The HOF, referring to Football, not David.

Canton boasts the Canton legends arena football team at the civic center, Fawcett Stadium, Paul Brown Stadium, 2 Target stores and The HOF. Plus we could just bulldoze all of Massillon and build the olympic village there. Once the Olympics go to Canton they never go back.... Canton olympics INFINITE.

I heard they won't even look at a city unless they have at least one DSW to go along with two Targets and three Applebee's. Does Canton have that prerequisite?

My name is quite obvious in my stance on Olympics in Ohio...Although I've been thinking about changing it to cle2036!

 

2016 will come down to Chicago and Rio de Janeiro.  Tokyo and Madrid won't make it IMO.  SA has never hosted the games (closest was Mexico City in '68) and it'll be 20 years since the U.S. last hosted the games.  I cannot see another European city hosting the games so soon after London and even Athens.  I also do not think that we should have anymore repeat cities (Paris, enough already!).  Tokyo has already hosted the games and there are other cities/countries that deserve the games and could benefit from them in tangible and intangible ways.

 

I think there's a 16 year rule for countries?  The U.S. will probably get one in 2016/2020 and I see it going to Chicago, Philly/DC, NYC before Toledo or Birmingham, AL (per wikipedia).  That leaves India and the rest of Asia, Africa, South America, Europe, Middle East, even Canada as other bids for the next 4+ Olympiads.  Supposedly Seattle/Vancouver want to try for joint 2028 bid, too.  I love Cleveland and respect Cincy but our cities have a lot of work to do before we can even think of submitting a bid.  I know that cities who've hosted the games in the past aren't perfect by any means but what would seperate us from bids from DC/Balt/Philly, NYC, Seattle, Minneapolis, Bay Area, Toronto, Detroit, Chicago? 

 

Sure, we're probably one of the cheapest places to have the games with the least congestion but that can't be teh extent of our high points.  We need to exploit our natural features-and that begins on a daily level.  We need to change how we live in NEO and Ohio today so that come mid 2020s, we'll have a real shot.  I don't think a city's success/failure can be based on whether or not they've hosted the games.  There is no way LA, ATL, STL? are better than any other US city.

 

An OHIO or regional bid might be enticing as it would take the burden off of one city and be efficient in reaching as many cities in one swipe.  CLE/PITT/DETROIT are so close and have the "big city" stigma that this Rustbelt Renaissance Olympics could be a really revolutionary, redeeming idea. 

 

I think we may see one, maybe two MAX legit shots to submit a bid in our lifetime so we need to make them count! 

but its true that a city like columbus could hold the olympics, turin has about 900,000 people(i believe) about 200,000 or so more than columbus

 

Winter games are an entirely different story.  Only in recent times are we seeing larger cities host those games (Salt Lake, Vancouver, Torino). I'd say the Lake Placid days are over.

The following are just a breakdown of what the 6 largest cities in 2020 will likely have to offer IMHO.

 

Sorry for posting again but I really think CLE+ could do this. I don't think 2020 is realistic-especially if Chicago doesn't get 2016.  The IOC will award the 2020 games in 4 years +/- and I have no faith that we'll be able to get our sh*t together within the next couple years to submit something legit that can contend with the best.  We have too much work to do as a city, let alone an entire state!  2032/36 is more realistic.

I wonder how long it will take before Dubai puts forth a bid. That would be an interesting venue. I wonder if they could actually hold events outdoors with that heat. Ahh what am I thinking? The Dubai AC bubble will probably be in place by then ;)

I wonder how long it will take before Dubai puts forth a bid. That would be an interesting venue. I wonder if they could actually hold events outdoors with that heat. Ahh what am I thinking? The Dubai AC bubble will probably be in place by then

 

unfortunately, for real... :| 

 

 

i'd hardly think it was only rail transit that ko'd cinci consideration.

 

Sure there were more reasons than just that, but the report that they sent back cited that as the biggest reason.  Some other items included issues with single media center.  The Cincy convention center (even with expansion) couldn't hold all of the media for the event under one roof...the proposal called for 2 different locations.  Additionally there were issues with Olympic Village.  There was no clear location set in stone that could have housed all of the Olympians.  The main issue, by far, was the lack of light rail and overall transit infrastructure to be able to hold the games for so many people that would be coming without cars.

