VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – The Women’s World Cup this summer was a massive financial success, at least according to the Canadian Soccer Association.
That organization claims $82.9-million came into Vancouver alone during the event, double the $36.7-million figure thrown out as a projection before the tournament began.
Given that massive leap and the fact these dollar amounts are likely in gross rather than net terms, freelance journalist Bob Mackin, who has written in depth on the business of sport, suggests we should be skeptical.
“It’s not scientific what they’re doing in any way, and they’re not bringing in noted sports economists to do these figures,” says Mackin. “Essentially they’re relying on a lobby group.”
Mackin is doubtful we’ll ever get a full, accurate cost-benefit evaluation of the tournament.
“Government isn’t really interested into delving into the real numbers,” says Mackin. “This report was done by the Canadian Soccer Association with help from the Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance, and their job really is to tell Canadians and governments that sport events should be funded publicly and should get subsidies. Some of these events do bring in large investments from private sources, and of course this was a FIFA event. FIFA has quite a big bank account itself, but FIFA and other events of this nature aren’t willing to pay the full bill as perhaps some people think they should to stage these events.
“They rely on taxpayer funding and at the end of the day, the group that holds the event — the Canadian Soccer Association was the local partner of FIFA in this event — has to justify the funding it got from government.”
That said, Mackin describes the tournament as successful, but suggests these numbers look inflated.