{"id":1576,"date":"2026-06-09T13:37:43","date_gmt":"2026-06-09T13:37:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/homebuyerrelocation.com\/?p=1576"},"modified":"2026-06-09T13:37:43","modified_gmt":"2026-06-09T13:37:43","slug":"loverro-no-world-cup-for-washington-is-blessing-in-disguise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/homebuyerrelocation.com\/?p=1576","title":{"rendered":"LOVERRO: No World Cup for Washington is blessing in disguise"},"content":{"rendered":"
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OPINION:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Former Washington football team owner Dan Snyder left behind a legacy of pain and shame for Washington sports fans \u2014 with perhaps one exception.<\/p>\n

Read more The Philippines protests China\u2019s floating \u2018structure\u2019 on the disputed South China Sea shoal<\/a><\/p>\n

The stadium he owned like a slumlord was in such sad shape that not even the gangsters who run FIFA could stomach it.<\/p>\n

Northwest Stadium \u2014 then known as FedEx Field \u2014 was such a steaming pile of garbage that it was considered unacceptable to host a World Cup game.<\/p>\n

Not even a revised bid to host a game at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore could salvage it.<\/p>\n

A member of the D.C. 2026 World Cup Advisory Board told me they knew its bid was likely doomed from the start \u2014 even though by all other measures, Washington, a hotbed for soccer and one of the world\u2019s most prestigious cities, was an attractive option.<\/p>\n

They knew FedEx Field was a lost cause before FIFA officials ever got a look at it, said the board member, who asked not to be identified. \u201cBut what were we supposed to do?\u201d they asked. \u201cNot put in a bid? How would that have looked?\u201d<\/p>\n

So here we are, on the brink of the World Cup starting Thursday in 16 cities in Canada, the United States and Mexico \u2014 not the American capital in a year when the country is celebrating its 250th anniversary.<\/p>\n

Thank you Dan Snyder.<\/p>\n

Hosting a World Cup game has gone from a prize to a punishment. The gangsters at FIFA held up cities for costs to host the celebrated world tournament \u2013 Vancouver for more than $700 million, New York\/New Jersey over $500 million, with inflated revenues that diminish with each passing day and every empty hotel room that was supposed to be sold.<\/p>\n

All this while the public is gouged with ridiculous ticket prices in the thousands of dollars on the resale market, which FIFA gets a taste of as well.<\/p>\n

Read more Israel continues assault in Lebanon despite threats of retaliation from Iran<\/a><\/p>\n

Washington was forced out of the hosting due to the lack of an adequate facility. Some other cities refused to be held hostage by FIFA.<\/p>\n

And you know, as is often the case with such events, the costs for cities that did do business with FIFA will wind up higher than reported and the benefits diminished.<\/p>\n

Cities like Quebec are elated to watch their counterparts being held up.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur government made a responsible decision in the management of public funds, and in hindsight, it was the right one,\u201d Quebec Minister of Tourism Am\u00e9lie Dionne told Sportico.<\/p>\n

Chicago declined to be sucked in.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe guys from international soccer wanted us to underwrite their sporting event,\u201d then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel said at the time. \u201cI am not going to write a company a blank check that can fleece the taxpayers.\u201d<\/p>\n

A 2003 economic study of the 1994 World Cup hosted by the United States showed that cities lost $5.5 billion to $9.3 billion. \u201cPotential hosts should consider with care whether the award of the World Cup is an honor or a burden,\u201d the study concluded.<\/p>\n

Already, FIFA has been targeted by law enforcement.<\/p>\n

New York Attorney General Letitia James and New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport have launched a joint investigation into FIFA\u2019s ticket pricing process for the tournament, subpoenaing records from the organization.<\/p>\n

Washington-area World Cup fans will get a great alternative without the burden of the costs. The National Mall will host watch parties \u2014 sometimes up to as late as 1 a.m. \u2014 plus interactive exhibits, youth programming, cultural showcases, food, music and family-friendly activations, according to organizers.<\/p>\n

Read more Ukrainian drone company\u2019s Wall Street debut points to new era in U.S.-Ukraine defense ties<\/a><\/p>\n

Let other cities get their pockets picked.<\/p>\n

\u2022 You can hear Thom Loverro on \u201cThe Kevin Sheehan Show\u201d podcast.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Former Washington football team owner Dan Snyder left behind a legacy of pain and shame for Washington sports fans — with perhaps one exception.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1575,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30,275],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1576","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-opinion","category-sports-columns"],"yoast_head":"\nLOVERRO: No World Cup for Washington is blessing in disguise - Home Buyer Relocation<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/homebuyerrelocation.com\/?p=1576\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"LOVERRO: No World Cup for Washington is blessing in disguise - 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