CANADA 2007

[Robert]

As Canada's day to shine on the international soccer stage is rapidly approaching, maybe this thread could serve as a continuously updated source of public information on all new developments regarding the 2007 World Youth Championship.

It would be a monumental task for one person to try and keep track of all the news sources throughout Canada and aboard, and to report these here on this board. Therefor, if anyone come across any information related to Canada 2007, please take the time to share it with all those who have an interest. Please give references of the sources of information, so that everything can be verified and followed up on.

Updates on new developments from the host cities of Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto(?), Edmonton, Vancouver, and Victoria are of great interest to every soccer fan around the world. The draw for the qualifying competitions, the qualifying matches themselves, the draw for the final tournament, are all events that will be taking place in 2006. All of that starts in only five months from now.

These are sure to be some of the most exciting months ahead for Canadian soccer fans, as all these events lead up to the championship itself, so let's to play an active role in trying to help make this the best soccer tournament ever hosted in Canada.

[Daniel]

Wow, this thread actually seems like a... gasp... good idea?

[matthew]

A handful of 87s have signed on with the NCAA:

Kyle Bartkus (87) Ñ D Ñ Wisconsin-Green Bay (NCAA)

Masumi Turnbull (87) Ñ D Ñ Kentucky (NCAA)

Tosant Ricketts (87) Ñ M Ñ Wisconsin-Green Bay (NCAA)

Alex Elliott (87) Ñ F Ñ Portland (NCAA)

Forward Mike D'Agostino is already with Kentucky and midfielder Kerr McLeod is rumoured to be off to Syracuse, but nothing official from the 'Cuse as of yet.

There's a handful of incoming freshmen who have no Canadian experience that I can find and therefore I have no idea on year of birth. If they're true freshman they'd be 87s, but I haven't been able to confirm yet:

Michael Tillati (87?) Ñ GK ÑÊPenn St. (NCAA)

Martin John (87?) Ñ D/M Ñ Maine (NCAA)

Erik DiLorenzo (87?) Ñ D Ñ Albany (NCAA)

Kurt Ruhe-Lischke (87?) Ñ D Ñ Albany (NCAA)

Taylor McNamara (87?) Ñ M Ñ Albany (NCAA)

Daniel Revivo (87?) Ñ F Ñ Winthrop (NCAA)

Finally David Browning (87) is off to Cornell. Cornell says he's Canadian, but has played for the Singapore U16s, but has also played for K Lierse SK in Belgium.

I agree. Good thread.

cheers,

matthew

[Robert]

Timeline review:

Tuesday, August 10, 2004. At a media conference in Toronto, FIFA announces the awarding of the 2007 WYCs to Canada.

Thursday, January 20, 2005. The CSA announced they had received 11 letters of intent from 11 cities from across Canada, which are interested in hosting games in 2007. They are:

The Championship will take place in six major stadiums across Canada, with the dates for the tournament set for July 1-22, 2007.

Venues

Calgary: The City of Calgary is interested in hosting a site for the World Youth Championships and is in the process of determining which stadium will be refurbished in order to meet FIFA's stadium requirements. Calgary has hosted several major sporting events including the 1988 Winter Olympics.

Edmonton: Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium is Canada's largest soccer-friendly stadium with a capacity of 60,000 spectators. In 2002, Edmonton and the Commonwealth Stadium hosted the inaugural FIFA Under-19 Women's World Championship. The city drew record crowds as Canada played the United States in front of 48,000 spectators, in the final on September 1, 2002.

Hamilton: Hamilton has hosted several sporting events over the years including the 2003 (and 2006) Bell Canadian Open, the 1986 World Junior Hockey Championships, and international soccer tournaments such as the 1993 World University Games (women's soccer). Hamilton has the support of Tourism Hamilton and McMaster University.

Laval: The Corporation Complexe Multi-Sport de Laval Inc. and Tourism de Laval wish to be selected as a site for the FIFA World Youth Championship 2007. Laval will have to build a new stadium in order to meet FIFA's requirements for this event.

London: London has submitted a letter of intent with support from the City of London to be handled by the 32 Panel Sports Corporation and the London Gryphons of the W-League. 32 Panel Sports Corporation, the owners of London Gryphons Soccer team, are in the process of constructing a soccer-specific stadium in London to be ready for use in late 2006.

Montreal: The organizers hope to build on the success of the Montreal Impact of the USL First Division by taking the opportunity to exhibit excellence in hosting such a major event in order to stimulate further interest in professional and high-level competition soccer.

Ottawa: Ottawa’s Frank Clair Stadium, with its artificial FIFA recommended surface (FieldTurf), has a capacity of 28,000 spectators. The letter of intent is supported by the City of Ottawa, Ottawa Tourism, The Eastern Ontario Soccer Association, The Ottawa Fury Soccer Club of the W-League, and the CFL’s Ottawa Renegades Football Club. Ottawa has hosted numerous women’s soccer events including friendlies against Brazil and England in 2003 averaging 18,000 spectators.

Quebec City: Quebec City, in conjunction with the Université Laval and the Association Règionale de Soccer de Québec, submitted a letter of intent. The city plans to host games at the PEPS Stadium located at the Université Laval. The stadium is equipped with an artificial surface, currently holds 10,000 spectators and can be expanded to 14,000 with temporary seating, and has successfully staged Montreal Impact games in the past.

