SOCCER-FIFA-WORLD/ECONOMY Edmonton to see more than $50 million boost due to Women’s World Cup

Record ID: 150210

  • Title: SOCCER-FIFA-WORLD/ECONOMY Edmonton to see more than $50 million boost due to Women’s World Cup
  • Date: 5th June 2015
  • Summary: EDMONTON, ALBERTA, CANADA (JUNE 4, 2015) (REUTERS) EDMONTON CITY HALL VARIOUS OF FIFA BANNERS OUTSIDE EDMONTON CITY HALL EDMONTON CITY HALL SIGN EDMONTON CITY MANAGER SIMON FARBROTHER AT DESK (SOUNDBITE) (English) EDMONTON CITY MANAGER SIMON FARBROTHER, SAYING: "This is going to be an exciting time for the city. Certainly on Saturday, but also over the following month as t
  • Embargoed: 20th June 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Canada
  • Country: Canada
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVABTHE1UL2GHRRMSTBG5K0HUT9U
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Edmonton will see a $50 million (USD) boost to its economy from the Women's World Cup, said Edmonton City Manager Simon Farbrother during an television interview with Reuters on Thursday (June 4).
    Edmonton will host many of the tournament's games including Saturday's opening match between Canada and China. And along with generating global interest in Edmonton, the tournament will generate a lot of money for Edmonton's economy.
    "With people attending the games and even the players and all of the associated support for that, it's a significant economic boost for the city in excess of 50 million dollars," said Farbrother.
    He added, "It's a very, very positive impact for the city. But even more significant, it's a significant cultural impact for us. It's an opportunity for our citizens to enjoy a world class opportunity and it's an opportunity for people around the world to get a sense of Edmonton."
    Farbrother said Edmonton will host a tournament game "pretty much, a game every single day that the World Cup is taking place."
    And with the eyes of the world on Edmonton, what will soccer fans see?.
    "I think they are just going to get a sense of what Edmonton is. We are just over 1.2 million people in the region. It's a prosperous part of Canada. It's a highly diverse community, a forward-thinking community and a community that likes to have a bit of fun. And the World Cup is going to bring a whole lot of fun," said Farbrother.
    While much of the world is focused on the bribery scandal surrounding soccer's governing body FIFA, Farbrother said his attention is on Edmonton, the women's team and the tournament.
    "Sometimes press breeds press and press breeds interest, so I think the people who are going to want to watch the games will watch the games, the people who want to debate FIFA will debate FIFA. Life will go on. The tournament will go on. It will be a great tournament."
    Tickets for the opening match are expected to sell out.
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