever manage to. They may use a second London ground - Emirates Stadium. Of course Stanley park in Liverpool will be another 60,000 seat venue. This would probably leave around 3-4 other cities accross the country to be considered. Possible cities could be Bristol, Southampton, Middlesborough, Blackburn, Bolton or Coventry - these would all probably be developed to around the 45,000-50,000 seat mark.

[3SPIRES]

I believe we will probably end up having the 2014 world cup in England because either SA or (more likely) Brazil won't have built their stadiums on time.

[Ciudad Bristol]

Originally Posted by Danger! 50,000 volts

This would probably leave around 3-4 other cities accross the country to be considered. Possible cities could be Bristol, Southampton, Middlesborough, Blackburn, Bolton or Coventry - these would all probably be developed to around the 45,000-50,000 seat mark.

Bristol City's Ashton Gate Stadium has planning permission to redevelop three sides of the ground to increase capacity to 30,000 but there is no time scale. 45 - 50K is dreamland and would only happen if we suddenly became a successful Premiership side.

Bristol Rovers Memorial stadium will be completely redeveloped to 18,000 all seater. Work could start early in 2007 with completion in time for the 2009 season.

[Manc Guy]

It's lush to look at even now.