Sherbrooke: The City of Sherbrooke and the Université de Sherbrooke have submitted a letter of intent. In 2004, the University hosted a Montreal Impact game with an attendance of 10,000 spectators and was also host to the World Junior Athletics Championship in 2002. The natural grass stadium located at the Université de Sherbrooke can hold 12,000 spectators.

Toronto: A major factor in FIFA awarding this event to CSA and Canada was the recent decision by the Governments of Canada, and Ontario on May 21, 2004, to financially support the development of the new Toronto stadium with a joint $35 million contribution to this project. The only condition cited in the awarding of this grant was the requirement by FIFA to stage the FIFA World Youth Championship in Canada in 2007. The 25,000 seat stadium on the York University campus will be built, and will serve as a world-class venue for Canadian soccer for decades to come. Toronto will be the main site headquarters for the Championship and will host the most number of matches (minimum of eleven, including the official Championship opening ceremonies and opening game featuring the Canadian National Youth team).

Vancouver/Burnaby: Vancouver has been a popular city for hosting international events including the FIFA Under-19 Women's World Championship 2002 and most recently, two 2006 FIFA Men's World Cup qualifying matches in 2004. Vancouver is the home of the Whitecaps FC of the USL First Division and W-League. Stadium options include Swangard Stadium which has a capacity of 7,000 which would have to be upgraded to hold a minimum of 10,000 fans, or any other stadium project still to be developed.

Victoria: Victoria has hosted several CONCACAF tournaments in conjunction with the CSA, and in 2002, were one of the three cities to host the very successful FIFA Under-19 Women's World Championship 2002 . Centennial Stadium, at the University of Victoria, would be the stadium holding close to 6,000 spectators. Stadium seats would have to be added as a result of FIFA's requirement for a minimum capacity of 10,000.

Winnipeg: Winnipeg hosted the 1999 Pan American Games with great success. Winnipeg is looking to build a new stadium. A $10 million indoor/outdoor soccer facility is being proposed by the Winnipeg Soccer Federation. It would be a combination indoor fourplex with all the amenities, as well as an outdoor 10,000 seat stadium with a third generation artificial turf field. Details of the proposal are being worked out between the City of Winnipeg and the Winnipeg Soccer Federation.

Wednesday, May 4, 2005. Andy Sharpe announces that Ottawa, Montreal, Vancouver, and Victoria will join Edmonton and Toronto as cities hosting games at the 2007 WYCs.

Does anyone know who makes up the committees of each of the hosting cities?

[Cheeta]

No idea.

But, as has already been posted a new Winnipeg Soccer Complex has already secured the funding it needs and as I understand things, it's now down to location, location, location.

As much as the powers that be have withdrawn their intent for participation in the 2007 WYC, I hold out hope (for no particularily good reason) that as this whole endevour seems to be flying by the seat of it's pants that maybe, just maybe, should the new WSC be up and rolling by next season the CSA may give Old Winnipeg another opportunity for a group should one of the other hosts be found wanting.

Again, that's just a personal hope. Nothing more.

PLEEEEASE, PLEASEPLEASEPLEASEPLEASE...

[Guest Jeffery S.]

It has to be said: they are way too late on this. Venues for an international event should be in use before the event itself, not inaugurated for it. If it weren't Canada involved we would have this taken away from us, and as it is, if the CSA continues to be so casual about it all, we will lose it.

I mean, what should have happened was to have someone from each host city in Holland learning about how it it done, not just the typical CSA vip entourage on semi-holidays.

[Robert]

quote:Originally posted by Jeffrey S.

It has to be said: they are way too late on this. Venues for an international event should be in use before the event itself, not inaugurated for it. If it weren't Canada involved we would have this taken away from us, and as it is, if the CSA continues to be so casual about it all, we will lose it.

I mean, what should have happened was to have someone from each host city in Holland learning about how it it done, not just the typical CSA vip entourage on semi-holidays.

We may be down a couple of goals and time is ticking off the clock as we speak, but let's not concede the tournament until the final whistle sounds.

As was stated above, "A major factor in FIFA awarding this event to CSA and Canada was the recent decision by the Governments of Canada, and Ontario on May 21, 2004, to financially support the development of the new Toronto stadium with a joint $35 million contribution to this project. The only condition cited in the awarding of this grant was the requirement by FIFA to stage the FIFA World Youth Championship in Canada in 2007." This may suggest that government funding may only apply to a stadium built in the Greater Toronto area. However, it does not imply that Canada can not host this championship without Toronto hosting games. Winnipeg has a long and rich soccer tradition, for many years hosting the Canadian clubs championship final. If there is to be a geographical balance for spreading out the championship matches, Winnipeg among other cities would be an excellent candidate, as would other cities in eastern Canada. Maybe cities outside of Ontario could make a public pitch to the CSA, after their self imposed deadline date of next week for making a final decision on a Toronto stadium has past.

August 10th it will mark the one year anniversary since Canada was awarded these games. If Toronto has still been unable to come up with a finalized deal, maybe the CSA should invite to new offers to fill the void. Ottawa or Montreal, could bid for the right to host a semi-final and the final, although Commonwealth in Edmonton would seem to be the logical choice for the final. Western cities are well represented, with Victoria, Vancouver, and Edmonton. Winnipeg would be an excellent choice to bridge with Ottawa and Montreal. However, a city such as Halifax would offer a part of this tournament to the many soccer fans on the eastern side of Canada, and I'm sure these fans would not be outdone in supporting this tournament. After all, didn't we win our greatest battle at the King George V field?