An Open Letter to the USA World Cup Bid Committee

Dear USA Bid Committee,

We, the undersigned, deeply support the official United States bid for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup. However, we disagree with your recent decision to remove the City of Pittsburgh and Heinz Field from consideration as a potential host for the FIFA World Cup.

We believe that Pittsburgh and Heinz Field compare favorably to several markets that were retained as potential host venues for many reasons, including the following:

1. The Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area is ranked 22nd in the United States in terms of population (according to a 2008 U.S. Census Bureau population estimates). The metro population of over 2.3 million people represents more than the metro populations of Cleveland, Orlando, Kansas City, Indianapolis, Charlotte, Nashville, and Jacksonville, all of which are still under consideration as potential hosts.

2. Heinz Field is a state-of-the art stadium, and has been named by Sports Illustrated and ESPN.com as the second-best stadium in the National Football League. Having opened in 2001, the stadium is newer than many of the other potential venues that your committee is considering. Heinz Field is also larger than several other stadiums under consideration, with a capacity of about 65,000, and includes room for expansion in the south end of the stadium.

The North Shore Connector project, which is likely to be completed in 2011, will add new transportation infrastructure around Heinz Field, which is already served by major highways and waterways. When the project is completed, Heinz Field will be connected by light rail to Downtown Pittsburgh, Station Square, and the South Hills.

3. Pittsburgh also features a state-of-the art training center that could be used for FIFA World Cup teams, the UPMC Sports Performance Complex. The Pittsburgh Steelers and University of Pittsburgh practice facility is located a mere five miles from Heinz Field. The forty-acre complex features a full-size indoor practice field, four 80-yard outdoor fields, a state-of-the-art sports medicine facility, spacious locker rooms and training rooms, and much more.

4. The climate of the area is ideal for the FIFA World Cup. According to the National Weather Service, the average high in Pittsburgh for the month of July is 79 degrees Fahrenheit and the average low is 58 degrees Fahrenheit.

5. The Pittsburgh area already possesses much of the needed infrastructure needed to host the FIFA World Cup. Pittsburgh International Airport has capably handled over 19 million annual passengers, a number which is two times its current annual traffic. The Pittsburgh area features over 17,000 hotel rooms (rated 2-5 stars), and currently has thousands more under construction all around the area.

6. Pittsburgh has a proven track record of hosting large-scale sporting events over the last decade, including the AFC Championship Game (2002, 2005, 2009), the MLB All-Star Game (2006), the Stanley Cup Finals (2008, 2009), the United States Open Championship (2007), the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament (2002), the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament (2007), and several others.

7. The city has proven itself as not only one of the best sports towns in the country, but also an international city. The city features many large ethnic groups, including those of African (27% of the population), German (20%), Irish (16%), Italian (12%), Polish (8%), and English (5%) descent.

As host of the G-20 Summit in September, Pittsburgh will prove itself as a truly international city.

We ask that the committee adds Pittsburgh to its short list of cities, allowing it to further consider Pittsburgh for the wonderful host it could be on the grandest stage in the world. We wish you the best of luck in your bid for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Best Regards,

James Santelli and Daniel Kimicata
Co-Founders, Inspire Pittsburgh

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Sign our online petition here.

Why Should Pittsburgh Host the 2020 Games?

There are a myriad of reasons why Pittsburgh should bid for the 2020 Games, but we'll address three particulars in this post.

1. A deadline for public transportation improvements.


Pittsburgh officials began to seriously consider an extension of the "T" light rail system across the Allegheny River back in the early 1990s. Almost two decades later, the North Shore Connector will finally be completed in 2011. In those twenty years, millions of taxpayer dollars were wasted in bureaucratic red tape, rising oil and material costs, and inflation, because officials did not have incentive to complete the project quickly. A large-scale event creates a deadline for improvements. Pittsburgh needs expansions in mass transit and light rail, and a 2020 deadline eliminates the excuses and gets residents the improvements to both the public transportation and road infrastructure improvements that they want and need.

2. Go from "Smoky City" to "International City"


City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County officials are in the process of "re-branding" Pittsburgh for the G-20 as a green city, not as the smog-filled metropolis of the past that too many people around the world still see the city. And while their efforts should provide considerable improvements in "branding," there's only so much that a two-day spotlight can accomplish. Hosting the Games not only provides the two-week international coverage, but also the months and years leading up to 2020, just as future hosts Vancouver, London, and Sochi, Russia are currently being covered.