 

unlikeliness aside, why on earth would the ioc go for events spread out that far?

 

This is not uncommon.  Atlanta held games up in Tennessee for example.  Beijing is hardly holding all of their events within the Beijing area.  It just so happens that within close proximity Cincy (and all Midwestern cities) have many other capable venue locations within spitting distance that are also within mid-major cities.  The problem once again is the lack of non-automobile connectivity.

not to mention driving 100 miles in Ohio may be like driving 30 miles in another city-after you take into account infrastructure and traffic.  Come 2016, it will take 3 hrs to drive from ORD to downtown if Chicago gets the games!  It nearly does already on Fridays in the summer!

An OHIO or regional bid might be enticing as it would take the burden off of one city and be efficient in reaching as many cities in one swipe.  CLE/PITT/DETROIT are so close and have the "big city" stigma that this Rustbelt Renaissance Olympics could be a really revolutionary, redeeming idea.

 

I was actually just talking about this the other day with a couple people.  An Ohio Olympic bid would be quite interesting.  Each of the 3 C's would hold a substantial event primarily based in Cbus.  Although there isn't a snowball's chance in hell that this would happen without having HSR connecting them.  Ohio's cities need to build world-class infrastructure if they want to ever attract world-class events like the Olympic Games.

how funny that you think transit was the main issue for cinci not getting the olympics, or for a regional bid. that is not the top reason why it will never happen. not by a long shot. come on -- the olympic committee is a diplomatic entity, they are not going to tell a bidder "sorry, but you have no chance in hell" lol!

 

it would be cool if it happened, and it's fun uo discussion for sure, but any more serious action is strictly a waste of effort that could be better used elsewhere. sorry to say but the midwest is sunk by chicago, the only midwestern city that would ever be seriously considered (and as someone said even they may lose to rio).

 

if only the people behind the cinci bid had the better sense to put their efforts toward say, improving local transit infrastructure instead of chasing rainbows and moonbeams. cleveland was the 2nd or 3rd choice in the 1932 summer games and that is as close as ohio will get....until columbus morphs into an american tokyo.

 

 

 

if only the people behind the cinci bid had the better sense to put their efforts toward say, improving local transit infrastructure instead of chasing rainbows and moonbeams.

 

I completely agree. It is no knock on Cincy, but the effort is doomed to fail. Birmingham, AL is also trying to get the Olympics. Are they serious?

i'd hardly think it was only rail transit that ko'd cinci consideration.

 

unlikeliness aside, why on earth would the ioc go for events spread out that far?

 

The Atalnta Games hosted games as far away as Washington DC and Miami FL.

I wonder how long it will take before Dubai puts forth a bid. That would be an interesting venue. I wonder if they could actually hold events outdoors with that heat. Ahh what am I thinking? The Dubai AC bubble will probably be in place by then ;)

 

I've been wondering the same thing

Birmingham, AL is also trying to get the Olympics. Are they serious?

 

Supposedly Toledo too...

 

We can't build up our cities for the Olympics.  The games are a result, more so a bonus to some of the world's greatest cities.  We need to invest in local/commuter/regional rail, TOD, alternative energy, better waterfront access, etc. for ourselves!  It's to improve and sustain a high quality of life for Cleveland or any city USA.  If we're serious about that and approach every decision regarding the built environment with an open, intelligent mind, we'll have the cities for which we've dreamt-the cities that can bid for the games without strange looks or jokes.  That's really the goal here.  I don't want the games in Cleveland b/c I'll see the skyline on NBC for 2 weeks.  I want the games in Cleveland b/c of what it represents--what it implies about Cleveland.

 

In the mean time, there are dozens of little and big things we need to do in Cleveland and Ohio to improve our daily lives!  That's it!  Come 2020 or whatever, hopefully our city/state will be in a much better state and a bid won't be so farfetched. 

 

 

well since no one else seems to think a widely spread out olympics is all that big a minus, based on that if chicago wins it's bid perhaps ohio will get some events after all! that would be cool.

