Bottom Line Blog Office of Economic Development

Bottom Line

News from Seattle's Office of Economic Development

Watch the World Cup in Pioneer Square’s Nord Alley this weekend!

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The International Sustainability Institute invites you to join them for the World Cup Final live showing.  For the final match, the festivities will begin on Sunday, July 11th at 11:00 am.  This event will take place at the Nord Alley, which is located in the alley behind 314 1st Avenue South, Seattle, 98104.  Join your Seattle community for the live showing of the World Cup Final on 100” projection in Nord Alley.

The event will include:

  • donated coffee from Lavazza
  • soccer clinics during halftime
  • food available from local restaurants

For additional information, please visit the Alley Art website.

With sponsorship support from the City of Seattle, the Downtown Seattle Association, the International Sustainability Institute, AIA Seattle, and many more, this great use of a Seattle alley was made possible.  The Office of Economic Development provided some funds to support this effort through the Neighborhood Business District funding awards program to the Alliance for Pioneer Square.

Seattle makes final U.S. bid to host the World Cup

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The USA Bid Committee announced yesterday that it will include Seattle as one of the 18 host cities that it will submit to FIFA as part of the United States bid to host the FIFA World Cup in either 2018 or 2022.  There are two Seattle-area stadiums under consideration as locations to play in should Seattle be chosen as a host city — Qwest Field (67,000) and Husky Stadium (72,500) — and the USA Bid Committee will make a choice between the two by May 2010.

FIFA will award the host nation for both 2018 and 2022 in December 2010.  If the United States is chosen as a host country, FIFA and the USA Bid Committee will then select between 10 and 12 host cities to be featured as World Cup venues.

The FIFA World Cup championship is awarded every four years.  The tournament consists of 64 matches, with 32 teams competing for the title over a period of about a month in June and July.  The games are played in 10 to 14 venues, with most venues used for a two- to three-week period.  The World Cup is one of the most widely viewed sporting events in the world and the 1994 FIFA World Cup™ held in the U.S. reported approximately $4 billion in economic impact.

Click here to support Seattle’s bid to host the World Cup, or sign the petition below.

Effort to bring FIFA World Cup to Seattle continues

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A team of government and sports representatives from Seattle met with members of the USA Bid Committee in New York City on Wednesday, Nov. 11th, to help secure Seattle’s spot in the next round of cities under consideration to host the FIFA World CupTM in 2018 or 2022.

In August, the USA Bid Committee announced that 27 potential cities, including Seattle, made the cut to be included in the United States’ bid to host the FIFA World Cup™ in either 2018 or 2022. By the end of the year, the USA Bid Committee is expected to determine 18 final cities to include in its final proposal to FIFA. In December 2010, FIFA will award the host nation for both 2018 and 2022.

The Seattle delegation includes the city of Seattle, the Seattle Sports Commission, Seattle Sounders FC, the University of Washington, and First and Goal. Representatives of these organizations have been working for the last six months to ensure Seattle is included as a potential host city if the United States is selected as

Seattle selected as potential host city for World Cup

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Seattle is one of 27 cities advancing to the next round of consideration as a host city for the FIFA World Cup™ in 2018 or 2022, the USA Bid Committee announced today.

“All of us have seen the excitement and energy the Sounders FC has brought to Seattle in its first year. Being a host city for the World Cup would be an extraordinary opportunity for our residents, businesses and our enthusiastic Seattle soccer fans,” said Mayor Greg Nickels.

The USA Bid Committee is seeking to be a World Cup Host Nation and invited 39 cities to submit proposals. The city of Seattle submitted a proposal in July, working closely with local government agencies, companies and organizations including the University of Washington, Seattle Sports Commission and Vulcan Sports and Entertainment.

Seattle’s proposal identified both Qwest Field (67,000 seats) and Husky Stadium (72,500 seats) as potential venues, as well as four training sites. Seattle’s bid also highlighted the city’s athletic facilities, the region’s new light rail system and a supportive corporate community, along with vibrant hospitality and tourism industries.

Seattle will now submit more detailed information and in May 2010, the USA Bid Committee is expected to determine 18 final cities for consideration as part of its bid submission to the FIFA World Cup™.

Want to support the effort to bring the FIFA World Cup™ to the U.S.? Make sure to sign the online petition at Go USA Bid.