And then there were four? It’s possible, if New York drops out of its bid for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games leaving four bid cities – Paris, London, Madrid and Moscow.
Speaking at Giants Stadium Sunday New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said “if we were not to get the stadium going very soon, we will have to drop out of our bid for the Olympics. We are not going to get the Olympics unless you have the stadium going”.
Bloomberg was referring to the fact that if a deal isn’t made soon for a West Side stadium for the New York Jets, New York would have to abandon its 2012 bid.
The plan calls for a $1.4 billion stadium to be built above a rail yard behind Penn Station on the far West Side. The proposed stadium would house the Jets and is the anchor for the city’s 2012 Bid.
The Jets would spend $800 million, and the city and state would add $300 million each to build a retractable roof and a deck over the existing rail yards.
Bloomberg acknowledged the stadium faces opposition including possible legal challenges from community and civic groups but remains optimistic the city could overcome them.
He said the city must have a firm plan by December to impress the International Olympic Committee (IOC). “I have to be able to look the IOC in the eye and say this stadium is going to be built”.
But Bloomberg said he remained optimistic a deal would be made soon. “When people stop and think about what it means for New York City to have that stadium they’ll come around”.
