Hosting World Cup football could bring £90m boost

Staging World Cup football in Leicester would result in a £90m windfall for the city's economy, it has been estimated.

However, first city councillors must next week agree in principle to pledge £15.3m of taxpayers' money should Leicester be part of a successful England bid to host the planet's biggest sporting event.

That is the amount that would have to be spent on marketing and improving the city, for example upgrading public transport, so it meets FIFA's standards for a host city.

Members of city council's cabinet and the full council will be told that the potential return to the city could be as much as £90 million, based on the experience of German cities which hosted the tournament in 2006.

Council leader Ross Willmott said: "Leicester's selection as a host city would bring enormous benefits to the city's economy, through investment in the infrastructure of the city, a major boost to hotels and the tourism and leisure industries, and the creation of new jobs.

"Before we can be considered as part of England's bid we must make a huge and binding commitment to deliver all that will be required of a host city. It's important therefore that all councillors have a say in this decision, and the opportunity to examine the potential returns that the World Cup could bring."

The 2006 World Cup in Germany attracted more than 33.6 million fans to stadiums, 18 million to fan parks, and millions of viewers in more than 240 countries watched at least one match.

Leicester's bid would be to host up to four World Cup matches, to be played at the Walkers Stadium. This would be subject to the expansion of the stadium, as required by FIFA.

The council's Cabinet will meet to discuss the bid at 1pm on Monday.

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