[Nutterbug]

Seattle, Vancouver to study co-hosting events

Bruce Constantineau
Vancouver Sun

Thursday, March 29, 2007

SEATTLE - Vancouver and Seattle tourism officials will still consider co-hosting a future Summer Olympics or World Cup of Soccer, but they'll also look at creating smaller and less expensive new international events to attract visitors to the region.

How about an annual Vancouver-to-Seattle boat race, similar to the Sydney-to-Hobart yacht race in Australia? Or both cities hosting an international soccer tournament featuring the best teams from around the world. Maybe even a two-nation cycling tour.

Those were just some of the ideas discussed here Wednesday when the boards of Tourism Vancouver and Seattle's Convention and Visitors Bureau met to follow up their first joint meeting held in Vancouver six months ago.

At that time, they agreed to join forces to try to attract a post-2010 global mega-event like the 2018 World Cup of Soccer, a world's fair around 2020 or the 2028 Summer Olympics.

But board members seem overwhelmed after hearing a report on the costs and effort involved in attracting those events and voted to further study the costs and benefits of bidding for them or creating new events from scratch. The boards will meet again within a year.

The report -- from Sarah Kirby Yung of Tourism Vancouver and Ralph Morton from the Seattle Sports Commission -- noted Germany spent about $2 billion to host the 2006 World Cup while China will spend $23 billion to host the Summer Olympics next year.

Tourism Vancouver chairman Jim Storie said the decision to further examine the costs and strategies of future Vancouver-Seattle tourism initiatives makes sense.

"When you see a $23-billion price tag for the Olympics, you think 'Whoa!' " he said in an interview. "We see the consternation around the cost of the [2010 Winter] Olympics now. Reasonable people feel that's just too big a price tag to pay."

Seattle's Convention and Visitors Bureau president Don Welsh said there are many Vancouver-Seattle event opportunities beyond the high-cost mega-events.

"We need to flush some opportunities out and find out what is realistic financially and go from there," he said. "Let's still look at some big events, but not get so focused on them that we lose sight of some smaller opportunities."

Welsh noted B.C. residents are heavily focused on the costs of the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver and Whistler and may not have the appetite to support another huge project right now, even if it won't be held for another 20 years.

"But if we do some smaller events first, that might gain more support," he said.

Grouse Mountain Resorts Ltd. president Stuart McLaughlin told the meeting the 2010 Olympics seemed like a pipedream for Vancouver at one time but it became a reality.

"So let's keep our eye on the big [events] and decide if we have the courage to go for them," he said. "But let's also go after some smaller things that show our communities we're capable of working together."

The report from Yung and Morton noted Vancouver has hosted major international sporting events like the World Figure Skating Championships and the Molson Indy "but what are its plans to capitalize on the momentum created by the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games?"

Seattle has hosted all-star games, the NCAA Final Four basketball championships and the 1990 Goodwill Games but the report asks "what has it done lately?"

The report said mega-events like the World Cup and Olympics would clearly offer major economic benefits to the region.

"But a can-do attitude is needed to stay in the running," the report states. "This region needs to see itself as THE host of such events . . . the region needs to think big and take even bigger actions."

Morton told the meeting it takes "vision, public will and leadership" to go after big events and feels Vancouver has developed a confident attitude since winning the 2010 games.

"We see this attitude and confidence Vancouver has and Seattle is starting to pick up on that now," he said. "Hopefully we're going to learn something from you guys and be an asset in making your [Olympic] event a big success."

Washington state community, trade and economic development department representative Larry Williams said a state task force looking at issues around the 2010 Olympics will approach the Vancouver Olympic organizing committee with some ideas about marketing the games in Washington state.

He said the task force has considered the idea of building an Olympic countdown clock in Seattle to build greater awareness of the games and state officials would also like to see the Olympic torch relay pass through Washington state.

bconstantineau@png.canwest.com
© The Vancouver Sun 2007

What would be some good events that Vancouver and Seattle can jointly host?

[Canadian Mind]

I like the idea of co-hosting future events. would be nice to have some sort of road race from Downtown Seattle to Downtown Vancouver and back. as for the Olympic torch going through Washington state... if they join Confederation, sure.

