Nothing But Positives can be drawn from US Hosting World Cup.

Last week thousands of people in the city of Chicago were disappointed as they watched the IOC announce the Windy City as the first team to be eliminated from contention to host the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. While most were disappointed with the IOC decision, many people were pleased that Chicago did not receive the bid, citing that the City could not host such a large event. From a lack of geographic space, the cost of the games, and the just plain of lack of space are all valid reasons why Chicago hosting the games could do more harm than good to the city. However America has another chance to secure a bid to host a large international sporting event: The World Cup.

Former United States Secretary of State Henry Kissinger right now is the head of the United States' bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup Bid, and with the abstinence of the Olympics in 2016, the United States might have a better shot of securing the World Cup in the following years. While the same political motives may cut down the US bid to host the Cup, most of the arguments against the Olympics to be held in Chicago cannot be made against the World Cup. Here is a brief run-down of why an American World Cup is more reasonable and beneficial than the Olympics in a crowded city like Chicago.

1. The Nation host the tournament, not one particular city. One of the greatest parts about the World cup is that the nation gets to host the tournament, and not one city. This creates a sense of national unity, as the whole county, and not one particular area gets to host the international community. Also the format for the World Cup spreads the burden for the host cities. Instead of having people from every county of the world in one area, the travels will be spread out through 8-10 cities as they follow their team. The multiple cites format trumps the Olympic format one two fronts. More cities get to reap the rewards of hosting the tournament, and the multiple cities can share the burden of hosting the international community.

2. The Infrastructure required for the World Cup is already established. United States World Cup Infrastructure check list: Large Stadiums with lots of parking spaces- (Rose Bowl, LA Coliseum Cowboys Stadium, Giants Stadium, Liberty Mutual Field, Solider Field, etc.) CHECK. Transportation city to get fans to travel across the country so they can follow their favorite clubs- (Very sophisticated and well organized and built highway system, second only to Germanic Nations, Also a good excuse to get the nation to invest in a high-speed train system before the tournament starts, enviormentalist and sustainable energy people should be pushing this if the US gets the bid, and finally the air-lines, window are aisle?) CHECK. Hotels to lodge people for a month long tournament- (What else are the Hiltons good for?) CHECK. The rest are minor detail really. I would suggest a more integrated train system, but for the most part the US could host the World Cup in two months, and not a whole lot would have to be done.

3. The World Cup is a Guaranteed Money Maker: The biggest drawback for Chicago hosting the Olympic Games was how much the games would cost, and the uncertainty that the investment would pay off-especially for a city already in financial trouble. With the World Cup, that is not going to be a worry. The World Cup makes money PERIOD. Critics will say Soccer is not popular in the United States, how will the tournament make any money. However, history is on the US Bid's side. In 1994, a time when Soccer was WAY less popular in this country than it is now-Soccer is well on it's way to challenging Hockey for the title of America's Fourth Sport. When the US hosted the 1994 Cup the tournament was attended by a World Cup record 3,587,538 people attended the tournament for an average of 68,991 a match. This proved to be the highest grossing tournament in World Cup History. With larger Stadiums, more games, and a bigger enthusiasm for soccer in the United States, those figures are bound to exceed the '94 Cup. This would be revenue from the tournament alone, think about the tourism, travel, hotels, etc. The World Cup would be a great stimulus package for the American economy, now that Change I believe in.

Hosting the World Cup has so many more advantages than the Olympics could ever fathom. Sure, many will argue soccer is not big in the country, however few will argue the game is growing in the US, who knows where it will be by 2018. Also even with a minimal soccer following the United States World Cup of 1994 was a great success. With more than one city being able to host the tournament, and America's capacity to already make it a successful tournament. Americans and FIFA would be foolish not to have the World Cup in the US. So to all who are bummed about a lack of lorel wreaths, and Olympic Tradition that will not take place in the US. I say smile- bigger fish are coming our way-and they have bigger dollar signs on them.