High-profile Poster Campaign Supported
Businesses in Sunderland are being urged to boost the city’s World Cup bid by supporting a high-profile poster campaign.
It is hoped the drive will help convince an official Football Association delegation, expected in Sunderland on Wednesday, that the city is the best place to host matches if the tournament comes to England in 2018.
Sunderland AFC and the city council – backed by the Echo, Sunderland arc and One NorthEast – are hoping to bring qualifying games to the Stadium of Light.
In December, the FA will choose the host cities that will be included in England’s bid document and members are touring potential venues to assess which are the most suitable.
Today, shops, bars and restaurants are being encouraged to display free posters to show the visiting delegation the city’s passion for the beautiful game and the tournament.
Businesses in Sunniside, including the Place café and Hackett Property, were among the first to pick up the specially designed posters, available at outlets across Sunderland.
Tracey Collins, general manager of the Place café, said:
We are proud to be supporting Sunderland’s World Cup bid for 2018 and would urge all businesses to do the same.
It will be a fantastic coup for the city and the region and everyone will benefit from it, so put your posters up and show the FA we are ready to welcome the world.
Haley Sloan, a manager at Hackett Property, said accommodation will be a key factor when it comes to determining the winning bid.
Accommodation will certainly be an important aspect of the bid and we want to help in any way we can.
Organisers are keen to emphasise that a win for Wearside will be a win for the North East.
As well as an online petition, World Cup bid books, which visitors sign to pledge their support for the bid, have been made available at venues across the region and the finished petitions will be presented to the Football Association.
The FA says public support will play a huge part in deciding which venues it puts forward in its submission to Uefa, the sport’s governing body.
Ben Hall, director of Sunniside Partnership, said businesses have an important part to play in the bid. He said:
The regeneration of Sunniside is a prime example of how this city is moving forward and with more and more quality shops, bars, restaurants and accommodation opening up in the area we really can give visitors a fantastic welcome and a World Cup to remember.
People can back the bid and register their support with the FA online through sunderland2018-2022.com or by SMS message.
Supporters need to text Sunderland2018 followed by their name, house number and postcode to 62299.
Texts are charged at the standard network rate.
Alternatively, to sign the online petition or for up-to-date information about the bid visit www.sunderlandecho.com.
The following places will have Back the Bid posters that people can go and collect.
- the Place business and arts centre, Athenaeum Street, Sunniside.
- Civic Centre reception, Burdon Road (Monday to Friday, normal office hours).
- Sunniside Partnership Office, 176 High Street West, Sunniside (Monday to Friday, normal office hours).
- The Bridges Shopping Centre (Customer Service Desk).
- City Library and Arts Centre, Fawcett Street, Sunniside (Monday to Saturday).
- Black Cat House next to the Stadium of Light.