Walkers would hold 40,000 for World Cup
Leicester City's bosses are putting together plans which show how the capacity of the Walkers Stadium could be increased in order to bring World Cup football to the city.
The club's chairman Milan Mandaric and chief executive Lee Hoos visited Wembley yesterday, with leading councillors, to formally confirm Leicester's interest in hosting matches, if the FA's bid to bring the tournament to England in 2018 or 2022 is successful.
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Ross Wilmott, front, and from left , Tess Booth, Alistair Reid, Nick Carter, Andy Robinson, Deborah Rose and Jason Ross off to Wembley
Leicester faces competition from another 14 cities – including Nottingham and Derby in the East Midlands – who are vying to be part of the world's most-watched sporting event.
However, the city's leaders are determined to try to reap the international attention and financial benefits that hosting World Cup matches would bring.
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Leicester's bid team now have until November 6 to submit details of how the city and county would host the tournament.
It will need to put forward details on where festivals for fans could be held, as well as where competing teams would be able to stay and train.
Fifa requirements mean City's Walkers Stadium would have to be developed from its current 32,000 capacity to being capable of holding at least 40,000 fans.
A number of extra seats would also need to be provided for the VIPs and the world's media.
City chief executive Mr Hoos said yesterday: "We will now be working with the technical guys to draw up some plans.
"We are in the fortunate position. We have a stadium that can be extended on three sides."
It is thought that building on top of the east stand would add 8,000 to the existing capacity. The west stand – where the corporate boxes are housed – was the only one built without further development in mind.
Chairman Mr Mandaric is keen to increase the capacity to 40,000 once City become an established Premiership side.
However, the club has not revealed how it would pay for the expansion if it wins the bid to host a World Cup match, but fails to reach the top flight.
Leicester will find out if its bid has been successful in December this year and Fifa will decide on host countries for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups a year later, in December 2010.
Comments
by Carl, Leicester
Tuesday, May 19 2009, 1:49PM
“I think you'll find the problems with parking are a common theme with most football clubs and that includes grounds with capacities of more than 40,000. You must also remember that this is basically a one off event and my main concern is we will struggle to fill the stadium if the prices are too high.”
by CJ, Leics
Tuesday, May 19 2009, 12:39PM
“¿Once City become an established Premiership side¿, they mite not become one? Well how many millions would it cost to build? As for the short-term revenue, it wouldn¿t pay Leicester to do it purely for the World cup. I agree if Leicester become a PL team again, then yes they would fill the stadium if it were to be around 40,000. Old Trafford is a 60/70,000 capacity ground and the make just over 2 million a game, so it would take time to re-pay the amount on the build in the first place.”
by Stuart, Leicester
Tuesday, May 19 2009, 12:34PM
“park n ride is the answer to the parking problems around the ground. As well as the existing sites im sure a couple more could be temporarly set up in the north and east sides of the city, as well as shuttle buses to the ground from town.”
by Bob, Leicester
Tuesday, May 19 2009, 10:27AM
“If city are in the Premier League by then which is obviously the target then we will easily attract 40,000 on a regular basis.”
by Steve Morris, Stourbridge
Tuesday, May 19 2009, 10:14AM
“It's a fantastic opportunity for the City of Leicester to get international attention and with regular attendances of 30 000 in the Championship and even in League One, the stadium WILL have to be extended at some point.
I agree that the transport and parking is a nightmare on matchdays at the moment. The parking issue is easy to fix though, just build a multistory on the Walkers Stadium site or maybe on Saffron Lane.
Exciting times...just wish we could hear whether we had got it earlier!!!”
by eddie, Clarendon Park
Tuesday, May 19 2009, 8:53AM
“Good Luck with the bid,but I wonder if the transport infrastructure and parking are up to scratch? its a struggle on a normal match day with 20,000,it would be disaterous if it back fired and left the City with egg on its face.”