I did some more research and BC Place would need to temporarily install a grass field on top of its new turf for World Cup matches to be played there. The new turf is ok for all other FIFA-recognized matches.
It would be nice if Seattle-Vancouver were pod cities. I would certainly buy such a two-city package.
It is too bad that a high speed rail system doesn’t exist between VAN and SEA but there is a slow Amtrak train, express buses and float planes in addition to car options.
I’ve always found a chartered bus with other fans and a keg of beer the best way to travel from Seattle to Vancouver for a match.
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The original bid book for the WC had Dallas and Atlanta as the locations of the semifinals, and NJ for the final. Of course that’s subject to change, but that was the sales pitch.
I’m thinking most of these places won’t want to put in grass (not sure who’s paying) for a month for exactly one match.
If they stick with something similar to the bid book, it would be a lot more than one match. The bid book is here: https://digitalhub.fifa.com/m/3c077448dcd5c0ab/original/w3yjeu7dadt5erw26wmu-pdf.pdf
Page 141 has the draft schedule and rationale. As proposed ATL and DAL would host 6 matches including the semis (Not clear which one is US7 and US10). No city would get more than 7 matches. Of course they could go with something completely different than the bid book. I think every city that raised their hand to host knows grass will be required.
Temporary grass is actually pretty cheap to put in so I don’t see it as an obstacle for anyone.
Canada and Mexico host ten first round matches each: Canadian games may be distributed among three cities. US hosts 60 matches.
Vancouver’s cost for security would be much more than the cost of the temporary grass field. Vancouver should not need other infrastructure upgrades since those happened for the 2010 Winter Games and the 2015 Women’s World Cup. Should not be an expensive undertaking so not concerned as a taxpayer: especially if it is as much fun as the 2010 and 2015 events!
Assuming ATL does get picked as a host city I will try to attend a bunch of matches.
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I would expect no less from you! Have to think Atlanta will get picked.
Chile protesting Ecuador’s 4th place finish, due to an alleged ineligible player.
Miles Robinson went down in the ATL match and it looked bad. No news yet, but my amateur SWAG is Achilles.
It is an Achilles injury, MRI pending. Tough news for the kid.
From ESPN:
Robinson, 25, was injured on a non-contact play in the first half of Saturday’s 4-1 win over Chicago Fire FC.
Yeah, only his feet were touching the turf/padded concrete. What could possi-BLIE go wrong?
I hope this doesn’t affect either team’s chance to qualify for the World Cup or their seeding should they qualify.
I wonder just how hard they’ll play, if at all. One of those matches where the keeper and a defender break the record for most touches in a match.
Getting tickets for June 5 Canada vs Iran match here in Vancouver. May be a good indicator as to how a good CONCACAF team looks against a good team like Iran.
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Maybe I should have not bought tickets for the Iran-Canada friendly after all. Families of Flight PS752 victims call for cancellation of soccer match with Iran | CBC News
Looks like five USA referees/AR’s/VARs in the mix for World Cup 2022 duty.
Oh, and there will be six female referees, one from the USA.
The cancelled Iran-Canada match on June 5 has been replaced by a friendly against Panama. Ticket prices for the best seats have been reduced to $30 from the $200 they were sold for for the Iran match.