[raggedy13]

I think it would be great for the region to work together to create new synergies. Seattle and Vancouver are two amazing cities in their own right and are both so geographically and culturally close it makes sense. One thing I would say though is that it might be ideal to build greater ties between the two cities first with an improvement of the transportation corridor between them. Having topnotch transportation between the two cities would be both a great physical and much needed mental connection between them. And of course no shared event could properly be pulled off without it. The two cities need to increase mutual awareness in the general populace and see what other economic and cultural ties can be made between the two. It seems to me that there is a lot of untapped potential with this.

[smasher000]

I think its kind of dumb.
All or nothing, I say.

I don't think Seattle's very close. Three hours drive is a long time.

[raggedy13]

^Not much longer than from Vancouver to Whistler and yet they're co-hosting the Olympics. Besides, if you live in the GVRD's southern burbs it's closer to 2 hours. A good high-speed rail link would also help decrease travel time.

[mr.x]

^Not much longer than from Vancouver to Whistler and yet they're co-hosting the Olympics. Besides, if you live in the GVRD's southern burbs it's closer to 2 hours. A good high-speed rail link would also help decrease travel time.

You forgot a border wait that could be as long as 2 hours or more.

[raggedy13]

^Well that's one side of the coin. The border wait could also be 5 mins. Having grown up close to the border (South Surrey) with frequent day trips into Washington, I can tell you that from my experience the latter is more often the case (at least assuming you plan your timing right). If most of your border experience comes from traveling during holidays then I'm sure your example is more accurate. However I do think border operations should somehow be streamlined in the future.

[Nutterbug]

You forgot a border wait that could be as long as 2 hours or more.

Plus the distance is actually twice as long, though it might not feel that way driving on the I-5 vs. the Sea-to-Sky.

[raggedy13]

^Looks far less than twice as long from the border to me.

From White Rock...

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/Misc/distance.jpg

[cornholio]

Everytime these articles are writen and the world cup is mentioned then it totaly discredits these articles and makes these studies look like a complete joke. Some how I think they are a complete joke and I wouldent get my hopes to high since doubt anything significant is hapening other then some city officials saying hmm that could be a good idea lets get this secretary to do a google search tomorow on her shift to gather some information...then they take it throw it in a filing cabinet and forget about it until some new city official gets the same idea and repeats the same dead end task. Then you get some person who overhears this and tells his friend whos a friend of a reporter that so and so is doing a study, reporter phones so and so in the city hall who says yes were doing a study on so and so and names off a bunch of big events and next thing you know you have a article in the paper that makes it seem like something is actualy hapening. Anyways it seems like just a no story story that the sun likes to print once in a while. Infact the sun had the same article about 6 months or so ago...wouldent be suprised if they just did a cut and paste...someone can go and try to search for the old thread about it that was started on here a while back.

[Nutterbug]

^Looks far less than twice as long from the border to me.

I meant from Vancouver proper.

[Nutterbug]

Everytime these articles are writen and the world cup is mentioned then it totaly discredits these articles and makes these studies look like a complete joke. Some how I think they are a complete joke and I wouldent get my hopes to high since doubt anything significant is hapening other then some city officials saying hmm that could be a good idea lets get this secretary to do a google search tomorow on her shift to gather some information...then they take it throw it in a filing cabinet and forget about it until some new city official gets the same idea and repeats the same dead end task. Then you get some person who overhears this and tells his friend whos a friend of a reporter that so and so is doing a study, reporter phones so and so in the city hall who says yes were doing a study on so and so and names off a bunch of big events and next thing you know you have a article in the paper that makes it seem like something is actualy hapening. Anyways it seems like just a no story story that the sun likes to print once in a while. Infact the sun had the same article about 6 months or so ago...wouldent be suprised if they just did a cut and paste...someone can go and try to search for the old thread about it that was started on here a while back.

Similar, but first mention of ideas for other events that are smaller and more modest than the Olympics and WC that I've seen.

