From St. Pete Times
By Brian Landman, Times Staff Writer
Local officials were jubilant Tuesday after learning that Tampa is one of 18 cities that will be included in the United States' bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup.
The crowd gathered at Champions at the Marriott Waterside burst into deafening cheers when USA Bid Committee chairman Sunil Gulati announced that Tampa had made the cut.
"This is an historic day," said Ken Hagan, chairman of the Hillsborough County Commission, "one we'll always remember where we were when we heard this announcement."
Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio beamed and squeezed the arm of Farrukh Quraishi, the former Tampa Bay Rowdies star and vice chairman of the local bid group, as she watched the selected cities appear on a big-screen television.
Those cities include Miami, Los Angeles, Washington, Boston and New York/New Jersey,
"This is a worldwide event and we're right up there with some of the biggest, most prestigious cities in the United States," Iorio said.
Gulati and his group had to eliminate nine cities, including Orlando, to reach the number it will present to FIFA, the sport's governing body. On Dec. 2, FIFA will announce the nations that will host the two tournaments.
Great Britain is considered the favorite for 2018. If the United States is awarded the 2022 World Cup, then it and FIFA would select the final 12 or perhaps 14 cities in 2017. Officials project an economic impact of $400 million to $600 million for the host.
"Tampa is a sports community," Iorio said, referring to the pro teams and the major events the city has hosted, including four Super Bowls. "This is the crème de la crème. And are we prepared to host it? You bet."
But folks here also remember how close Tampa came to hosting World Cup games in 1994. And didn't. A big hurdle then was the dimensions of the playing field at old Tampa Stadium. Raymond James Stadium was designed with international soccer in mind, which is critical.
"I'm very proud of the effort made to get Tampa into the 18 that will be in the bid book. (But) the toughest part is going to be between today and next Dec. 2," Quraishi said. "We're going to need even more community involvement to distance ourselves from our competitors."
"We're going to be one of the cities that eventually hosts the World Cup," Iorio said. "There's no doubt about it in my mind."
The announcement was made live on ESPN in a segment hosted by Alexi Lalas and Tampa Resident and Rowdies advisor Rob Stone.
