Gerald Vernon-Jackson says FA should let Southampton bid for 2018 World Cup (From This is Hampshire)

Very tempting, but I am not too sure. Did we not get certain manager from Portsmouth, and what happened is now history.
Could there be another catch in this offer of support?
Am I correct in thinking that according to their calculation they would have lost many millions on this venture, so could they be offering a Trojan Horse?
Southampton should do its own sums and the project should be handled by those who know the game not the politicians.

The way the Tories in Southampton are cutting all of our service's, I would be surprised if they could raise fifteen quid let alone fifteen million, mind you having said that, they could always sell something else off, maybe the Bargate to Costa Coffee

Well done for making a small minded political point on a football forum.

Maybe Eastleigh Borough Council could lend Southampton City Council the £32 million they plan to spend on a hotel at the Rose Bowl to help fund the projected expenditure. What do the public think? – on hang on, no one has bothered to ask them!

miltonarchers wrote:
Well done for making a small minded political point on a football forum.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought this story was the news thread, not the sports thread.

I think you will find the football on the sports thread, as for political points, isn't that what Councillor Smith is doing?

Why on earth wouldn't Southampton submit a bid. For the businesses in Southampton it would bring in millions.
I would have thought that local businesses would be prepared to chip in towards the financial costs, as they would be the most likely to gain.
Costs do need to be taken into consideration though, and who will provide the money!!

But at the same stage Ted the art lovers suggest local business help pay for the heritage museum.

Portsmouth's new ground is not going to happen. That was made clear over the last couple of weeks by the owner and his representitives. The best they can hope for is ground improvements.
They have no need to extend capacity as they cannot fill it now. Which is financial logic.
Everything owner is doing is on the never never against the club and not the owner, That should have alarm bells sounding for Pompey fans.
I think Portsmouth's only hidden agenda is the spill off they will get from tourism.
Southampton not only has the best football facilities in the south, it is centrally positioned.
In close proximately you have Winchester and Portsmouth, giving three of the most historical cities in the country. Forgetting rivalry for a moment and talking common sense.
to the west you have Bournemouth with its beaches. Also the new forest.
Regular coach trips to these places during the world cup. Could see all benefit.
With rail links to london being so easy, then it is the ideal world cup venue for the south and always was.
There is also the day trip to the Isle Of Wight.
Portsmouth doesn't have confidence in the new owners, which speaks buckets.
Whilst the infrastructure may not be perfect. It is in place and is better than what most can provide.
The thing is this would be good for the south.
The owner we have is versed in construction and no doubt any ground extension would be undertaken by him and his families companies. This idea will thrill Marcus.
He has already intimatedd the club want to proceed with this idea.
One could actually gloat at Pompey's mess at the moment, actually however much I am a Saints fan. I do not really feel like gloating after what happened to us during the summer. Only when they come disrupting the site or with inane gibberish do I truely feel the angst rise.

I think this is a cracking way of getting the council to pay to upgrade our stadium. I'm all for it.

MrGMan wrote:
But at the same stage Ted the art lovers suggest local business help pay for the heritage museum.

You are sooooo disappointing MrGMan. 2 or 3 times you have put a thread on this topic and not once have you asked.... "who's going to pay for it".....but there again its something that you want so its ok is it.

How about a joint bid. We could get pompey council to stump up half of our stadium improvements and we will promise not to tell the tourists how drab pompey is .
I think I am on a winner.

miltonarchers wrote:
Well done for making a small minded political point on a football forum.

Perhaps those who are interested in football could raise the money then?

Great great news, please come here.
Lets all be positive.

Plus I think its great news for a pompy cllr/MP to say this as it will benefit them as well and south in general, come on southampton, this will be great for the south.

rjfmusic wrote:

miltonarchers wrote: Well done for making a small minded political point on a football forum.

Perhaps those who are interested in football could raise the money then?

What a fantastic idea. It is, after all, only those interested in football who will benefit from hundreds of thousands of visitors to the town.

Actually, it should only be non-Saints fans that have to pay for it - we've already done our bit in helping pay for the facilities. The rest of you should stick your hands your pockets and buy us some more seats. Let's face it, you'd only waste the money on gin and cigarettes if it was up to you.

the FA has all ready said no to southampton. it was release 6pm last night.
and roy smith is using this has a bit off advertising for the general election next year.