^I can see preliminary rounds of soccer being played in Cleveland and Columbus and baseball rounds being played in any major city in Ohio.  Would they play the baseball prelims in major league parks or tend to go for minor league parks to ensure a full stadium?  I'm sure the US team would play in larger stadiums, but what about the other teams? 

 

oh yeah... baseball is being taken out of the Olympics... maybe it will be back by then.

well since no one else seems to think a widely spread out olympics is all that big a minus, based on that if chicago wins it's bid perhaps ohio will get some events after all! that would be cool.

 

I could see Toledo getting an event, but we should already know if they do or not.  I believe for the bid, they already have that kind of thing figured out.

^I can see preliminary rounds of soccer being played in Cleveland and Columbus and baseball rounds being played in any major city in Ohio. Would they play the baseball prelims in major league parks or tend to go for minor league parks to ensure a full stadium? I'm sure the US team would play in larger stadiums, but what about the other teams?

 

oh yeah... baseball is being taken out of the Olympics... maybe it will be back by then.

 

I'm hoping it will be back by then. 

I'd be shocked if Ohio saw any events from a 2016 Chicago Olympic.  Chicagoland-from Gary to MKE has no need from help for us.  Exhibition basketball and such, sure.  But I don't see how they'd want/need to include us in official events.

I'd be shocked if Ohio saw any events from a 2016 Chicago Olympic. Chicagoland-from Gary to MKE has no need from help for us. Exhibition basketball and such, sure. But I don't see how they'd want/need to include us in official events.

 

Do they really have the capacity in the immediate Chicago area to support all of the soccer prelims???  I know in China they are using 7 stadiums for soccer, all with capacities over 33,000.

how funny that you think transit was the main issue for cinci not getting the olympics, or for a regional bid. that is not the top reason why it will never happen. not by a long shot. come on -- the olympic committee is a diplomatic entity, they are not going to tell a bidder "sorry, but you have no chance in hell" lol!

 

I know that it is a diplomatic thing more than anything, but as they write their reports they are judging the cities based on certain criteria.  Like how are the venues, infrastructure, etc.  And how many of those things need to be constructed, what are the odds they'll be constructed in time, is it a reasonable expectation for these to get done, will it be too much of a burden for the city, etc.

 

In Cincy's case, the report specified certain things that the bid scored well on (i.e. venues) and other things that they scored poorly on (i.e. infrastructure/ability to hold the games).  The reasons Cincy didn't even get the U.S. nomination were more so for the reasons you point out...the city just isn't a world-class city that can hold such events.  Very few cities are.

 

If you don't want to believe me then fine...there isn't much more I can say that will convince about the committee's report, and what it said were Cincy's bad areas.  I wish I could locate a copy of the report so that you could read it yourself.

I'd be shocked if Ohio saw any events from a 2016 Chicago Olympic. Chicagoland-from Gary to MKE has no need from help for us. Exhibition basketball and such, sure. But I don't see how they'd want/need to include us in official events.

 

Yeah, there would be no reason.  With the pro stadiums in MKE and Chicago, along with Bloomington-Normal, Champaign-Urbana, Marquette, Northwestern, Uof Wisconsin at Madison, there would be no reason.  It would be a stretch to say Indy, but I doubt that too.

I'd be shocked if Ohio saw any events from a 2016 Chicago Olympic. Chicagoland-from Gary to MKE has no need from help for us. Exhibition basketball and such, sure. But I don't see how they'd want/need to include us in official events.

 

Do they really have the capacity in the immediate Chicago area to support all of the soccer prelims??? I know in China they are using 7 stadiums for soccer, all with capacities over 33,000.

 

I could definately see us being used for Soccer Preliminaries.  In Atlanta, they were all over the place.  Tennessee, Flroida, Alabama, DC.  If that was the case then, I can see it possibly being the case in 2016.  I can see Columbus being used for that too seing as though it has the first Soccer Specific Stadium in the Country.  But then again, I haven't heard anything about that and I imagine we would have by now.

I'd be shocked if Ohio saw any events from a 2016 Chicago Olympic. Chicagoland-from Gary to MKE has no need from help for us. Exhibition basketball and such, sure. But I don't see how they'd want/need to include us in official events.

