UEFA Euro 2020 bids

[Kristi]

I though we were going to have a tournament in the whole Europe?

 

[QwaarJet]

You're joking, right?
You know very well what I meant so Im not going to even bother to explain it. There are plenty of stadiums in both Northern Ireland and Ireland that are used for Gaelic football - they're the largest stadiums as well, and Im sure they'd be more than capable of hosting association football too.

And everything I've heard is that very few if any will approve their stadium for use in the bid apart from maybe Croke park. There is a lot of politics when it comes to the GAA. Plus, the majority of them aren't anywhere near up to UEFA spec, and it would cost countless millions to renovate them. Millions that Ireland don't have, since they are flat broke. Ireland cannot host a major tournament on their own. That is a fact. I'm not sure why you're mentioning Northern Ireland though, since they aren't part of the bid as far as I'm aware.

 

[MyHeartIsYours]

If there should be a joint bid it should be Ireland&Northern Ireland or Scotland&Wales&Northern Ireland.

 

[Archer]

I though we were going to have a tournament in the whole Europe?

What do you mean ?

 

[daniels1000]

I don't like any of these bids.

Azerbaijan-Georgia - That seems bad,and what if Armenia qualifies.?

Scotland/Ireland/Wales - I don't want it,and 3 countries seems too much for me.

Turkey - for some reason I don't like it , but I voted for it because it's best of these three.

I want Germany/Sweden ( and Norway is nice choice also )

 

[doctormalisimo]

And everything I've heard is that very few if any will approve their stadium for use in the bid apart from maybe Croke park. There is a lot of politics when it comes to the GAA. Plus, the majority of them aren't anywhere near up to UEFA spec, and it would cost countless millions to renovate them. Millions that Ireland don't have, since they are flat broke. Ireland cannot host a major tournament on their own. That is a fact. I'm not sure why you're mentioning Northern Ireland though, since they aren't part of the bid as far as I'm aware.

You're very right! Most GAA stadiums do have large capacities, but there are very few seats, its mostly standing area, which isnt allowed by UEFA, for example Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork has a capacity of ~45,000 but only ~20,000 is seating area, which falls well below European Cahmpionship standards. The largest stadium used by a league of Ireland team is Tolka Park in Dublin, which only has a capacity of 10,000. And Ireland has the same issue Scotland and Wales have - the main city has all the stadiums (Aviva and Croke Park in Dublin, Celtic Park, Ibrox and Hampden in Glasgow, Millennium Stadium and Cardiff City Stadium in Cardiff) so this is also an issue with the bid. The only stadium outside Dublin that at the moment would be suitable for the Euros is Thormond Park in Limerick (26,000 capacity), so a lot of work is needed to make Ireland ready for the Euros if they get selected to host but as it's a 3-way bid, they wont need that many stadiums.
As for people worrying about 3 hosts automatically qualifying, but it will be a 24 team tournament, so there would still be 21 qualifying places up for grabs. Something that could work in the IE-SC-Wales bids favour is that all of the countries are small, and with decent motorway and rail systems, so travelling will not be an issue. And travelling between the countries wont be an issue, unlike this year's tournament in Poland/Ukraine which saw fans crossing an EU border). Also, these countries are very easy to get to from Western Europe, with Dublin, Limerick (Shannon), Glasgow and Edinburgh having international airports and Cardiff isnt that far from Heathrow. If the Azerbaijan/Georgia bid wins, god help the fans travelling from Western Europe...
So I think --Wales could host a very good tournament, there's just a lot of work to do before that can happen

 

[aletem]

Azerbaijan and Georgia's bid look interesting. And there wouldn't be an issue with Armenia. If Armenia qualifies, they would play in Georgia. It's not like Armenia would be a football force by then.
Scotland-Wales-Ireland's bid is too big, but I suppose it will be nicely organized. And the games will be filled. Scotland or Wales hosting it by itself, or together would be nice. I would prefer Wales by itself, so we can see them on the EURO.
The Turkish bid by itself is also good. Leaves more space for the others to qualify.

I don't know, all 3 seem ok.

If the Azerbaijan/Georgia bid wins, god help the fans travelling from Western Europe...
So I think --Wales could host a very good tournament, there's just a lot of work to do before that can happen

Well, if the other bid wins, than god help the fans travelling from Eastern Europe.

 

[MyHeartIsYours]

Wales only has two (maybe 3) major cities; it's other cities wouldnt be capable of hosting an international football match. Stadiums can be built, but there just isnt the infrastructure. A joint bid however would be fine for Wales because they could have games in Cardiff and Swansea, there is an international airport at Cardiff and the Great Western railway between London&Heathrow and South Wales will have been upgraded by then.

In regards to Ireland, Im sure modifications could be more than easily made to the stadiums, or just totally refurbish/rebuild some of them. It really wouldnt matter. It's just silly to have a 3-team bid spanning across 2 different countries.