Should we be allowed to bid the answer is for the council to sit down with Cortese/Liebherr and ask them how much they will put up.
I believe they would foot the bill themselves as they are in it for the long haul. Plus, whatever they lay out, they will recoup through the global advertsing their companies will receive during the live televising of games from the stadium.
I said it before and will say it again, this would be a win-win situation for the club and the city.

In my view, it would be an absolute travesty if Southampton were not to get the chance to jump on the bandwagon. Whether you are a football fan or not everyone should be able to see the benefits the world wide coverage this will bring to the city (if England is of course chosen). I worked for UEFA at Euro 08 and I can tell you the pride and ultimately economic benefit this brought to each of the host cities was immeasurable. If we get it, let this be the catalyst for Southampton to place itself as one of England's destination cities. I can just see Mayflower Park as a great fanzone alongside the water and what if the Dubai crowd saw fit to bring back the Lizzie as a floating hotel, just as they will be doing down in Capetown next year? What a site that would be.
The opportunities for the city and its business are immense. I doubt Mr Liebherr will fork out other than for the ground upgrade, but that will be done by 2015 as we'll be pulling in 35-40K fans each week when we reach the Prem.
Find the money SCC, it is your destiny.

Whilst I’m a Southampton FC Season Ticket holder I’m no longer a Southampton City Council Taxpayer, having moved up to here in 2006, so any opinion I may have on the subject must take this into account.

However, Southampton, when I lived there was a “go-ahead” town, progressive at a time when many were inclined to claim the city couldn’t afford building public facilities; a much used sports centre built in the early part of the last century; a very respected art gallery and plenty of green spaces for its citizens.

St. Mary’s in its current state would make an ideal “feeder” stadium for the World Cup. However, it would mean improving on the surrounding infrastructure, which if planned properly, would greatly enhance the area to the benefit of the local people.

As someone who lives in a rural part of the West Midlands, within a stones’ throw of Lillishall Hall (Sport England) I can assure you we are already benefiting from the London Olympics, so I’m bound to say “Go For It Southampton”! You’re a forward thinking city, don’t let the naysayers hold you back!

Just a PR stunt, why didn't they say this last week?

As for the Pmouth councillor, prehaps he should sort his own place out before coming over to give advice

Here starts the Echo readers/Saints supporters bid to persuade the FA to let the city bid. Let your voice be known by airing it on these sites......

http://www.england20
18bid.com/support/re
gister.aspx

http://www.2018engla
nd.co.uk/southampton
-hoping-to-be-allowe
d-late-city-bid.html


http://www.2018-engl
and.co.uk/advancedgu
estbook/addentry.php


Who's to say we can't get some momentum going by getting other English team's supporters to back us as well.

Anyone thinking of doing a facebook group page for this???

rjfmusic wrote:

miltonarchers wrote: Well done for making a small minded political point on a football forum.

Perhaps those who are interested in football could raise the money then?

What a pointless thing to say.

To argue that the entire region would not benefit from Southampton holding World Cup games is moronic - for one thing, just imagine the number of people that would be spending their hard-earned cash here, and the amount of money sunk in to improving the infrastructure of the city.

Unless you're a hermit who never leaves the house I can't imagine how you would not benefit in some way from the World Cup coming here.

It's not just about football - it's about staging a global event in the area.

southy wrote:
the FA has all ready said no to southampton. it was release 6pm last night.
and roy smith is using this has a bit off advertising for the general election next year.

where?
http://www.thefa.com
/TheFA/NewsAndFeatur
es.aspx

Whilst it would be great to see World Cup football in Southampton the reality is the FA and the fat cat Premier League don't care about any of the bids outside of London, Birmingham the North West (Liverpool & Manchester) and the North East (Newcastle). Even if by some fluke we managed to get some matches you can guarantee we would end up hosting something like New Zealand v North Korea.

Spend the money elsewhere and improve the city.

Red Duster wrote:
Just a PR stunt, why didn't they say this last week?

As for the Pmouth councillor, prehaps he should sort his own place out before coming over to give advice

and you are dead right in saying it a pr stunt, if any body was listen to the news the fa have all ready said no to southampton and it was on wave radio at 6pm last night, and you can bet that southampton city council was all ready told before, royston smith is using this fact knowing to well the answer before he said any thing the answer was no.