 

Yeah, there would be no reason. With the pro stadiums in MKE and Chicago, along with Bloomington-Normal, Champaign-Urbana, Marquette, Northwestern, Uof Wisconsin at Madison, there would be no reason. It would be a stretch to say Indy, but I doubt that too.

 

I still must argue that there is a decent chance that Cleveland Browns Stadium would be used as a soccer venue.  Ryan Field at Northwestern could probably be used along with Soldier Field... so I see two venues in Chicago for soccer.  I don't see ANY in MKE.  Gary certainly won't have anything large enough.  U of Illinois' football field could probably be used at Champagn.  But the big question is how many of these facilities can accommodate soccer???  Most American football fields are too small for soccer.  Cleveland's, however, was specifically built large enough to accommodate international soccer matches.

Do they really have the capacity in the immediate Chicago area to support all of the soccer prelims???  I know in China they are using 7 stadiums for soccer, all with capacities over 33,000.

 

As gotribe pointed out, yes they do.  U Chi, NW, Fire's stadium, NIU, UIUC for sure.  Throw in MKE, Madison, even South Bend, you have it covered.  Not to mention a handful of minor league size ballparks and probably a dozen or so arenas.  Look at how many facilities exist in NEO and you know for sure they have at least double that.

 

Now high speed rail may change somethings to our advantage!  Cheaper hotels in CLE and you can be in Chicago in 1.5 hrs!

world cup '10 South Africa, '14 Brazil, '18??? USA w/ championship in Cleveland?!  VERY REALISTIC...now back to the olympics!

Do they really have the capacity in the immediate Chicago area to support all of the soccer prelims???  I know in China they are using 7 stadiums for soccer, all with capacities over 33,000.

 

As gotribe pointed out, yes they do.  U Chi, NW, Fire's stadium, NIU, UIUC for sure.  Throw in MKE, Madison, even South Bend, you have it covered.  Not to mention a handful of minor league size ballparks and probably a dozen or so arenas.  Look at how many facilities exist in NEO and you know for sure they have at least double that.

 

Now high speed rail may change somethings to our advantage!  Cheaper hotels in CLE and you can be in Chicago in 1.5 hrs!

 

I was just at the Chicago2016 website.  They seem to be holding a lot of the preliminaries in Chicago.  I think the University of Minnasota was the furthest venue I could find.

 

Also, when I lived in Georgia in 1993, my mother worked at a hotel in Athens, about an hour from Atlanta, and they were already booked for the Olympic Games in 1996.

How is Cleveland's rail system not suffising?

 

You have an airport-downtown link...a port, regular rail-downtown link...and another link connecting a cluster of moderate to high-end hotels to downtown in the University Circle area. Cleveland's capacity would have to be expanded dramatically, but in terms of rail "lines" Cleveland's are pretty damn good, there's no real stretching at all. Obviously we don't know the area in Cleveland that would be the Olympic Village and depending on that location existing rail lines would need to be spurred to those areas.

 

Cleveland's airport is another matter entirely. It would need a serious upgrade to handle the steady stream of large widebodies. You can't ask the world to connect through Newark.

 

world cup '10 South Africa, '14 Brazil, '18??? USA w/ championship in Cleveland?!  VERY REALISTIC...now back to the olympics!

 

I don't think that Cleveland Brown Stadium is large enough capacity-wise to hold a World Cup Championship.  Early rounds yes, but not the Championship.

 

How is Cleveland's rail system not suffising?

 

You have an airport-downtown link...a port, regular rail-downtown link...and another link connecting a cluster of moderate to high-end hotels to downtown in the University Circle area. Cleveland's capacity would have to be expanded dramatically, but in terms of rail "lines" Cleveland's are pretty damn good, there's no real stretching at all. Obviously we don't know the area in Cleveland that would be the Olympic Village and depending on that location existing rail lines would need to be spurred to those areas.

 

Atlanta's MARTA system is more comprehensive than Cleveland's rail system...and that was barely good enough.  This is not meant to be a knock, just pointing out the challenges before our cities if we want to compete on a global level for these types of events.  Do you honestly think Cleveland's rail system is good enough to compete against global cities?

