Source: Daily_Mail
Milton Keynes chief's delight in town that didn't exist during last World Cup
Milton Keynes Dons chairman Pete Winkelman insists that it is no surprise his stadium was picked as an England 2018 candidate venue.[LNB]The club's stadium:mk has been confirmed as one of 17 venues which FIFA will consider in assessing the country's World Cup bid.[LNB]Winkelman told Sky Sports News: 'It doesn't surprise me. We've had complete political unity in the city and everyone from the police to the NHS have been backing the bid.[LNB] Mapping out a strategy (from left): England 2018 chief executive Andy Anson, panel chairman Lord Mawhinney and chief operating officer Simon Johnson[LNB][LNB]England 2018 World Cup bid by numbers12 - Candidate host cities.[LNB]17 - Stadiums to be named in the bid book.[LNB]£3m - Contribution towards the World Cup bid marketing budget by the new candidate host cities.[LNB]£300m - Worth of financial commitment guaranteed by candidate host cities.[LNB]£100m - Worth of financial commitment by candidate host cities to legacy and regeneration projects.[LNB]85% - Of key documents already signed ahead of the final technical submission to FIFA in May 2010.[LNB]£3.2bn - Estimated financial benefit of a World Cup in England.[LNB]'The city wasn't even on the map when we hosted the World Cup in 1966 so this will be a huge part of the history of Milton Keynes.[LNB]'Stadium:mk is only halfway there. The upper tier of the stadium is there already so it will go to 32,000 very easily, we just need to bolt the seats in.[LNB]'But to get up to World Cup standard of 44,000 the roof will come off on the east and north stands and a third tier will go on. It will be very similar to the City of Manchester Stadium.'[LNB]The city of Liverpool is also in line to stage matches - either at Anfield or at Liverpool FC's new stadium inn Stanley Park.[LNB]Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard said: 'Liverpool is such an historic footballing city I'm not surprised we've been chosen.'[LNB]Reds manager Rafael Benitez added: 'It's great news. This city lives and breathes football and if England are successful it will be a fantastic stage for World Cup games.'[LNB]Everton missed out, but the club's captain Phil Neville said: 'This is great news for a great footballing city. But I always expected Liverpool to be selected. Any football tournament in this country without this city involved would be unthinkable. Let's hope that England now wins the bid.'[LNB] Top marks: stadium:mk is in line to host matches if England are successful in their bid[LNB][LNB]England 2018 venuesLONDON: Wembley Stadium; Emirates Stadium; Tottenham's new stadium or Olympic Stadium[LNB]MANCHESTER: Old Trafford; Eastlands.[LNB]SUNDERLAND: Stadium of Light.[LNB]BIRMINGHAM: Villa Park.[LNB]NOTTINGHAM: The new Nottingham Forest stadium.[LNB]LEEDS: Elland Road.[LNB]SHEFFIELD: Hillsborough.[LNB]NEWCASTLE: St James' Park.[LNB]BRISTOL: The new Ashton Vale stadium.[LNB]PLYMOUTH: Home Park.[LNB]LIVERPOOL: Anfield or new Anfield.[LNB]MILTON KEYNES: stadium:mk[LNB]Manchester's two major stadiums - Old Trafford and Eastlands - were also selected.[LNB]Manchester United chief executive David Gill said: 'It is great news that Old Trafford is part of England's bid. It is the most historic of all the venues, celebrating its centenary in February 2010.'[LNB]Manchester City chief executive Garry Cook said: 'This is fantastic news for the city. Manchester has two truly world-class stadiums, which would be fitting stages for the 2018 World Cup.'[LNB]Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn welcomed the Stadium of Light's inclusion on the list.[LNB]'Some questioned why we even went for the bid in the first place, because we'd always missed out in the past,' he said. 'Various things have happened in this city, in this region: the shipbuilding stopped, the coal mines closed and it's been a struggle ever since to regenerate and reinvent itself, but this is a huge help.[LNB] Western front: Plymouth Argyle's Home Park[LNB]'This is massive for the city. It can feel really good about itself tonight and we can build from this day forward.[LNB]'We're delighted to see (Newcastle United's) St James' Park up the road come out of the hat today. We act as one on this.[LNB]'We have to send the bid committee and the board away to FIFA in May with such a strong contingent and a bid process that's not going to be touched by other nations.'[LNB]Leeds City Council leader Andrew Carter said: 'Our proud football heritage, passion for sport and vision to leave a lasting legacy after the tournament makes us a perfect venue to be a host city for the world's biggest sporting event.'[LNB]Doug Fletcher, chairman of the successful push for Plymouth's Home Park to be included, said his bid team will now be working 'to ensure we get the right result in December 2010' when FIFA choose which country will host the tournament.[LNB] World Cup set for Milton Keynes! Bristol and Plymouth also on England 2018 bid list, but Derby, Leicester and Hull miss outAmanda Holden backs London, Wallace and Gromit support Bristol and Lennox Lewis loves Leeds... England's cities battle for the right to stage 2018 World Cup matchesMartin Samuel: David Beckham must rule our World Cup bid for 2018Beckham: 2018 bid problems are in the past - England are ready to host the World Cup[LNB] [LNB]
