Australia unperturbed by revenue report
Reuters - Tuesday 30 November 2010, 16:54
ZURICH, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Australia's bid team were
unperturbed on Tuesday by a report which said they had the
lowest revenue potential of all five countries campaigning to
host the 2022 World Cup.
Australia were given an overall 68 percent rating by
management consultants McKinsey who were commissioned by FIFA to
analyse each bid across five key revenue streams: sponsorship,
ticketing, hospitality, licensing and media rights.
This compared to 100 per cent evaluation for the United
States, followed by Japan with 73 percent, South Korea 71
percent, Qatar 70 percent,
"McKinsey are not voting," said Australian bid head Frank
Lowy. "They are not the decisive factor."
"We have a study we have produced and it does paint a
different picture. It would be very profitable for FIFA to award
the World Cup to Australia.
"If you look at the growth of Asia, Japan, China, India in
the last 10 years, what will happen in the next 10 years is
unbelievably great in numbers of people, wealth creation,
spendable dollars.
"Those things are overwhelming, whatever McKinsey might
say."
Lowy said Thursday's vote would not be swung by one
individual factor, whether that was the technical or financial
strength of the bids, the political lobbying or Wednesday's
presentations to FIFA's executive committee.
"There are many deciding factors, but I think we have a
credible, good, top bid, very seriously done," he said.
"When you build a house, do you say that the bricks are more
important than the roof or the foundation is more important than
the bricks? Our presentation is important but it is not the only
factor.
Lowy was speaking shortly after a meeting with FIFA
president Sepp Blatter.
"It does make an impression," he said of the meeting. "He
doesn't sit and there and just listen, he asks questions, he
wants to be informed.
"He wants to be sure the award will be given to the best
contender. It's a very polite discussion but you have to watch
for the signs."