I kind of see the olypmics here in Ohio as being a sort of Carrot and Stick to perhaps help improve our cities.  A lot of what we seem to be saying right now is that as we stand today, we cannot do it.  But I feel we have the potential, especially if we play our cards right.  Maybe it should be like, "let's do this, this, and this, to move towards this possibility of hosting an international event.  To do that we should do this..."  Set some goals that will move us in the right direction.  Make a plan and hope for the best.  Even if we don't win the Olympic bid, we would still have moved our cities forward to a better place.  Perhaps we could start by hosting a Dem/Rep National Convention, and then move on to hosting the Pan/American Games or something to that degree. 

 

 

I'm not sure why having an Ohio city (or even a pan-Ohio bid) host the Olympics would be desired, much less perceived as realistic.  There's no shame in not having the transportation infrastructure, venues, lodging capacity, etc. needed for a modern-day bid. An enormous influx of Federal and State spending would be needed to bring any of the Cities up to snuff, and even then, is this what you want to see afterwards?

As of right now this is how I would rank Midwestern cities as being able to host the Olympics.  Outside of these 8, I don't really think anyone else is even in the universe for ever hosting the Games.

 

1. Chicago

2. Minneapolis

3. St. Louis

4. Indianapolis

5. Cleveland

6. Cincinnati

7. Columbus

8. Detroit

^I agree with that list for the most part.  What is your reasoning for placing Indianapolis above Cleveland though?  I would switch Indy and Cleveland based on transportation infrastructure and proximaty to the lake.

I'm not sure why having an Ohio city (or even a pan-Ohio bid) host the Olympics would be desired, much less perceived as realistic. There's no shame in not having the transportation infrastructure, venues, lodging capacity, etc. needed for a modern-day bid. An enormous influx of Federal and State spending would be needed to bring any of the Cities up to snuff, and even then, is this what you want to see afterwards?

 

No, I would not want this to happen, but I would hope to use existing venues (ex. Nationwide, Shottensteins, Ohio Expo Center, Paul Brown, etc.)

^I agree with that list for the most part.  What is your reasoning for placing Indianapolis above Cleveland though?  I would switch Indy and Cleveland based on transportation infrastructure and proximaty to the lake.

 

If Indy had a better transit system they would vault to the top of the list.  They hold Olympic trials, major events (Indy 500, Final Fours, SuperBowl, etc) consistently, and have grown their convention center to an impressive stature.  Indy also has a solid hotel infrastructure and quite honestly the money/political power (being the state capital and the only show in town for Indiana) to get rail up and going within a 10 year period running up to a potential Olympic Games.

 

Cleveland has some better transportation infrastructure in place, but a host of other issues that Indy doesn't have.  Not to mention, Indy is becoming more and more the Summer Olympic training grounds (see Diving for most recent example).

I'm not sure why having an Ohio city (or even a pan-Ohio bid) host the Olympics would be desired, much less perceived as realistic. There's no shame in not having the transportation infrastructure, venues, lodging capacity, etc. needed for a modern-day bid. An enormous influx of Federal and State spending would be needed to bring any of the Cities up to snuff, and even then, is this what you want to see afterwards?

 

No, I would not want this to happen, but I would hope to use existing venues (ex. Nationwide, Shottensteins, Ohio Expo Center, Paul Brown, etc.)

 

This is where I think the US gets a leg up on the rest of the World when it comes to hosting the games.  We have a lot of large relatively new venues all across the nation. 

 

How many large venues were built for the Atlanta Olympics?  Two?  Most cities would build an "Olympic Stadium" and probably a large swimming venue as these are not abundant in the US (or anywhere else that I can think of).  I found it ridiculous that Athens built a Taikwando (sp) venue and a wrestling venue.  Sure we'd have to build smaller event sites (kayak, rowing, sailing, etc...) but very few large scale venues would be built for a US games.

Do you honestly think Cleveland's rail system is good enough to compete against global cities?

 

It's all about what/where the lines serve.  We could have 50 lines serving Brunswick, N. Ridgeville, and Conneaut but if they serve no real purpose, what's the use?  As AmrapinVA pointed out, we have service from CLE-to Downtown and Univ. Circle.  Right now there's a few "desitination" stops outside of those main two stations (OC, Shaker Square, Van Aken).  There is a lot of space available around existing stations and downtown  to concentrate development-Brookpark could be key as it's right near the airport.  It's much cheaper extending platforms to accomodate 4-6 trains every 5 minutes vs. building new lines to service new facilities too far from the city center that will leave us with something like Athens.    If we can't use the lines we currently have properly, why build new ones? 

