Seattle, Vancouver to study co-hosting events

[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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by mr.x2

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...

[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]

Originally Posted by raggedy13

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

I meant from Vancouver proper.

[Nutterbug]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by Fairbanks

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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

[crazyjoeda]

Originally Posted by 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

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

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by 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.

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