3. Leave a sports legacy only the Games can offer

A common misconception about hosting the Games is that it requires billions in taxpayer dollars for a "two-week festival." This is simply not the case. As Chicago's 2016 bid and past American Games have shown, taxpayers only put up the money for infrastructure improvements that the city already is in need of. Most of the money that goes into the actual "hosting" of the Games (competition venues, athlete accommodation, marketing, logistics, etc.) are paid for by television revenues, sponsorships, ticket sales, merchandise sales, and more. In addition, this influx of private investment often leaves host cities with world-class sporting venues that can be used by the entire community. In Pittsburgh's case, we would be privileged with an aquatics center in Schenley Park, a cycling velodrome on the South Side, a slalom kayak course in Moraine State Park, and much more, all paid for without one cent of tax dollars.

A.J. Palumbo Center

Sports: Weightlifiting

Zone: Downtown

Games Capacity: 5,358

Cost: $15 million (renovation)

Current Use: Duquesne basketball

Trees Pool

Sport: Water Polo

Zone: Oakland

Proposed Capacity: 5,000

Cost: $25 million (renovation)

Post-2020 Use: Pitt swimming and diving

Pittsburgh Igloo (Mellon Arena)

Sport: Indoor Volleyball

Zone: Downtown

Capacity: 17,000

Cost: $20 million (renovation)

Post-2020 Use: Public sports center

Allegheny River Beach

Sport: Beach Volleyball

Zone: Allegheny

Proposed Capacity: 12,500

Cost: $15 million (temporary venue)

Three Rivers Park

Sport: Triathlon

Zone: North Shore

Cost: $7 million (temporary works)

Post-2020 Use: Public park

Schenley Park Tennis Center

Sport: Tennis

Zone: Oakland

Proposed Capacity: 10,000

Cost: $30 million (expansion)

Post-Games Use: Public tennis center

RMU Shooting Complex

Sport: Shooting

Zone: Robert Morris University

Proposed Capacity: 7,000

Cost: $30 million (temporary venue)

Cleveland Sailing Center

Sport: Sailing

Zone: Cleveland, OH

2020 Capacity: Unlimited

Cost: $15 million (temporary works)

Post-2020 Use: Midwest sailing venue

New RMU Natatorium

Sport: Modern Pentathlon (Swimming)

Zone: Robert Morris University

Proposed Capacity: 1,500

Cost: $25 million (new venue)

Post-2020 Use: RMU swimming and diving

Joe Walton Stadium

Sport: Modern Pentathlon (Ride and Run)

Zone: Robert Morris University

Proposed Capacity: 10,000

Cost: $20 million (expansion)

Post-2020 Use: RMU football

Sewall Center

Sport: Modern Pentathlon (Shooting and Fencing)

Zone: Robert Morris University

Games Capacity: 3,000

Cost: $10 million (temporary works)

Current Use: RMU basketball and volleyball

South Side Hockey Fields

Sport: Field Hockey

Zone: South Side

Proposed Capacity: 10,000 (Field 1); 5,000 (Field 2)

Cost: $19 million (temporary works)

Current Use: Steelers and Pitt football practice facility

South Side Sports Complex

Sports: Handball Preliminaries, Rhythmic Gymnastics

Zone: South Side

Proposed Capacity: 7,500

Cost: $20 million (temporary works)

Current Use: Steelers and Pitt football practice facility

Soldier Field

Sport: Soccer

Location: Chicago, IL

Capacity: 61,500

Cost: $2 million (temporary works)

Current Use: Bears football

Ohio Stadium

Sport: Soccer

Location: Columbus, OH

Capacity: 102,329

Cost: $2 million (temporary works)

Current Use: Ohio State football

Meadowlands Stadium

Sport: Soccer

Location: East Rutherford, NJ

Proposed Capacity: 82,500

Cost: $2 million (temporary works)

Proposed Use: Jets and Giants football

Indianapolis Stadium

Sport: Soccer

Location: Indianapolis, IN

Capacity: 63,000

Cost: $2 million (temporary works)

Current Use: Colts football

Philadelphia Field

Sport: Soccer

Location: Philadelphia, PA

Capacity: 68,532

Cost: $2 million (temporary works)

Current Use: Eagles football