In 2007, both Bristol City and Bristol Rovers gained promotion from their respective divisions, putting the city back on the footballing map. And now it seems the city is taking another stride towards further recognition, by launching a bid to be a host city in England’s World Cup bid.

It has already been confirmed that the bid will come solely from England, ruling Wales’s impressive Millenium Stadium out of the question; so Bristol are in a very good position to represent the South-West region. The nation is already dwarfed by many of the country’s to host the World Cup in the past. And the FIFA regulation preventing more than one host city from offering more than one venue for matches could work in Bristol’s favour, with England inevitably forced to make use of the country’s many footballing cities.

An English World Cup would stay this side of the Severn Bridge

Bristol has hitherto remained a reasonably unexplored world for the minds of the outside world. But the city boasts a contrast of fantastic historic architecture, and an array of modern developments, establishments and regenerations. And despite its city stature, Bristol is very much situated in a picturesque area of Britain, with vast ares of open land; land which would be ideal for travelling fans from around the world, coming the take in the atmosphere without a ticket.

The stadia

A brand new stadium is ultimately the figurehead for Bristol’s bid to be a host city. The city currently contains Bristol City’s Ashton Gate, and the venue that plays host to neighbours Rovers, the Memorial Stadium. Whilst they are both accomidating complexes with a wealth of history, opened in 1904 and 1921 respectively, the two venues are distinctly lower league homes.

The proposed new stadium in question is being planned as the future home of City, the club which has seen more success in recent years than its rivals. In 2007, chairman Steve Lansdown announced the club were to cancel redevelopment plans regarding Ashton Gate’s Wedlock Stand. This was followed by the announcement of the club’s new plans to relocate to a 30,000 capacity stadium; with those intentions made possible by Lansdown’s commitment in pumping £43 million into the complex.

However a capacity of 30,000 is still some way off FIFA’s requirements from a World Cup stadium. Although, were England’s bid team to succeed, and were Bristol to be pinpointed as a host city, there is the possibility of increasing the ground by a further 12,000 seats. That would just about scrape through regulations, with the required 42,000 which includes 2,000 for VIP’s and media. The club chairman has stated that he will make the construction of the 30,000 seater ground possible with money out of his pocket, but to increase the capacity further, additional funds will have to be raised through the sale of the club’s current home.

Plans for City’s new ground unveiled

The local council had plans to utilise the stadium by developing a new housing project. However, it now seems that the money Tesco could offer for the ground would be much more adequate.

“Unfortunately, in the current climate, and it’s the current climate we’re working in, we probably wouldn’t find anybody to buy it as most house builders are trying to offload land, not take it on,” Bristol City chief executive Colin Sexstone.

“Every penny we raise from Ashton Gate will go into the new stadium.

“Clearly if somebody wants to suggest how we can raise that money elsewhere, we’ll listen to them. But I know they’re not going to, because there isn’t.

“People will say ‘why can’t Steve Lansdown pay for this?’ But people need to be aware that without Steve Lansdown, this project would not have got this far.

Steve Lansdown the driving force behind the new stadium

“He will be making a very, very major financial contribution to the new stadium in the form of equity in the company. Steve Lansdown is doing more than his fair share.

“And as he has said many times, this stadium will be here for more than a 100 years, long after he has gone, and he would expect other people to put their bit into it.”

Transport links

Bristol has always boasted fantastic transportation links, none more so in recent years. With the state of the nation’s economy, the South-West hasn’t been hit as hard as most British regions. And that has aided Bristol in further funding its transport network.

The city is very easily accessible from other major English cities. The M4 motorway connects London and Wales, and the M5 runs from Birmingham to Exeter. Both are very easy means of arriving in Bristol via the M49 which is connected to both major roads; not to mention its international airport, flying to numerous European destinations. The area also boasts park-and-rides and a good public transport system.

Transport links are no problem when travelling to Bristol

Sport in the area

Bristol is very much a growing city. Its sporting facilities are also on the rise, fuelled by the people’s love of sports. The Bristol Academy of Sport is aimed towards shaping the future of sport in the region. It offers sports including football, basketball, golf, cricket, rugby, netball and table tennis. The centre was designed to give promising young athletes the opportunity to further develop their skills in a competitive environment, whilst, as the centre’s website puts it, “not compromising their overall education and welfare”.

Bristol’s bid, no doubt, will also comply with the government’s “get fit” plans, as more people cycle in Bristol than in any UK city. The area also plays host to the Bristol Half Marathon annually; an event in which in excess of 15,000 people take part.

Bristol has cycle fever

Backing

If you want to succeed in bringing the World Cup to your area, a major part of that is finding backing. And Bristol have found that in the shape of Durban. The South African city is one of the host cities for the 2010 World Cup, and they have given their support to the West Country.

Stephen Wray, partnerships director for the council, told the Post: “This relationship could prove very useful next year after the 2010 World Cup and we can watch how Durban copes with the tournament.”

Durban know what it takes to win the bid

Taking all factors into consideration, it seems Bristol have a decent chance of a successful bid. The city can’t compete with its counterparts in terms of stadia, so the bid will have to be focused hugely upon the city itself. The landscape is beautiful, the transport network is excellent, and the people are accommodating.