"Baltimore among cities asked about interest in 2024 Olympics"

[LarryN]

I've never been to FedEx Field. I imagine 91,000 seats is probably big enough for an Olympic Stadium (M&T at 71,000 probably isn't), but is the bowl surface large enough for track & field?

[Marshan Man]

Yeah, but the logistics of getting to and from Fed-Ex would be horrible. There'd have to be some major road upgrades...

[LarryN]

Yeah, but the logistics of getting to and from Fed-Ex would be horrible. There'd have to be some major road upgrades...

So, a Baltimore/Washington bid would include one of three stadia:

1.) M&T - too small
2.) FedEx - horrible logistics
3.) Billion Dollar Plus Olympic Stadium with 100,000 seats that could be used for ??? afterward.

[Marshan Man]

So, a Baltimore/Washington bid would include one of three stadia:

1.) M&T - too small
2.) FedEx - horrible logistics
3.) Billion Dollar Plus Olympic Stadium with 100,000 seats that could be used for ??? afterward.

I think the stadium in London only seated like 80,000 with 55,000 of those seats being temporary ones that could later be removed.

http://construction.about.com/od/Fut...r-Olympics.htm

http://olympicgametourslondon2012.bl...c-stadium.html

[The Eternal White Belt]

So, a Baltimore/Washington bid would include one of three stadia:

1.) M&T - too small
2.) FedEx - horrible logistics
3.) Billion Dollar Plus Olympic Stadium with 100,000 seats that could be used for ??? afterward.

Or perhaps it will include multiple stadiums... but where would they play golf?

[queenie]

Baltimore among cities asked about interest in 2024 Olympics: oh hell no!!!

[Cameron]

I think the stadium in London only seated like 80,000 with 55,000 of those seats being temporary ones that could later be removed.

http://construction.about.com/od/Fut...r-Olympics.htm

http://olympicgametourslondon2012.bl...c-stadium.html

Apparently, London was careful to think ahead and construct temporary facilities and only a few permanent ones that they are able to use.

It mighta been Marty Bass --- somebody spoke into his earpiece and told him that Greece built a $100,000,000 stadium for baseball that sits empty because the Greeks don't play baseball.

Greece doesn't manage money too well.

[Morgan208]

I think the stadium in London only seated like 80,000 with 55,000 of those seats being temporary ones that could later be removed.

http://construction.about.com/od/Fut...r-Olympics.htm

http://olympicgametourslondon2012.bl...c-stadium.html

It's not the seating , it's the surface space.

[KSweeley]

Link: http://www.wbaltv.com/news/maryland/...z/-/index.html

USOC asks Baltimore about interest in 2024 Olympics

10:51 AM EST Feb 21, 2013

Could the Olympic flame one day burn in Baltimore City? This week, the city was asked if it was interested in hosting the Olympic Summer Games.

The U.S. Olympic Committee put out feelers this week, sending letters to the mayors in Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and 33 other cities looking for a willing host.

If Baltimore does make a run for the rings, Terry Hasseltine would be part of the process. He's the director of the state's Office of Sports Marketing.

"There's a good shot that Baltimore could be a contender as part of and/or a lead entity in such a bid going after the 2024 Olympics," he said.


Hasseltine said the state would have help making a bid because of the city's failed attempt to host the 2012 Summer Games, when Baltimore was knocked out of the running by New York.

[Norman]

There was some discussion about this here...

[Bloomin Onion]

Linky

Actually ~ it’s not to early to know what the city should do. We do not have money now for crucial infrastructure needs, to fix schools and to meet crippling pension demands, let alone to build the new stadiums and other infrastructure that would be needed to host the Olympics or to even waste on bidding.

Baltimore City is easily crippled now by certain events held at the Baltimore Arena when they let out. It’s a nice thought, but it’s not a realistic one given the city’s ongoing and long~term fiscal crisis and far more crucial needs. I'd rather seen such interest and investment directed at attracting businesses that create long~term jobs in the city to help stop the bleeding.

I dont think Baltimore if qualified to be an Olympic city, and if I am still living in overtaxed Maryland in 2024, I would not wwant to deal with the traffic and construction here. The olympics are often a waste with the new venues not being needed anyway. Do we have a need for a new massive swimming stadium like in London and Beijing or curling place or a bike track? The only good that MIGHT come from Baltimore hosting the Olympics is the liberal Demcrats MIGHT be able to get their mass transit dreams built through federal and corporate sponsorsship and not rely so much on gasoline taxes from Maryland residents, like Atlanta got mass transit improvements paid for by other sources.

I would like to see Las Vegas, Dallas-Fort Worth, New Orleans, Miami-Ft Lauderdale, or Chicago host the Olympics. Las Vegas would be a good American city as they do need the new venues which can bring pro sports to the city as Las Vegas currently is the largest US metro area without pro sports. They can use a new basketball arena, football stadium, and baseball stadium and the hotel infrastructure is there, and the sailing and rowing events can be held on Lake Mead. I'd also like to see a bid from Texas since I think Texas has deserved the Olympics for a long time. And New York too they are probably the most important world city to never host the Games.

When minor backwater cities like Athens and Barcelona have had them already and the Rio Games will bring the Olympics into the Third World for the second time since the Mexico City games. (and Rio is more violent than Baltimore!!) I am actually surprised Mexico City has hosted them before in the 60s.

They can also do the Winter Olympics in Denver or Colorado Springs, or Pittsburgh if they utilize the nearby ski areas in Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

[Bloomin Onion]

So, a Baltimore/Washington bid would include one of three stadia:

1.) M&T - too small
2.) FedEx - horrible logistics
3.) Billion Dollar Plus Olympic Stadium with 100,000 seats that could be used for ??? afterward.

They've talked about possibly using Byrd Stadium in College Park and the college stadiums at UMBC and Towson plus the MCI Center in D.C. DC is also not fit to be an Olympic city the Metro is jammed enough as is with commuters and tourists it will be a logistical nightmare and there is no space to build a new stadium in either DC or Baltimore.

[KLynch]

DC would build the new stadium, the redskins have been itching to get back downtown for years, and this would be their excuse. And a correction from earlier posts, FedEx only holds 78k now because they ripped out a bunch of seats because the skins couldn't sell out.

A lot would need to be built, but the area is in good shape with the facilities of Baltimore, DC, UM, Navy, George Mason, and Towson.

[LarryN]

DC would build the new stadium, the redskins have been itching to get back downtown for years, and this would be their excuse. And a correction from earlier posts, FedEx only holds 78k now because they ripped out a bunch of seats because the skins couldn't sell out.

A lot would need to be built, but the area is in good shape with the facilities of Baltimore, DC, UM, Navy, George Mason, and Towson.

Why would the Redskins be itching to move, when they play in a stadium that is owned by the owner of the team? He writes himself rent checks!

[Baltimatt]

I dont think Baltimore if qualified to be an Olympic city, and if I am still living in overtaxed Maryland in 2024, I would not wwant to deal with the traffic and construction here.

But I though you loved cars and the ability to drive where and when you want. Do you realize when too many people do that, we get traffic jams?