Orlando Wants To Host World’s Largest Sporting Event

It's the world's largest sporting event, soccer's World Cup, and Orlando wants to host it, putting the run-down Citrus Bowl in the international spotlight.

Late Monday afternoon, the city approved a plan to put Orlando in the running for the World Cup, but it won't come cheap. Just hosting the event will cost the city between $10 million and $12 million and the city will have to renovate the Citrus Bowl first.

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City leaders say the money the World Cup will bring in makes this well worth it. They say the impact would dwarf the money that comes in for the big bowl games hosted locally at the end of the year.

The Citrus Bowl was one of nine sites for the World Cup 15 years ago, but now there are new questions about just how Orlando can afford to bring it back.

Just the thought of recreating the excitement that was World Cup soccer in Orlando 15 years ago has plenty of fans jumping behind a new bid to bring the games back to the city.

“I think that would be great, would love to have it for the city,” Orlando resident Rusty Rogers said.

But putting Orlando back on the international stage won't be cheap. Hosting the games in 2018 could cost as much as $12 million and some city commissioners warned it's a tough time to promise that kind of money.

“When we've laid off people because of a budget crisis and then we announce that, within almost weeks, we're going to spend $12 million on World Cup,” Orlando City Commissioner Daisy Lynum said.

Commissioners still gave their preliminary approval. Orlando is one of 27 cities hoping to make a short list of 18 to be included in the United State's bid for the games.

Believe it or not, the mayor says bringing the World Cup back to the Citrus Bowl would be three to four times more valuable than even hosting the Super Bowl.

“Every game you host is estimated to be a $100 million impact on your community,” Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said.

“Is that wishful thinking?” WFTV reporter Eric Rasmussen asked.

“No, no, that's verified numbers in terms of what it will generate,” Dyer replied.

That's big money considering Orlando could host three to five games like it did in 1994.

“I do think it would be good, but I also think it's a significant amount of money and I just think we need to protect the taxpayers,” Orlando City Commissioner Phil Diamond said.

Mayor Dyer told Eyewitness News the city will be asking the state, other governments and even some of the big private players, like Disney, to share the cost.

It should be announced if Orlando makes the cut by the end of the year.

Hosting a big sporting event can bring in millions of dollars, but it's not always as much as predicted. The NFL said Tampa would get a $300 to $400 million economic boost by hosting the Super Bowl earlier this year. It ended up being half of that, about $180 million, mainly because of the economy.

Orlando's other community venues are also taking a hit from the bad economy. So far, the board for the performing arts center only has $260 million of the $400 million it needs. Meanwhile, the Amway Center is on target to open next October. Thursday, the city will host a special "topping off" ceremony, when the final steel beam is put in place.