 

I've seen Athens post Olympics and it's very desolate.  That's what we see in Cincy's old bid.  A quick Olympic Pop-up city that produced some cool pins and pictures but the city is in no better shape to bid another game, let alone host one than it was 8 years ago.  I think Cleveland has some of the pieces and proper planning could make it blend seamlessy into city-after the games.  A nice number of facilities between our pro-sport teams and local universities.  Scranton Peninsula and vicinity is empty and some great planning potential exists.  While we don't want acres of unused land like Athens, at the same time, it's probably at least a 20 min. train ride from the city center.  Athens is also millenia old and is so dense, they didn't have the opportunities that may exist here. 

 

This is exciting-just thinking about this happening but as I said earlier, we can't build Cleveland or Cincy solely for the 2032/36/40 games!  We invest in our cities to improve our lives.  We've seen recent investment back in the city proper b/c of economically, environmentally, and culturally efficient reasons--not b/c we want olympics.  We've realized Cleveland has a great story to tell and we can't let it whither away.  We've realized we have two great natural resources and rather intact urban core to allow us to recapture the type society that can adapt and withstand the test of time.  This is why we're making our cities better. 

If we decide 20 years from now to submit a bid, Great!  If not, who cares because hopefully we'll be at a state where we and everyone else knows how great our city truely is.  Boston,NYC, DC, SF, Seattle, Toronto, Buenos Aires, Madrid, etc. may NEVER host the games and it makes them no lesser a city. 

 

I think what's intriguing us about the games is the state of our cities 20-30 years from now.  We know if we'd bid/host, things would be pretty good (bad always exists but you know what I mean).  It takes a lot of work to get back to the "world-class" stage where Cleveland and Cincy may have once stood-we just have to do it for the right reasons.

 

man i'm out of breath!

As of right now this is how I would rank Midwestern cities as being able to host the Olympics.  Outside of these 8, I don't really think anyone else is even in the universe for ever hosting the Games.

 

1. Chicago

2. Minneapolis

3. St. Louis

4. Indianapolis

5. Cleveland

6. Cincinnati

7. Columbus

8. Detroit

 

If this was for tomorrow, I'd probably agree w/ you +/- (columbus would be last and detroit would be much higher).  We're talking at least 4 more Olympiads before any of these cities have legal chance to host the games(and that's if Chicago gets 2016).  A lot will change so I really don't see the point of this list.

^Just for kicks.  I know how everyone on here loves their lists/rankings.  :-D

 

And yes, no one is even close right now (aside from Chicago if you include their proposal).

Got it! :wink:

 

We may have to wait until 2048! :-o with all of these other world cities trying to land games sooner rather than later (Rio, Delhi, Dubai, Istanbul, Cape Town, etc.).  No more Paris, LA, London!  Paris shouldn't even be allowed to submit a bid! They do it every year!

Hopefully by 2048 Ohio's cities will be prosperous without luring the Olympics.

world cup '10 South Africa, '14 Brazil, '18??? USA w/ championship in Cleveland?!  VERY REALISTIC...now back to the olympics!

 

I don't think that Cleveland Brown Stadium is large enough capacity-wise to hold a World Cup Championship.  Early rounds yes, but not the Championship.

 

How is Cleveland's rail system not suffising?

 

You have an airport-downtown link...a port, regular rail-downtown link...and another link connecting a cluster of moderate to high-end hotels to downtown in the University Circle area. Cleveland's capacity would have to be expanded dramatically, but in terms of rail "lines" Cleveland's are pretty damn good, there's no real stretching at all. Obviously we don't know the area in Cleveland that would be the Olympic Village and depending on that location existing rail lines would need to be spurred to those areas.

 

Atlanta's MARTA system is more comprehensive than Cleveland's rail system...and that was barely good enough.  This is not meant to be a knock, just pointing out the challenges before our cities if we want to compete on a global level for these types of events.  Do you honestly think Cleveland's rail system is good enough to compete against global cities?