BrixtonSaint wrote:

southy wrote:
the FA has all ready said no to southampton. it was release 6pm last night.
and roy smith is using this has a bit off advertising for the general election next year.

where?
http://www.thefa.com

/TheFA/NewsAndFeatur

es.aspx

it was on radio wave fm news at 6pm last nyte, the supplyers of wave fm news is sky i belive

southy wrote:

BrixtonSaint wrote:

southy wrote:
the FA has all ready said no to southampton. it was release 6pm last night.
and roy smith is using this has a bit off advertising for the general election next year.

where?
http://www.thefa.com


/TheFA/NewsAndFeatur


es.aspx

it was on radio wave fm news at 6pm last nyte, the supplyers of wave fm news is sky i belive

same owners as the Sun and you don't believe what's in that rag do you?
Anyway, looks like the facebook group page (Let SOUTHAMPTON bid to be a host city for the 2018 World Cup) is up and running already. Let's at least try and persuade the FA to reconsider shall we?

St Retford wrote:
I think this is a cracking way of getting the council to pay to upgrade our stadium. I'm all for it.

The council would not pay to upgrade the stadium, that would be up to the club.
Portsmouth FC would have been responsible for ensuring that they could provide a stadium that met FIFA's requirements, not their City Council.
Portsmouth City Council had to pay a £20m deposit, and that is what they were not prepared to do.
I assume that, should Southampton City Council be allowed to apply to take Portsmouth's place, they will also be asked for the same £20m.
Do you think that they will cough up?

with a population of arount 230,000 it is obvious that nearly 10% go to st. marys stadium on a regular basis , along with the floating and armchair supporters it would seem to me that the people against would be in the minority !
so come on scc,give it your best shot !
most of the voters are behind you !!
COYR

Linesman wrote:

St Retford wrote: I think this is a cracking way of getting the council to pay to upgrade our stadium. I'm all for it.

The council would not pay to upgrade the stadium, that would be up to the club. Portsmouth FC would have been responsible for ensuring that they could provide a stadium that met FIFA's requirements, not their City Council. Portsmouth City Council had to pay a £20m deposit, and that is what they were not prepared to do. I assume that, should Southampton City Council be allowed to apply to take Portsmouth's place, they will also be asked for the same £20m. Do you think that they will cough up?

perhaps we could borrow it from your arab billionaire ?

To be honest.....I'd be surprised if we get the go-ahead (that's if "Ma Willie" has anything to do with it)?.

I'll never forget his out of order un-professional attitude towards us this year.

I hope Southampton gets it. Two world cups in the city during the next decade would be fantastic for business. During recent years I feel like Southampton has lost its way a bit and has been overshadowed at times by Portsmouth and its Spinnaker Tower/Gunwharf and a (arguably) better football team. Whilst in Soton, we haven't really had any new attractions or landmarks to shout about. However, it finally feels like the trend is reversing and the benefits of two world cups would certainly help to put Soton back on the map again!

BrixtonSaint wrote:

southy wrote:

BrixtonSaint wrote:

southy wrote:
the FA has all ready said no to southampton. it was release 6pm last night.
and roy smith is using this has a bit off advertising for the general election next year.

where?
http://www.thefa.com



/TheFA/NewsAndFeatur



es.aspx

it was on radio wave fm news at 6pm last nyte, the supplyers of wave fm news is sky i belive

same owners as the Sun and you don't believe what's in that rag do you?
Anyway, looks like the facebook group page (Let SOUTHAMPTON bid to be a host city for the 2018 World Cup) is up and running already. Let's at least try and persuade the FA to reconsider shall we?

nope your right there i dont belive him normally.
but, the countcil a while back did say they would drop out of the race and support pompy.
well england still got to beat off any other rivals bits for the 2018 wc

southy wrote:

BrixtonSaint wrote:

southy wrote:

BrixtonSaint wrote:

southy wrote:
the FA has all ready said no to southampton. it was release 6pm last night.
and roy smith is using this has a bit off advertising for the general election next year.