Also, nobody here has considered the proposal that there may be a Europe-wide Euro 2020, with no hosting country, and spread across 12/13 cities like London, Paris, Berlin, etc. The final decision on this will be made in the new year. I personally LOVE the idea of this!

 

[Archer]

Also, nobody here has considered the proposal that there may be a Europe-wide Euro 2020, with no hosting country, and spread across 12/13 cities like London, Paris, Berlin, etc. The final decision on this will be made in the new year. I personally LOVE the idea of this!

I don't think so. Let's assume that Turkey will play against Ireland and the host city is Athens, it would be unfair for Irish fans...

 

[MyHeartIsYours]

I don't think so. Let's assume that Turkey will play against Ireland and the host city is Athens, it would be unfair for Irish fans...

I dont see how that's any more unfair than say having all hosting in Georgia/Azerbaijan. At least with this, all people will have some match going on nearby .

 

[doctormalisimo]

Well, if the other bid wins, than god help the fans travelling from Eastern Europe.

Well there wont be many of them (let's face it, Western Europe is where all the big teams are from) and it wouldnt be that difficult because you can fly from Croatia and Greece to Dublin, and from most other places you can fly to Heathrow, which isnt that far away from Wales. I dont know any airport in Western Europe that flies to Georgia or Azerbaijan...

 

[aletem]

Well there wont be many of them (let's face it, Western Europe is where all the big teams are from) and it wouldnt be that difficult because you can fly from Croatia and Greece to Dublin, and from most other places you can fly to Heathrow, which isnt that far away from Wales. I dont know any airport in Western Europe that flies to Georgia or Azerbaijan...

How would you know that? Now there are negotiations to expand the EURO to 24 countries (which I hope won't happen... maybe it's a done deal, I don't know), but even with 16, you can't expect the same countries to qualify over and over. There is Russia, there is Turkey, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Bulgaria was last time in 2004. People from the far east apply to get a visa to go watch games and be part of the event, and they sometimes get rejected. Besides, they deserve to see a European Championship too, even as hosts. And they are part of UEFA too. It's not like Pakistan would be hosting the event.
But I am sure UEFA won't give them to host the EURO.

I don't have anything against Ireland-Wales-Scotland to host the event. It would be faster for me to get there, if I wish to watch the games. Though, saying fans from Western Europe will have hard time to get there is kinda silly. Irish teams usually have to meet teams from Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Moldova or Estonia in the first rounds of the CL or UEFA Euroleague anyway. And teams from western Europe have to face these countries in the qualifiers. Yet, there still are away fans present in Azerbaijan, Armenia or Georgia.

 

[Kristi]

What do you mean ?

Platini suggests Euro 2020 be hosted across Europe - SPORTS NEWS - TEN SPORT

 

[QwaarJet]

Wales only has two (maybe 3) major cities; it's other cities wouldnt be capable of hosting an international football match. Stadiums can be built, but there just isnt the infrastructure. A joint bid however would be fine for Wales because they could have games in Cardiff and Swansea, there is an international airport at Cardiff and the Great Western railway between London&Heathrow and South Wales will have been upgraded by then.

In regards to Ireland, Im sure modifications could be more than easily made to the stadiums, or just totally refurbish/rebuild some of them. It really wouldnt matter. It's just silly to have a 3-team bid spanning across 2 different countries.

Also, nobody here has considered the proposal that there may be a Europe-wide Euro 2020, with no hosting country, and spread across 12/13 cities like London, Paris, Berlin, etc. The final decision on this will be made in the new year. I personally LOVE the idea of this!

OK, I'm sick of correcting you on this, but in football (in general terms as well, but let's stick with football) Scotland, Wales and Ireland are 3 countries. Please leave your propaganda at the door.

I love how you keep saying how easy it would be to upgrade multiple stadiums to UEFA spec. It is difficult, and takes time and considerable money. Please get a grip with reality on this one. Ireland could not under any circumstances host the Euros by themselves.

 

[MyHeartIsYours]

UEFA have announced that there will be no host for Euro 2012, and that it will take place in various cities across the continent . The Football Association in England have already submitted London's Wembley Stadium to be considered as the venue for the final!

The Welsh Football Association (one of the former bidders) has stated that they do not want fans having to travel great distances to matches, and would like London, Manchester, Cardiff, Belfast and Dublin to be the hosting cities.

 

[QwaarJet]

I think cities like Paris, London, Milan, Munich etc. should not be considered for this. UEFA has a long standing policy of trying to help the smaller nations out. It would be a good opportunity for greats stadia in small countries to host the event. Budapest, Glasgow, Brussels, Stockholm, Cardiff, Dublin, Bucharest etc would be good bets. I know Scotland probably won't get a better chance than this, and you can't argue that we have some magnificent stadiums and it would be a shame for them to not be part of a major tournament, even if our terrible national team won't be. Euro 2020 opener at Celtic Park...has a nice ring to it.

Not in favour of many hosts though...would prefer one major host. Germany would always be my preference.