Mon 20 May 2013 | 
Why Frank Lowy's World Cup bid is Mickey Mouse
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Enlarge textAustralia's geographical location could be a hindrance when it comes to hosting the World Cup, writes Matthew Hall.
Frank Lowy hopes the Asian influence will swing a FIFA World Cup Australia's way [GETTY]
- 8 Comments | Join the discussion
Get out your umbrellas because I'm about to rain on a parade.
And it's maybe lucky that I don't own any CDs by Cold Chisel or Midnight Oil, I don't care about Holden cars, and I am not keen on our national flag.
What I'm about to say is no doubt "un-Australian".
(I do like kangaroos, though.)
I'm sorry Mr Lowy, but you are wrong.
In fact, I'm more than happy for time to prove me incorrect but I think you are very wrong.
Australia, according to Lowy, deserves to host either the 2018 or 2022 FIFA World Cups because of the country's geographical proximity to "Asia".
"We are able to show that bringing the game to Australia and having the Asian continent with us at the same timezone will benefit not only Australia, not only Asia, but the whole football world," Lowy told a lunch in Melbourne this week.
As fans of map reading will know, Asia actually spans about nine different time zones but let's not ponder details too much.
He continued: "We are the backyard or frontyard for Asia, we know how to stage big events and the audience that is going to watch us, I think it's two thirds of the world audience, that of course can be translated into dollars and cents."
Lowy is probably actually talking about China and South-East Asia rather than the Asian Football Confederation's version of the great continent.
South East Asia is our backyard, for sure, but China's lounge room is, well, China.
In shock news, China also knows how to stage big events including, um, the Olympic Games and the FIFA Women's World Cup.
Trust me, the men's World Cup is firmly looming on China's horizon.
According to Lowy, TV rights income is the big issue for FIFA.
Asian broadcasters will apparently pay bigger bucks if the World Cup is held in a time zone friendly part of the world.
The United States, he claims, has no more room for "new" sports like football to generate income.
In a front foot attack on the rival US bid, Lowy peddled a myth that further development of the sport in North America was a waste of time.
Two words: "hot" and "air".
"Asian development in sport is such that if the World Cup comes to this part of the world then I think they will be able to cash in and sort of monopolise with football because the other sports haven't taken off yet," he said.
"If you look at America, it's a great country, a great sporting nation, but football can get nowhere, everything is occupied already, television rights, and it's the same story in many other parts of the world."
Lowy might want to take a look at things.
While a foreign view of the United States may be hot dogs, Hummer cars, and Hollywood, the modern-day reality is very different.
Demographics are so fast changing that New York has claims to be an almost Hispanic city with government publications and many advertisements being bilingual.
California, a state with the eighth-largest economy in the world, has long had Hispanic influence but now other states have large and growing Latin populations too.
If Australia is the backyard of Asia then the US is Latin America's front door.
Lowy might be unaware that ABC TV – that's the American Broadcasting Company not the Australian government channel – broadcast the final of Euro 2008.
Not hidden away on cable or some obscure public station but MAINSTREAM COMMERCIAL television.
Someone, somewhere, in America, wants football to succeed in the United States.
That person is Robert Iger, President and CEO of The Walt Disney Company.
You know Walt Disney? Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck.
Iger is also a member of the US bid committee, along with Joe Uva, CEO of Univision, the massive Spanish language media company based in the US.
TV rights? Commerical opportunity?
Asia will get its chance (again) with FIFA but it won't be via Australia.
China is the Promised Land.
But first, there's a little matter of America.