where?
http://www.thefa.com




/TheFA/NewsAndFeatur




es.aspx

it was on radio wave fm news at 6pm last nyte, the supplyers of wave fm news is sky i belive

same owners as the Sun and you don't believe what's in that rag do you?
Anyway, looks like the facebook group page (Let SOUTHAMPTON bid to be a host city for the 2018 World Cup) is up and running already. Let's at least try and persuade the FA to reconsider shall we?

nope your right there i dont belive him normally.
but, the countcil a while back did say they would drop out of the race and support pompy.
well england still got to beat off any other rivals bits for the 2018 wc

And that southy is a very good point, with all the internal squabbling and resignations within the 2018 WC committee we dont have a ice cubes chance in hell of getting it, also they royally p****d off Jack Warner who holds casting votes. So while it is very decent of Portsmouth CC to back a Soton CC bid, realistically it aint gonna happen, still nice to dream though.

plus just think of all the major roads will need resurfing that put on another few million to the cost. a new coach station more money. yes its just a dream.
makes you wonder how they manage back in 66.
any way if it do come to the uk. they will use all the very big grounds ones that can take 100,000 mark. those grounds will get first pick of the apple.
and if by fluke they did pick st marys the local will not have a hope in hell chance in getting a ticket.
a load will go to vip's then most will go to the teams that are playing for there fans, and the scraps though out to ever who comes first from any one.
remember at the last world cup matches tickets for english fans at english games only 28% tickets was made available to english fans. the rest went to vip's and there guess's

southy wrote:
plus just think of all the major roads will need resurfing that put on another few million to the cost. a new coach station more money. yes its just a dream.
makes you wonder how they manage back in 66.
any way if it do come to the uk. they will use all the very big grounds ones that can take 100,000 mark. those grounds will get first pick of the apple.
and if by fluke they did pick st marys the local will not have a hope in hell chance in getting a ticket.
a load will go to vip's then most will go to the teams that are playing for there fans, and the scraps though out to ever who comes first from any one.
remember at the last world cup matches tickets for english fans at english games only 28% tickets was made available to english fans. the rest went to vip's and there guess's

What are you on about Southy? The largest capacity grounds in the UK are Wembley 90K, Cardiff 80K, the Olympic stadium 80K then Old Trafford, 76K I believe. There'll still be plenty of 'scraps' to go round. As it is the roads into town will likely be resurfaced at once in the next nine years anyway so no extra cost there. As regards the coach station - how do you work that one out?

Take the help from where ever it comes from and get the bid in.
Don't talk too much about it:
JUST DO IT!

brixtonsaint saint marys is the 18th largest capacity football gound in the england, and thats not counting grounds in wales or scotland, then on top of that it will be dropping down the list with grounds like leicester city at the moment 32,500 but is going to be extended to to take 50,000 plus, has with blackburn rovers, nottingham forest, those 3 will be done before 2018.
now how many grounds will be needed. in the first stage they use 2 grounds for 4 teams.
well 32 teams make it to the finals, so that 16 grounds, if st marys want to stand a chance they will need to push there ground capacity to above 50,000, then take in to account rugby grounds, if they can hold more than 50,000 then they to might stand a chance. theres is a lot of grounds that are going to try and get there planning done to extend there grounds, even the football grounds that can take more than st mary has it is now.
we hav't got a proper coach station, a lot of hotels where fans are staying, hotels will put up coaches. think how many coaches come in now to matches, then X by 3 to 5 times more. i can remember a time when there was 2 in shirley 1 in town and 1 in portswood, where are they all now gone all been built on. and how big is the car park in st marys. remember the majority that will be going to those matches will not be locals.
still its a good dream to hope for but very unlikely to happen

Getting ahead but worth acting on. SMS with Saints in the prem doing well will need a higher capacity but this is a Hampshire commitment not just one for Marcus Lieberr the revenue brounght to the area would be enormous but brief. The gains from a 60k stadium in the area are long term.. in concerts, possible cup finals, internationals etc. The people involved in holding the purse strings should already have the figure and projections... table them and get on with it now. If the figures don't stack, say so and end this.

I know it is an emotive subject but there is 250 million pounds worth of Art stored away in our fabulous museum and the council have already been tempted to sell a few paintings to fund the proposed Titanic museum. . . this is something that will benifit the City and the surrounding area and will be a part of our future history. . . By hook or by crook we have to get this bid off the ground.

slugger wrote:

Linesman wrote:

St Retford wrote: I think this is a cracking way of getting the council to pay to upgrade our stadium. I'm all for it.

