Kansas lawmakers weigh disaster declaration for FIFA World Cup

Sounds about right if South American teams are playing

How the hell did Kansas City of all places get to host matches?

Money. The Hunts

The federal money grift is exhausting. Us regular Joe's have to pay for all this stupid bullshite

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How the hell did Kansas City of all places get to host matches?

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Process of elimination / willingness to put up with FIFA's bullshite. Basically every other big city either can't physically host the event, or weren't willing to deal with the serious financial burdens or risk that FIFA wants host cities to take. It's actually refreshing that so many fought back

Here's the 19 NFL cities that aren't hosting. San Diego would be the only other viable option but it's too close to LA

Withdrew (4)
Chicago - FIFA refused to cap taxpayer liability (the fact that they're not hosting is a disgrace, even if Soldier Field is small for the US it's not like we didn't just watch high school stadiums in Qatar)
Minneapolis - FIFA couldn't get them comfortable about potential cost overruns
Phoenix - FIFA couldn't get them comfortable about potential cost overruns / law compliance
Vegas - FIFA couldn't get them comfortable about potential cost overruns, field wouldn't physically fit

Rejected 1st round in 2017 (5)
Cleveland - viewed as smaller non-traditional soccer market lacking international appeal
Jacksonville - FIFA preferred Miami and Orlando which are better for international travels / tourism infrastructure
Indianapolis - would require renovations to fit the field, attempts to grow grass consistently failed
New Orleans - roof doesn't open and field couldn't fit (renovation not an option)
Pittsburgh - viewed as smaller non-traditional soccer market lacking international appeal

Rejected 2nd round in 2022 (8)
Charlotte - FIFA required renovations (a lot) they didn't want to make
Cincinnati - FIFA required renovations they didn't want to make, poor public transport, small airport with few flights
DC + Baltimore - FedEx deemed too old
Denver - City couldn't commit to funding that early in advance without assurances on cost overruns / FIFA bullshite, public transport to/from airport that's basically in Kansas
Detroit - roof doesn't open, fit would have been hard
Nashville - uncertain status of stadium situation
Tampa - FIFA preferred Miami and Orlando which are better for international travels / tourism infrastructure

Didn't bid (2)
Buffalo
Green Bay

What about the 2024 Copa America final in Miami? I don’t think anyone died, but it was a complete shitshow.

LINK

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The emergency status allows the state to access federal resources to protect public safety and property.

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Imagine the state having planning for this when submitting their bid

KC is a big soccer city.

It’s the World Cup. I’d understand it if they were hosting the N.B.A. all star game.

Kc Homer, but far from a soccer one.

Kc has/had a few things in their corner.

1. Extremely centrally located. Kc to Chicago for example is like a 1 hr flight though. That much better? No idea.
2. Lamar Hunt (Clark's dad) was a founder/original owner of MLS. Or something along those lines.
3. Clark wanted it / KC wanted it
4. KCMO wanted a new airport, which one was the carrot, who knows.

I recall when the bidding was taking place a few years back those were the key points.

+ as another mentioned. Kc metro area is soccer country, for whatever that means.

Who knows how much KS had a say in this. Prob a joint effort i assume.

But using federal tax dollars for this is a joke, if that is where this is headed.