FIFA's Fleecing of US Cities for World Cup

[shadow]

I knew FIFA was the worst, but wow.

The Chicago mayor who said ‘no’ to the World Cup – a dome on Soldier Field was the last straw

Rahm Emanuel thought the proposed deal left 'Chicago taxpayers as the dumb money at the table'. Eight years on, he hasn't changed his mind

www.nytimes.com

"For Rahm Emanuel, the dome proved to be the final straw.

Emanuel was the 55th Mayor of Chicago between 2011 and 2019. During his final years in office, he made a decision that distinguished him from many peers across the United States: he said ‘no’ to FIFA and ‘no’ to the men’s World Cup...

The way he saw it, he was being asked to take on all the risk, while FIFA took home the rewards...

The host city proposal came with further risks. “They said in the contract that they had the right to request a dome being built over Soldier Field (the venue is open). So I said: ‘You have got to take that out.’

“They go, ‘We never exercise it, but it’s something we ask everybody to include.’ I said, ‘I don’t care if you’ve never exercised it. There will always be a first. Take it out and we can work through the other issues.’ They said, ‘We can’t take it out.’

“So I said there is not a chance I am going to have you directing me on a $50 million-$100 million expense to the taxpayers. That was the straw that broke the camel’s back. You can’t have something in there that leaves the city and the taxpayers exposed, where (FIFA) gets to decide it and I have no vote in it.”

PTFO has more; it's wild.

 

[wxman1]

Yeah I saw an article in the recent days about a supposed discussion they had with leaders from LA and where FIFA reaps all the monetary benefit while LOS ANGELES gets the "prestige" of hosting.

 

[NWICY]

I think FIFA and the Olympic committee are both real big on taking and not sharing. Or just flat out fleecing people.
The ticket scam by FIFA is flat out disgraceful IMO.

 

[chuckd4735]

The message for years was that KC should expect over half- million visitors over the next month. Not even close to what is actually happening.

 

[aeroclone]

Other stories in KC regarding the hotels. FIFA booked massive blocks of hotel rooms, and got sweetheart deals where they owe no cancelation fees, which is unusual for large room blocks. They are now canceling 75% of those rooms. Sincerely doubt the hotels will be able to rebook all that capacity.

 

[chuckd4735]

Other stories in KC regarding the hotels. FIFA booked massive blocks of hotel rooms, and got sweetheart deals where they owe no cancelation fees, which is unusual for large room blocks. They are now canceling 75% of those rooms. Sincerely doubt the hotels will be able to rebook all that capacity.

They haven't. So many people across the region went through processes to have property converted to short term rentals in hopes of making a lot of money. Most of them are still unbooked.

 

[ISUCyclones2015]

When freaking Rahm Emanual says the deal is too shady, it must be gobsmackingly shady.

 

[CoachHines3]

BREAKING : FIFA is corrupt

 

[cydsho]

When KC was announced as a site, we planned on making it a family vacation to stay there for 3-4 days and watch some games.
Then I saw the BS they were pulling on the tickets and thought, well maybe just go watch one game. Then I saw the prices and thought, F that, screw you FIFA.

 

[cydsho]

BREAKING : FIFA is corrupt

Watch some of John Oliver's episodes on FIFA. (they might be 8 years old now) He LOVES soccer but just completely dogs on FIFA and how corrupt it is.

 

[Jnecker4cy]

World Cup and FIFA is a fun event but FIFA is making bank and all contracts are heavily in there favor.

I had one heard all host cities must have Swiss francs and even gold on hand just in case it is needed.

 

[cyjones75]

The message for years was that KC should expect over half- million visitors over the next month. Not even close to what is actually happening.

Visiting family in KC this week. Hearing about nice air BnB places without a sniff of World Cup interest. International guests are scared off, we’ve been told.

 

[aeroclone]

When KC was announced as a site, we planned on making it a family vacation to stay there for 3-4 days and watch some games.
Then I saw the BS they were pulling on the tickets and thought, well maybe just go watch one game. Then I saw the prices and thought, F that, screw you FIFA.

I was also thinking of catching a KC game just to see it. But the ticket prices are nuts. If I was a huge fan I would probably still do it, but as a casual just looking to check the box on a life experience, just can't bring myself to ilspend that much.

 

[shadow]

I was also thinking of catching a KC game just to see it. But the ticket prices are nuts. If I was a huge fan I would probably still do it, but as a casual just looking to check the box on a life experience, just can't bring myself to ilspend that much.

Me too. Plus I heard like 80% of Arrowhead parking is not available due to FIFA needs.

 

[pourcyne]

Other stories in KC regarding the hotels. FIFA booked massive blocks of hotel rooms, and got sweetheart deals where they owe no cancelation fees, which is unusual for large room blocks. They are now canceling 75% of those rooms. Sincerely doubt the hotels will be able to rebook all that capacity.

Somebody forgot to tell the Westin. They're asking over double for these rooms.

 

[Kinch]

I think FIFA and the Olympic committee are both real big on taking and not sharing. Or just flat out fleecing people.
The ticket scam by FIFA is flat out disgraceful IMO.

Hosting Olympics are probably the worst decisions many cities can make. I’ve seen photos of 15 years later and some of the venues look like abandoned malls.

 

[garn91]

I was listening to 96.5 out of KC the other day and it's next to impossible to park at Arrowhead head due to cost and very limited on site parking being allowed by FIFA. One has to park at various locations around the metro and take shuttle buses to Arrowhead. It's that way at all host stadiums.

 

[Kinch]

So FIFA will put LA on the map. Bwahaaaha

 

[1SEIACLONE]

Hosting Olympics are probably the worst decisions many cities can make. I’ve seen photos of 15 years later and some of the venues look like abandoned malls.

Very few cities should really ever think about hosting the Olympics, if you are like LA, have many venues already in place, used for other sports you can make it happen. But for these cities that have to build multiple venues it's never going to break even.

We were in Montreal a couple of times for baseball games and they used the Olympic stadium for baseball and football games, the hotel we stayed at the first time was one of the ones used for housing the athletes during the games, the Olympic pool was outside and was used for recreational swimming, while the biking dome was transformed into a bird and nature sanctuary. Montreal lost their butt on building on these stadiums and the games themselves cost the city a lot of money to keep those facilities up and running.

 

[AlaCyclone]

I was also thinking of catching a KC game just to see it. But the ticket prices are nuts. If I was a huge fan I would probably still do it, but as a casual just looking to check the box on a life experience, just can't bring myself to ilspend that much.

That's why I chose to fly to ATL which was easier and less expensive than driving to KC when everything (Travel + Hotel + Ticket) was combined.