[Fairbanks]

#1701 Today, 08:18 PM
Fairbanks
Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 52


Hey all:
For those of us who are World's Fair fanatics her is a great "lame" Google project that is only fun if you are indeed a World's Fair fantatic like me.
I worked for EXPO 86 for 4 years and I spent hours doing this yesterday.

http://www.bie-paris.org/main/index.php?p=257&m2=253

The link is the BIE website list of fairs of the past. Use Google Earth to look at the sites. Of all the past fairgrounds I found...and there were a lot...Vancouver seems to be the only one so far that has developed the site as it was promised.

I even found the London "Great Exhibition 1851" former site...on Google Earth that is now a park but the foundation outline of the original "Crystal Palace" is still there including a tower that looks an awful lot like the Eiffel Tower from Paris 1883 World's Fair. From San Antonio, Tx to Taejon, Korea...have a great time "Google Earthing" these and please pass this message along to your buds who share the same fascination.

Check out this link to a pic of "Lady Liberty" before she was packaged up and shipped to NY, NY.

http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgur...%3Den%26sa%3DN

Cheers,
Fairbanks

[Canadian Mind]

Fairbanks, stop spamming every Vancouver thread with that shit. keep it in the pinned thread, doesn't belong in here, the countdown clock thread, or anywhere else.

[Fairbanks]

Fairbanks, stop spamming every Vancouver thread with that shit. keep it in the pinned thread, doesn't belong in here, the countdown clock thread, or anywhere else.I

AT LEAST I DIDNT POST PICS OF "BIKER CHICKS WITH THONGS UP THEIR ASSES"......OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN AND PROGRESS....WHAT HAVE YOU CONTRIBUTED LATELY THAT IS OF INTEREST????

"BYTE" ME!!!

[Fairbanks]

CHECK THIS OUT!!! Here is the website for the Olympic Village Development post 2010....Condos for sale!

http://www.millenniumwater.com

Fairbanks

Now THIS is SPAM...but we dont have a problem with this now do we...A@#-H*(^.

Have a nice redneck weekend CM

[Canadian Mind]

I

AT LEAST I DIDNT POST PICS OF "BIKER CHICKS WITH THONGS UP THEIR ASSES"......OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN AND PROGRESS....WHAT HAVE YOU CONTRIBUTED LATELY THAT IS OF INTEREST????

"BYTE" ME!!!

I haven't had much of a chance to contribute architectural information to the site. What I have contributed is my questions, which when answered provide architectural info.

I don't deny that you are contributing, and I'm not saying I don't recognise and appreciate your contibution; however, you don't have to post the same thing in 3-4 different threads, the majority of which have little or nothing to do with what you have posted.

For instance, what the hell does a "lame" google project about the 86 expo have to do with co-hosting an event, or the vandalisation of a clock? There may be connections, but you don't exactly point them out. And further to that, you post it in three or four separate threads. If you feel it its that worthy of attention, give it its own thread. Hell, even I think it qualifies to have its own thread.

PS. Who said I was a redneck? Sure I lived in Alberta for 5 years, ridden a bull, ride horses, and worked on a ranch, but thats hardly red-neckish. Cowboy? Sure. Redneck? Nah.

[mr.x]

^Well that's one side of the coin. The border wait could also be 5 mins. Having grown up close to the border (South Surrey) with frequent day trips into Washington, I can tell you that from my experience the latter is more often the case (at least assuming you plan your timing right). If most of your border experience comes from traveling during holidays then I'm sure your example is more accurate. However I do think border operations should somehow be streamlined in the future.

Well, don't forget that there will be increased security on the border with a major event being held on both sides.

[crazyjoeda]

CHECK THIS OUT!!! Here is the website for the Olympic Village Development post 2010....Condos for sale!

http://www.millenniumwater.com

Fairbanks

Now THIS is SPAM...but we dont have a problem with this now do we...A@#-H*(^.

Have a nice redneck weekend CM

Wow another last waterfront property in Vancouver. How many are there??

[SpongeG]

I think its kind of dumb.
All or nothing, I say.

I don't think Seattle's very close. Three hours drive is a long time.

its only 103 miles from the border - if it takes you 3 hours something is wrong

I can make it to the seattle outlet mall in about an hour from the border - its not too far really - and its probably half BC plates in the parking lot

you can get to portland in just under 6 hours

[mr.x]

its only 103 miles from the border - if it takes you 3 hours something is wrong

I can make it to the seattle outlet mall in about an hour from the border - its not too far really - and its probably half BC plates in the parking lot

you can get to portland in just under 6 hours

Then you probably speed.