 

Atlanta is 2.5 times the size of Cleveland in terms of population and is sprawled out to no end, so I could understand why they thought MARTA was lacking. For Cleveland, the needed links, i.e. airport-to-downtown are there. That's a huge link that you're discounting, there are larger US metro's that don't have even that basic service and now struggling to come up with funds to provide it.

 

Rando, does Cleveland, or Cincinnati for that matter, need a Tokyo type system. I'm all for expanded rail use, but I don't see the Olympic Committee giving a care if Cleveland had a subway line to West Salem that had transfer stop in Lodi and Hinckley Twp.

 

Cleveland would need more capacity and newer rail cars and possibly extentions out to hotel/retail areas like Beachwood, and certainly the stations would need to be expanded, but the route system is pretty good.

 

Again, the airport is another matter.

Rando, does Cleveland, or Cincinnati for that matter, need a Tokyo type system. I'm all for expanded rail use, but I don't see the Olympic Committee giving a care if Cleveland had a subway line to West Salem that had transfer stop in Lodi and Hinckley Twp.

 

They, or any city, needs to have a system that can handle the influx of tens of thousands of visitors that for the most part will not have personal vehicles.  So the system needs to be expansive enough to not only transport them from venue to venue and landmarks/attractions, but also for all of their everyday needs.  How that happens is up to the city/region to figure out.  If you think that is achievable, in Cleveland, by simply adding more cars and improving stations then great.  I just tend to think it will require much more than that...hell Chicago is improving their system as part of their Olympic proposal.

I think Cleveland and Cincinnati should focus on more domestic sports like a World Series or two, a set of All-Star games (MLB, NBA, NHL), maybe another Final Four. Those would be more realistic than the Olympics. Let other people waste their money.

^OK... well the city's don't really have much control over a World Series... but an All Star game or two would certainly be nice and a Final Four would be great!  However, we don't have a facility in Ohio that they typically have a Mens Final Four at (large football dome).  Now if Cleveland were to put a retractable roof on Browns Stadium we would have a facility prime for a Men's Final Four AND a Superbowl!

I would love to see the state of Ohio host a Summer Olympics.  Combining the completion of Ohio Hub with something as awesome as the Olympic games would be incredible.  The 3 C's and company could more than handle an Olympics if they shared the load.

Don't you guys know the world's ending in 2012 anyway?

how funny that you think transit was the main issue for cinci not getting the olympics, or for a regional bid. that is not the top reason why it will never happen. not by a long shot. come on -- the olympic committee is a diplomatic entity, they are not going to tell a bidder "sorry, but you have no chance in hell" lol!

 

I know that it is a diplomatic thing more than anything, but as they write their reports they are judging the cities based on certain criteria.  Like how are the venues, infrastructure, etc.  And how many of those things need to be constructed, what are the odds they'll be constructed in time, is it a reasonable expectation for these to get done, will it be too much of a burden for the city, etc.

 

In Cincy's case, the report specified certain things that the bid scored well on (i.e. venues) and other things that they scored poorly on (i.e. infrastructure/ability to hold the games).  The reasons Cincy didn't even get the U.S. nomination were more so for the reasons you point out...the city just isn't a world-class city that can hold such events.  Very few cities are.

 

If you don't want to believe me then fine...there isn't much more I can say that will convince about the committee's report, and what it said were Cincy's bad areas.  I wish I could locate a copy of the report so that you could read it yourself.

 

that's just my point, there is no need to dig up cinci's report whatsoever, i can read the report of any random city's failed bid and read the same thing. they will diplomatically point out some strengths and weak areas and yada yada without actually saying, "what the hell were you fools smoking? there was no way you would get the olympics!"

 

speaking of reports, does anyone have the chicago bid in detail? i wonder if anywhere in ohio was included for some event sites?

 

 

 

 

speaking of reports, does anyone have the chicago bid in detail? i wonder if anywhere in ohio was included for some event sites? 

 

Huh?

 

Well anyway, its amazing what 3 seconds of research will yield on the internet, http://www.chicago2016.org/why-chicago/Pages/ApplicantFileDownloads.aspx