NEWCASTLE is set to bid for a role in the most watched sporting event in the world, joining a national push to bring the 2018 or 2022 FIFA World Cup, and its billion-dollar benefits, to Australia.
Ratepayers could pay up to $8 million for the privilege, but civic strategists believe the benefits to the city would be widespread and lasting.
Broadmeadow's EnergyAustralia Stadium has already been touted as a venue for a competition match.
Now Newcastle City Council is seeking to bring a piece of the action to up to six other sportsgrounds.
Sites earmarked for training and base camps are the No.1 and No.2 sportsgrounds in Newcastle West, New Lambton's Arthur Edden and Harker ovals, Adamstown Oval and Wanderers Oval in Broadmeadow.
Councillors will consider tomorrow whether to sign up to the world cup bid.
This would commit City Hall to spending between $6 million and $8 million on improving lighting, adding seats and media rooms, and other works to bring the grounds up to scratch.
FIFA will announce in December the host nations for the 2018 and 2022 world cups.
Training venues will be selected in 2015.
A council report says being part of the world cup will bring economic benefits to Newcastle.
The 2006 FIFA World Cup brought 2 million international visitors, 323,000 corporate hospitality guests and 19,000 accredited media to host nation Germany.
The event employed 85,000 people and produced $2 billion in worldwide retail sales of licensed products.
But Newcastle council would be required to hand over money from its grounds to FIFA, while bearing all liability and cost for maintaining the sites, the report says. The council's insurer says this is unacceptable.
Lord Mayor John Tate said yesterday that Newcastle had a good track record as a host city, having accommodated athletes training for past rugby world cups and Olympics.
"We're close to Sydney [and] it's a good, easy place to get around," he said.
"It's good for the economy and it's good for our tourism, and to be seen to be a part of those sort of events is really important."
Cr Tate said the $6 million to $8 million investment required was a lot of money, but state and federal assistance might be available, and the benefit was lasting.
"I think it's an investment in our own local infrastructure and our own sporting people," he said.
Newcastle's credentials for hosting other regional and national sporting competitions would also be enhanced, Cr Tate said.
A Football Federation Australia spokesman said last night the governing body was examining the range of training sites around the country and encouraged any communities to put their areas forward.
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