Salt Lake City: Official Development News Thread - Part 3

[Plaid Shirts]

Originally Posted by Deek1978

This might sound really stupid, so forgive me... but I've been very turned off by the Olympic Games this year. I also just ran across this article: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/russia-s-forgotten-city-of-the-sochi-games-192622719.html?vp=1

Now I'm thinking that instead of Salt Lake City bidding for the Olympics, perhaps St. George should. All of the venues will be just as close as they are to Sochi.

This really isn't news or a big deal.

To be fair, the 2002 Salt Lake games were spread out as well. Park City, Provo, Ogden, Midway, and KEARNS (wow...smh; maybe Adler is the new Kearns ), all had events long with Salt Lake. Also to be realistic the Salt Lake Olympic committee made it seem like it was Utah 2002 and not Salt Lake 2002.

This is how winter Olympics are now. In 2010 Vancouver had events in Whistler, and I'm sure there are other winter Olympic cities that had their games spread out as well.

I'm sure if Denver gets the winter Olympics in 2026, you'll see events in Breckenridge, Vail, and maybe even Aspen.

I think the bigger deal and problem in Sochi is the cover up of poverty, the lack of good snow, and the temporary housing situation for the athletes and media members.

[Deek1978]

I agree with you, plaid... but Salt Lake 2002 had the majority of events in the SLC MSA... Provo to Ogden is an hour and 20 minute drive... so you'd have had to go from Women's Hockey to Curling... We spent a day in Park City, watching Ski Jumping, then drove down to Provo for USA vs China, then back to SLC for the medals ceremony and Sheryl Crow concert. It was a busy day, but I'd do it all again. I don't know if hitting those three events in the same day would have been possible at any other Winter Games...

SALT LAKE 2026!

[Future Mayor]

Except compared to most other Winter Olympics, ours games were very compact. From Snow Basin, (I believe that was the most northern venue) to Seven Peaks Ice center (I believe the most southern venue) is travel distance of 88 miles. From SLC the "Host City" to Snowbasin 42 miles. To Seven Peaks 46 miles, and the furthest venue away from the "Host City" was Soilder Hollow at 50 miles.

Comparatively Vancover to Whistler is 77 miles.

Denver closest resort are: Winter Park 66 miles; Vail 97 miles; Breckenridge 80 miles.

Sochi venues.
Calculated from Sochi: One venue is in Krasnodar 185 miles; Cross Country Center 50 miles;
Calculated from Adler: Krasnodar 203 miles; Cross Country Center 34 miles;
From Krasnodar to the Cross Country Center, 236 miles.

So yes Sochi is very spread out, particularly compared to the 2002 games.

[RosePark]

Originally Posted by Plaid Shirts

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/money/57536874-79/lake-salt-south-bakery.html.csp

Hopefully something can develop on this piece of property.

Boy, the US Bakery/Franz was not there very long at all. I agree with the article. That is a prime lot.

[Plaid Shirts]

Originally Posted by Future Mayor

Except compared to most other Winter Olympics, ours games were very compact. From Snow Basin, (I believe that was the most northern venue) to Seven Peaks Ice center (I believe the most southern venue) is travel distance of 88 miles. From SLC the "Host City" to Snowbasin 42 miles. To Seven Peaks 46 miles, and the furthest venue away from the "Host City" was Soilder Hollow at 50 miles.

Comparatively Vancover to Whistler is 77 miles.

Denver closest resort are: Winter Park 66 miles; Vail 97 miles; Breckenridge 80 miles.

Sochi venues.
Calculated from Sochi: One venue is in Krasnodar 185 miles; Cross Country Center 50 miles;
Calculated from Adler: Krasnodar 203 miles; Cross Country Center 34 miles;
From Krasnodar to the Cross Country Center, 236 miles.

So yes Sochi is very spread out, particularly compared to the 2002 games.

I think with having the winter Olympics in Sochi, this can only help Denver come 2019 when the announcement of the winner of the 2026 Olympics is made. Denver would not be as spread out as Sochi.

Here are the things I think Denver has going for them that will help them win the games:

-large airport with good amount of international destinations (Reykjavik, London, Frankfurt, Tokyo, Jamaica, Calgary, Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Mexico City, San Jose, etc.) and international carriers (Lufthansa, British Airways, Icelandair, Aeromexico, Air Canada, and it's a United Airlines hub...which has a partnership with the U.S.O.C.).

-large city

-reputation for being a great outdoor city

-Pepsi Center (could serve the same purpose as the then Delta Center during 2002)

-Sports Authority Field at Mile High (could be the Olympic stadium like RES
was...can hold around 75,000 people)

- I-70 is a great highway with easy access to the resorts

-Vail has its own airport with commercial domestic and international service

-has some of the best and most popular ski resorts in the world

-New light rail system will be done way before then

-the U.S.O.C. headquarters are in Colorado Springs (this could come into play with the 'politics' of the Olympics when it's potentially bidding against other US cities like SLC, Sacramento, Reno, Boston, etc.)

