Dartford Scores: Princes Park in England Bid for 2018 World Cup
The squad has been picked and England’s first fixture in South Africa is only ten days away. Meanwhile, Dartford Borough Council is already celebrating: its award winning Princes Park stadium has been included in London’s bid for 2018. The bid book was handed to FIFA President Sepp Blatter in Zurich in May.
England 2018 has identified Princes Park as a venue that would demonstrate the quality of the nation’s facilities for visiting national football teams. It has been designated a site for one-off, open training sessions prior to games, which along with a private training site and high quality hotel will make it part of a “Team Base Camp Cluster.”
Says Stephen Jefferson, Sport and Project Delivery Officer at Dartford Borough Council: “We are over the moon. All of us remember how Euro ’96 electrified the nation, and the buzz around the 2012 Olympics is already reaching fever pitch. But for football fans, the World Cup is on another level. If England is fortunate enough to host in 2018, we’re going to be a part of it and Dartford will guarantee a warm welcome to players.”
World-class architecture
“We’ve got something special to contribute. Not only world-class playing surfaces but also close involvement with the community – and a showcase for sustainability.
“England 2018 is committed to developing a legacy of economic and social benefits beyond football. At Princes Park everything from the living grass roof, to the Glulam timber supports, to the lighting, water and energy systems has been designed to have a low impact on the environment. That’s something I hope players and fans will take away with them.”
A city’s passion
50 years since it last hosted, London has 13 professional clubs – more than any other city in the world – and over 80 amateur leagues. Last year the total attendance at Premiership and Football League games in the capital exceeded 30 million.
Major of London, Boris Johnson said: “London is a football-mad city, from the top-flight professional club and international matches attracting fans in their tens of thousands each week to the friendly kick about in local parks and open spaces”.
The bid involves Arsenal’s Emirates stadium, Tottenham’s planned new stadium, the 2012 Olympic Stadium, and for the opening match and final – Wembley.