The council would not pay to upgrade the stadium, that would be up to the club. Portsmouth FC would have been responsible for ensuring that they could provide a stadium that met FIFA's requirements, not their City Council. Portsmouth City Council had to pay a £20m deposit, and that is what they were not prepared to do. I assume that, should Southampton City Council be allowed to apply to take Portsmouth's place, they will also be asked for the same £20m. Do you think that they will cough up?

perhaps we could borrow it from your arab billionaire ?

Why? I seem to recall that it is Saints' supporters that were singing 'We are Billionaires' when Herr Marcus bought the club.
Surely pride would prevent you going cap in hand to Portsmouth to borrow money?
Have you no pride?

Linesman wrote:

slugger wrote:

Linesman wrote:

St Retford wrote: I think this is a cracking way of getting the council to pay to upgrade our stadium. I'm all for it.

The council would not pay to upgrade the stadium, that would be up to the club. Portsmouth FC would have been responsible for ensuring that they could provide a stadium that met FIFA's requirements, not their City Council. Portsmouth City Council had to pay a £20m deposit, and that is what they were not prepared to do. I assume that, should Southampton City Council be allowed to apply to take Portsmouth's place, they will also be asked for the same £20m. Do you think that they will cough up?

perhaps we could borrow it from your arab billionaire ?

Why? I seem to recall that it is Saints' supporters that were singing 'We are Billionaires' when Herr Marcus bought the club.
Surely pride would prevent you going cap in hand to Portsmouth to borrow money?
Have you no pride?

Congratulations, on finding the only two Arab's in the world that don't have a pot to p*** in.

How much has your new skint Arab promised to borrow so that Grant can buy players in the January window?

Providing your allowed too, fancy selling players you don't own, great business brains down the wrong end of the M27

My View from the Hill wrote:

Linesman wrote:

slugger wrote:

Linesman wrote:

St Retford wrote: I think this is a cracking way of getting the council to pay to upgrade our stadium. I'm all for it.

The council would not pay to upgrade the stadium, that would be up to the club. Portsmouth FC would have been responsible for ensuring that they could provide a stadium that met FIFA's requirements, not their City Council. Portsmouth City Council had to pay a £20m deposit, and that is what they were not prepared to do. I assume that, should Southampton City Council be allowed to apply to take Portsmouth's place, they will also be asked for the same £20m. Do you think that they will cough up?

perhaps we could borrow it from your arab billionaire ?

Why? I seem to recall that it is Saints' supporters that were singing 'We are Billionaires' when Herr Marcus bought the club. Surely pride would prevent you going cap in hand to Portsmouth to borrow money? Have you no pride?

Congratulations, on finding the only two Arab's in the world that don't have a pot to p*** in. How much has your new skint Arab promised to borrow so that Grant can buy players in the January window? Providing your allowed too, fancy selling players you don't own, great business brains down the wrong end of the M27

I'm still wondering why after the news this week about the financial situation in Dubai no mention was made in the national media of the 'billionaires' down the road.
Strange really considering where their 'billions' come from.

As for the 'Have you no pride?' part aimed at Mr Slugger (i believe) - i would imagine he does have 'some' pride which would explain why he doesn't go on The News web-site banging on about Saints.

southy wrote:
plus just think of all the major roads will need resurfing that put on another few million to the cost. a new coach station more money. yes its just a dream. makes you wonder how they manage back in 66. any way if it do come to the uk. they will use all the very big grounds ones that can take 100,000 mark. those grounds will get first pick of the apple. and if by fluke they did pick st marys the local will not have a hope in hell chance in getting a ticket. a load will go to vip's then most will go to the teams that are playing for there fans, and the scraps though out to ever who comes first from any one. remember at the last world cup matches tickets for english fans at english games only 28% tickets was made available to english fans. the rest went to vip's and there guess's

Er.....just what 100,000 capacitiy grounds were you refering to then!

World Cup Bid, first the city council should get its act together and do something about Northam Road shopping area. Perhaps working with local traders could turn this area into another Bedford Place.