-Colorado has some of the greatest snow on earth

-Denver is easily accessible from around the world

[wrendog]

Here's what Denver does not have going for it:

They pissed off the USOC/IOC by declining the games two years after accepting them back in the 70's. The USOC/IOC have long memories.

[Plaid Shirts]

Originally Posted by wrendog

Here's what Denver does not have going for it:

They pissed off the USOC/IOC by declining the games two years after accepting them back in the 70's. The USOC/IOC have long memories.

And here is what SLC does not have going for it:

They bribed the past I.O.C and the overall scandal that took place almost took the games out of SLC and sent them to Calgary. It was probably the worst scandal of any host Olympic city trying to get the Olympics.

[wrendog]

Originally Posted by Plaid Shirts

And here is what SLC does not have going for it:

They bribed the past I.O.C and the overall scandal that took place almost took the games out of SLC and sent them to Calgary. It was probably the worst scandal of any host Olympic city trying to get the Olympics.

Oh, I think Denver has a much better shot at the 2026 games than SLC, don't get me wrong. But, I think it has more to do with how recent the SLC games were more than the scandal. The IOC knows what is going on. Bribing happens all the time, SLC just happened to get caught.

[Stenar]

During the Salt Lake Games, they said they were the most compact ever. I know, for example, that with Albertville some events were over 200 miles away.

The IOC said they wanted more compact games in future

Originally Posted by Plaid Shirts

This really isn't news or a big deal.

To be fair, the 2002 Salt Lake games were spread out as well. Park City, Provo, Ogden, Midway, and KEARNS (wow...smh; maybe Adler is the new Kearns ), all had events long with Salt Lake. Also to be realistic the Salt Lake Olympic committee made it seem like it was Utah 2002 and not Salt Lake 2002.

This is how winter Olympics are now. In 2010 Vancouver had events in Whistler, and I'm sure there are other winter Olympic cities that had their games spread out as well.

I'm sure if Denver gets the winter Olympics in 2026, you'll see events in Breckenridge, Vail, and maybe even Aspen.

I think the bigger deal and problem in Sochi is the cover up of poverty, the lack of good snow, and the temporary housing situation for the athletes and media members.

[Stenar]

Pretty much every organizing committee had been bribing the IOC before SLC. The IOC had created a culture where they expected to be bribed and treated like royalty.

SLC was the first place where someone said this is not right and became a whistleblower in order to put a stop to it.

Originally Posted by Plaid Shirts

And here is what SLC does not have going for it:

They bribed the past I.O.C and the overall scandal that took place almost took the games out of SLC and sent them to Calgary. It was probably the worst scandal of any host Olympic city trying to get the Olympics.

[Plaid Shirts]

Originally Posted by wrendog

Oh, I think Denver has a much better shot at the 2026 games than SLC, don't get me wrong. But, I think it has more to do with how recent the SLC games were more than the scandal. The IOC knows what is going on. Bribing happens all the time, SLC just happened to get caught.

That's my point. They got caught. The 2002 Olympics will always have that scandal to their name, no matter how "successful" the 2002 games were.

Other cities like Denver and Quebec (trust me Quebec has not forgotten what Salt Lake did...they were supposed to be the favorite until the SLC committee pulled this stunt to get the 2002 games), so I wouldn't be surprised if they used it against SLC and for their own advantage.

[wrendog]

Originally Posted by Plaid Shirts

That's my point. They got caught. The 2002 Olympics will always have that scandal to their name, no matter how "successful" the 2002 games were.

Other cities like Denver and Quebec (trust me Quebec has not forgotten what Salt Lake did...they were supposed to be the favorite until the SLC committee pulled this stunt to get the 2002 games), so I wouldn't be surprised if they used it against SLC and for their own advantage.

You are assuming Quebec wasn't bribing the IOC, also. They were. Like Stenar said, it was/is standard practice.

[Future Mayor]

Just for discussion sake, SLC compared to those very good points.

Originally Posted by Plaid Shirts

I think with having the winter Olympics in Sochi, this can only help Denver come 2019 when the announcement of the winner of the 2026 Olympics is made. Denver would not be as spread out as Sochi.

Here are the things I think Denver has going for them that will help them win the games:

-large airport with good amount of international destinations (Reykjavik, London, Frankfurt, Tokyo, Toronto, Vancouver, Mexico City, San Jose, etc.) and international carriers (Lufthansa, British Airways, Icelandair, Aeromexico, Air Canada, and it's a United Airlines hub...which has a partnership with the U.S.O.C.).

-large city

-reputation for being a great outdoor city

-Pepsi Center (could serve the same purpose as the then Delta Center during 2002)

-Sports Authority Field at Mile High (could be the Olympic stadium like RES
was...can hold around 75,000 people)

- I-70 is a great highway with easy access to the resorts

-Vail has its own airport with commercial domestic and international service

-has some of the best and most popular ski resorts in the world

-New light rail system will be done way before then

-the U.S.O.C. headquarters are in Colorado Springs (this could come into play with the 'politics' of the Olympics when it's potentially bidding against other US cities like SLC, Sacramento, Reno, Boston, etc.)