[SpongeG]

well the speed limit is 70 miles an hour and so within an hour you are in everett - everett is about 72 miles from the border and than another 30 miles to seattle proper

one can usually get to Tacoma in about 3-4 hours - from tacoma to portland is 2 hours

did the trip about 3 or 4 times last year

was just in seattle on sunday

see my vid...

-yrYepDhxmQ

[Hot Rod]

nice, looked pretty dead tho.

[SpongeG]

it was - maybe the time of the evening

capital hill trader joes was a zoo though - i think half of them were in that store

[seaskyfan]

Great video! You went right by my office (across from Macy's on Stewart).

Umm, you weren't the cameraperson, were you?

[smasher000]

What do you do in a World's Fair?

[SpongeG]

WA gov, B.C. premier pledge cooperation on border crossings
OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire and British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell pledged Wednesday to help lead a West Coast battle against greenhouse emissions, polluted air and troubled oceans.

The two leaders, meeting at the state Capitol as part of Campbell's western states tour, said they will also work on smoother crossings at border security checkpoints. The outcome could lead to Canada and the U.S. using enhanced driver's licenses in lieu of passports or expensive new high-tech security cards at land and sea entry points, they said.

Campbell, who began the day in Juneau, Alaska, and planned a quick visit to Salem, Ore., on Thursday, was given a standing ovation when he addressed the state Senate here. He and the governor and their top aides met privately, building on talks last year in Vancouver, B.C. The two leaders and their cabinets will gather in Seattle in June for another summit.

Gregoire and Campbell, in an interview with The Associated Press, said the state and province see eye-to-eye on many of the most pressing issues, from border security and global warming to concern for coastal fisheries and the need to curb air and water pollution.

Tourism and strong two-way trade also make the state and province "best friends," Gregoire said.

"We share so much in common," she said.

In an aside to the premier, she said, "You know where my husband and daughter are today? Spending money up (skiing) at Whistler Mountain."

And plenty of Canadians will be traveling to Seattle to catch Mariners baseball games, Campbell replied.

In his address to the Senate, the premier invited Washington citizens to enjoy the 2010 Olympic Winter Games north of the border.

"We will be winning all the gold medals, but we will be very generous with silver and bronze," he said.

Campbell praised Gregoire and the Washington Legislature for taking the lead to develop an enhanced driver's license that has been approved by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for testing as a secure border-crossing document.

The optional $40 license will be available in January and will include proof of residency and citizenship, and allow scanners to tell if the person is on a watchlist or has a criminal record.

Campbell said the province is developing its own version, using Washington's standards, and hopes the idea will spread to the rest of Canada.

"I think it shows once again that when British Columbia and Washington work together, we can lead both of our countries in directions that make practical and social sense," he told lawmakers.

The 10 million people of Washington and British Columbia have a long-standing habit of impromptu visits across the border and security concerns must be addressed in a way that doesn't compromise friendly relations, he and Gregoire said in their joint interview.

"That's what this relationship is about - it's about friendships and (business) partnerships and social interaction and, frankly, you don't want government stuff to get in the way of that," the premier said.

Campbell said he hopes to link Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and California to work on climate change and other mutual concerns. Together, the power of 50 million people "will drive a continental agenda" that transcends state borders, he said in the interview.

"You will find populations that are all very interested in dealing directly with issues of climate change," he said. "We will be the first to feel the impacts of climate change because of our coastal position."

He praised Washington's new plans to sharply curtail greenhouse emissions, including tailpipe pollution and power plant emissions that have been tied to global warming and climate change. Many aspects are similar to the province's own requirements, he said.

Both state and province are pushing for alternative power sources and biofuels and will work together on reducing water and air pollution, restoring inland waters and the ocean, and enhancing fish runs, the premier said.



http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/6420AP_WA_Wash_BC_Summit.html

[Derek]

What do you do in a World's Fair?

party?:5: