Boston Officially Submits a Bid to Host the 2024 Olympics

[Little Star]

On Monday, December 1, the group behind a massive push to get Boston to host the 2024 summer Olympic games announced that they submitted the details and paperwork needed for consideration to the United States Olympic Committee.

“Boston 2024 is excited about the submission of its bid to the U.S. Olympic Committee, which outlines the many reasons why Boston would be an ideal host for the summer 2024 Games, including our world-class university partners; the region’s thriving innovation, technology, financial, medical, and hospitality sectors; our widespread government, business, and community support; and a unique plan for a walkable, sustainable, and cost-effective Olympics,” said Boston 2024 executive vice-president Erin Murphy Rafferty in a statement.

The group, a private organization that’s worked tirelessly to try and convince business leaders and elected officials that Boston could handle millions of spectators flocking to the area to take in the international competitions, recently outlined their vision for hosting the games, totaling $4.5 billion and including a proposal to construct a temporary Olympic stadium, while relying on existing infrastructures to house other events and visitors.
http://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/blog/2014/12/02/boston-2024-olympic-bid-submitted/

[MannyGoldstein]

1. Oh God No! nt

[JDDavis]

2. Of course the traffic problems we have in daily commutes ...

will be all cleared up by then, right?

I'm not sure if I like this idea at all.

[Little Star]

3. I wish they would explain how...

they plan to solve the traffic problems. That would make it a lot easier to accept.

Then there is the issue of having enough hotels that needs to be explained too.

[JDDavis]

4. How many people go to Olympics?

How many went in Russia last year?

How many to the winter Olympics in Colorado?

How many to the summer Olympics in Atlanta?

Tens of thousands more would come to Olympics in the USA than in Russia or Beijing

First of all, many more Americans would come, because they can afford to. Also Canadians, and most western European countries.

How many hotel rooms are in the greater Boston area? I'm just curious.

Of course there's thousands of college dorm rooms available in the summer for the athletes. But what about the spectators? Just curious how many hotel rooms there are between Portsmouth, NH to Worcester, MA to Providence, RI.

[Little Star]

5. Regarding the hotel situation...

You made me look it up and there's actually many more than I thought.

http://www.expedia.com/Hotel-Search?tpid=1&eapid=0&paandi=true#destination=Boston+(and+vicinity),+Massachusetts,+United+States+of+America&adults=2®ionId=178239&sort=mostPopular&page=6

[JDDavis]

7. Thanks for that. Probably 20,000 or so in

the greater Boston area. Another 5000 could be built in 9 years.

That's about 50,000 guests any one night, some staying a day or two, some a week or more.

So maybe 100,000+ people could be accommodated. Then there could be private homes, house rentals, maybe some more Bed and Breakfasts and people staying with friends in the area for another 10,000.

Would that be enough?

I think a bigger challenge would be transportation for many more tens of thousands getting around any day of the week. We are at transit capacity almost any time there is a sports event or victory parade now. We would need hundreds of buses, more MBTA cars on all lines, etc.

[4Q2u2]

6. Head of the Commitee is CEO of Suffolk Contruction

He says there is no conflict of interest at all.




http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/15/abandoned-olympic-venues_n_3580868.html

http://www.popularmechanics.com/outdoors/sports/news/12-forgotten-olympic-venues-fallen-into-disrepair#slide-1

[Paper Roses]

8. At a cost of billions of dollars, I don't think this is a good idea.

Just watched Jim Broude on Broadside (NECN) talking about this same issue. He will have another guest tomorrow PM to discuss this same issue.

Tonight the opinion was "No" games, too much $$$$.
Wednesday the guest will be advocating "yes".

Can't say I would support Boston as a venue. The Olympics has become too much of a money pit.
I think it would be better to choose someplace in the world and build a permanent facility. Don't know how that would be done but I'm sure Massachusetts would never recoup the billions spent to host these games in 2024.