-Colorado has some of the greatest snow on earth

-Denver is easily accessible from around the world

In 2019
-Brand new airport with many International destinations (1/3 the distance to downtown vs to downtown Denver)

- Reputation for being a great outdoor city.

- Energy Solutions Arena, site of figure skating and short track speed skating, with recent extensive remodel.

- Rice Eccles Stadium, recently or currently under expansion to 60,000-70,000 capacity.

- Has some of the best, and most highly ranked ski resorts in the world.

-Extensive Light Rail and Commuter rail system, spanning the entire N/S metro providing access to all but the Park City Venues.

- Park City is the home of the US Ski Team(includes snowboard and cross country) US Ski jumping team. Kearns Utah is home of the US Speadskating team.

- Utah has the greatest snow on earth.

- Salt Lake is very accessible from around the world.

A couple of money saving benefits that SLC has over Denver. All venues are already built, and currently maintained to World Cup levels. The Salt Lake games turned a profit.

Another benefit, those already built venues are "Home Court" for many of the athletes.

[Plaid Shirts]

Originally Posted by wrendog

You are assuming Quebec wasn't bribing the IOC, also. They were. Like Stenar said, it was/is standard practice.

Again, whether it was a whistle blower or they got caught, it came out regardless. It's going to hurt SLC just as Denver passing on the '76 games is going to hurt them. The good news for Denver is that their problem will have happened long before Salt Lake's did, come 2019.

Also passing on the games is less of a big deal than having a scandal.

[Future Mayor]

Originally Posted by Plaid Shirts

And here is what SLC does not have going for it:

They bribed the past I.O.C and the overall scandal that took place almost took the games out of SLC and sent them to Calgary. It was probably the worst scandal of any host Olympic city trying to get the Olympics.

Correction, Salt Lake bid for the Olympics in a business as usual fashion and just happened to be the city that was in the midst of preparing to host, when the entire IOC bribery scandal came to light. It didn't go to Calgary and was hailed as the most successful and only profitable Winter Olympics in history.

Originally Posted by Plaid Shirts

That's my point. They got caught. The 2002 Olympics will always have that scandal to their name, no matter how "successful" the 2002 games were.

Other cities like Denver and Quebec (trust me Quebec has not forgotten what Salt Lake did...they were supposed to be the favorite until the SLC committee pulled this stunt to get the 2002 games), so I wouldn't be surprised if they used it against SLC and for their own advantage.

Salt Lake City simply bribed better than the those cities. Business as usual. "Supposed to be the favorite" According to who, them? Quebec would have to add on to the top of their mountain in order to accommodate the mens downhill.

[Plaid Shirts]

Originally Posted by Future Mayor

Correction, Salt Lake bid for the Olympics in a business as usual fashion and just happened to be the city that was in the midst of preparing to host, when the entire IOC bribery scandal came to light. It didn't go to Calgary and was hailed as the most successful and only profitable Winter Olympics in history.

I'll repost again since you clearly did not see it...

"Again, whether it was a whistle blower or they got caught, it came out regardless. It's going to hurt SLC just as Denver passing on the '76 games is going to hurt them. The good news for Denver is that their problem will have happened long before Salt Lake's did, come 2019.

Also passing on the games is less of a big deal than having a scandal."

[Future Mayor]

Originally Posted by Plaid Shirts

I'll repost again since you clearly did not see it...

"Again, whether it was a whistle blower or they got caught, it came out regardless. It's going to hurt SLC just as Denver passing on the '76 games is going to hurt them. The good news for Denver is that their problem will have happened long before Salt Lake's did, come 2019.

Also passing on the games is less of a big deal than having a scandal."

Again, according to who? Passing on the games wasn't and still isn't business as usual. Bribing to get the games WAS! So which is worse in the eyes of the IOC? I'd say passing.

[Plaid Shirts]

Also something interesting to note is that Denver helped Vancouver get the 2010 games. It goes back to when Denver passed the '76 games onto Vancouver, but Vancouver was not ready to host them for political reasons and was simply just not ready to host such a large event. Obviously Innsbruck would host them.

The two main things that I'm pointing out with this is that Denver knows what it takes to win the Olympic bid with helping Vancouver win them. Also with having Vancouver win the 2010 games, it shows that the IOC is willing to give the games back to a city that had passed on them. This will obviously help Denver.

With everything I have said, I believe Denver will be the US city representative that will go up against the other few cities across the world that will try to host the 2026 games.

[SLC Projects]

If Denver wins out the bid in 2019 for the 2026 winter games then that takes away about the ONE thing we had over Denver since Denver kind of wins out over us in everything else.

[Plaid Shirts]

Originally Posted by SLC Projects

If Denver wins out the bid in 2019 for the 2026 winter games then that takes away about the ONE thing we had over Denver since Denver kind of wins out over us in everything else.

Which would be awesome! Denver is such an amazing city, and it definitely deserves a chance to host the 2026 games.

Here is a USA Today article from February 2013. It's on the 2026 games. It mentions SLC, Denver, and other potential US host cities. It says how much it would cost to bid against US cities and how much it would cost to bid against the cities across the world.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/oly...uture-olympic-bids-report-board/1777843/