:: For those that know about these things, follow me on Twitter here
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Comments (8)
why australia should host the world cup
I think Australia should host the world cup in 2018-2020 because football is becoming an increasingly popular sport in Australia. With one more push, (the world cup being here) Australia might finally get the recognition it deserves by becoming one of the worlds biggest footballing nations. Australia should host the world cup because: were becoming a more competent footballing nation, we have a great culture and people, and we deserve it. The football world cup is probably the only major tournament Australia has never hosted. If we do get it, it would bring loads of tourists to Australia and they would all see what an awesome country we are. Local people who are not into football would get the chance to watch Timmy Cahill, Lucas Niell and players from all around the world and discover what a beautiful game football really is. People would also get first hand exposure to football in Australia and it might encourage players to come play here, raising the standard of the A-league. america and china need this too but i think australia should get the chance it deserves
26 Oct 2009 0:22 AEST
From: Melbourne
2018-2022 Bids
Australia is more than capable of holding World Major events. It has been proven with the Sydney 2000 games, Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games, Melbourne F1 each year as well as Rugby World Cups in recent years. Australian's are proud of there national side no matter what sports and have one of worlds best sporting venue's in the MCG. Those in the media that knock our bid obviously no nothing about this great game and how many Australians would turn out to watch the world best compete downunder. Not to mention what this would do for the Country economically with the potential of in excess of a million visitors to our great Country.
24 Oct 2009 8:48 AEST
From: Lennox Head
We Have The Knockers Again
As a lover of Football (especially anything to do with Australia or the A-League) I really get tired of these negative jibes of the game in our country. What is so wrong in the FFA injecting a bid? The Rudd Government thought it was allright pumping $45m into the project. The people of this country (and those surrounding us) would no doubt flock to the games to see the 'cream' of world footballers. I have no high expectations of our great nation actually winning the bid but at least it lets the world know that we are finally becoming accepted as a footballing nation as do not forget, we are the only country in the world which has four (4) football codes competing against each other. We are unique in that respect. The fact that we have achieved what we have, is quite remarkable and very heartning. I support Mr Lowy and the FFA totally in this venture.
23 Oct 2009 11:59 AEST
From: Canberra
The world is bigger than Europe and the US
By this logic shouldn't the 2016 Olympics have automatically gone to the US? seriously they had the big show as recently as 94. Besides if football really is the world game isn't it about time people outside of Europe and the Americas had a chance to claim their ownership of the beautiful game? Last time I checked the world was made up of six continents not two.
22 Oct 2009 14:17 AEST
From: NSW
World Cup
China did not apply to host the world cup. Lowy already said that if china were to try, they would likely get it, and we would be doomed. But by next year china would have to have said yes, we are definately going to try and host the world cup in 2026. If they could not come to a conclusion for these 2, knowing they had a great chance, what will have changed in a year? We have a great location for time as far as china is concerned. I think that the US does have room to grow football, but i dont think that having a world cup there again, will have the same effect as it will have on east asia, especially australia. Especially if China and indonesia were able to qualify, it would ensure footballs dominance in asia IMO.
22 Oct 2009 13:55 AEST
From: perth
Disney owns ESPN
just in case the significance of Robert Iger is downplayed the Disney Corp deals with more than just psychotic animals. They also own ESPN who just purchased a lot of junk from setanta, they also own the website with the most revenue and clicks per day (ESPN.com). Australia has no chance of hosting the world cup and they shouldn't either 2018 is guaranteed in Europe and 2022 should go to either another European country or a CONCACAF one.
22 Oct 2009 12:18 AEST
From: Alkmaar
Money...
"Soccer" is always going to have difficulty succeeding in the US as it does not allow for constant TV ad breaks during the game. Gridiron, basketball, baseball and ice hockey will continue to dominate the market as the constant stoppages in these sports allow for ad breaks every few minutes. This is where the money is...
22 Oct 2009 11:33 AEST
From: Melbourne
Why Frank Lowy's World Cup bid is Mickey Mouse
Didn't we do OK at hosting the 2000 Olympics? Probably far more competitors at that and more spectators coming over. Sadly, one big issue is when our summer is and fitting in with the mid seasons of the European Leagues.
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About this Blog
Sport, without spin, from around the world. Matthew Hall considers the issues behind the headlines and tells the stories that others don't.
Matthew Hall Sport, without spin, from around the world. Matthew Hall considers the issues behind the headlines and tells the stories that others don't. Matt is a writer, author, and filmmaker, originally from Perth, he now lives in Brooklyn, New York.
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