England 2018 offers FIFA safest and richest option claims Triesman

By Tom Degun in London

May 14 – England 2018 chairman Lord Triesman (pictured) today insisted that the the country’s World Cup bid offers FIFA a safe option in terms of revenue and infrastructure following two potentially dangerous tournaments in South Africa this year and Brazil in 2014.

Triesman was part of the England 2018 World Cup bid delegation, which was spearhead by the bid vice president David Beckham, that travelled to Zurich earlier today in order to hand over the 1,752 page bid book that details the country’s vision for the tournament.

The book, which was presented to FIFA President Sepp Blatter by Beckham, illustrates England 2018’s huge income margins with a minimum ticket revenue of £602 million ($875 million) and an in-stadium hospitality profit of £268 million ($390 million) guaranteed.

Triesman believes that these figures could give England the vital edge over their rivals in the counties’ bid to secure the World Cup.

He said: “England has an incredibly mature sports market.

“This means that we are able to make certain financial guarantees that offer FIFA a safe and secure revenue should they decide that England should host the World Cup in 2018.

“No one will simply give you the World Cup, you have to earn the right to host it but with the infrastructure, security and revenue generated in this country, I am very confident about our bid.

“This is a really, really great day for the bid and a really good day for our country.”

The bid’s chief executive Andy Anson added: “After two potentially risky World Cups in South Africa this year and Rio in 2014, England provides FIFA with a safe option in 2018.

“England is certainly a low-risk, high reward option.

“We already have all the stadiums and infrastructure in place so the major cost will be on security although the Government have provided us with a guarantee of just over £400 million should we win the right to host the World Cup.”

Anson also said that the England bid is boosted by London hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012.

He said: “FIFA will know that following London 2012, our Government will be very adept at dealing with security and transport on a huge scale and that will only work to our advantage.”

Anson revealed that the cheapest tickets would be available for around £40 ($58) while one million tickets are set to be priced at around £60 ($87).

Contact the writer of this story at zib.l1734831793labto1734831793ofdlr1734831793owedi1734831793sni@n1734831793uged.1734831793mot1734831793