Everything that Vigo is played in the 2030 World Cup: a return of 160 million euros and other imponderables

Being headquarters of the 2030 World Cup would mean an estimated economic return of 160 million euros, now in the air after the manipulation in the federation of the candidacies, although the benefits for the city would be even greater if it gets me into the equation that would stay with a field adapted to the demands of the competition and the reputational impact and the tourist promotion that implies receiving an event of such a dimension.

The calculations, in any case approximate, are carried out by the City of Vigo, in war after the dissemination of the information of El Mundo. They remember that the disbursement that is going to be carried out at the Balaidos stadium is around 65 million euros, in which they are compromised financing of the Xunta, and, once the World Cup is finished, the city stays with the countryside, hence that “major net balance” above 160 million.

That high economic return at play does not escape the different economic sectors. César Sánchez-Ballesterospresident of the Business Federation of Tourism and Hospitality of Pontevedra, says there are “many millions.” Only directly for the hospitality, it implies more than a million and a half euros per party.

“Someone should explain the reasons”

The proximity with Portugal and the influx always guaranteed to all World Cup matches would guarantee “hang the poster in establishments of 30 kilometers around”, occupy all the hotel capacity of the city and its area of ​​influence to the maximum. Business prospects are flattering and make “the sector on expectation” in the face of a possible review of the headquarters. “The illusion we continue with her, it would be a shame that this opportunity escapes,” says its president.

He also recognizes that he is surprised by the current situation, since the current president of the RFEF, Rafael Louzán“It is from Pontevedra and has been a political position as president of the Diputación closely linked to tourism and sport,” and “knows perfectly the weight of this decision in the province.”

He also points out that “no one has ever been clear about what are the requirements” for the designation and, although he wants to be “prudent” in his valuations, he does notify that “we are in the Spanish system of ‘we are going to do it by finger’, because if two days before we were the stadium and two days later someone decides to change it, someone should explain the reasons for that change.”

The 1982 memory

The sector equates the impact of this competition with that of the International Sea Products Fair and Frozamar. A study of the Ardán Studies Service and the University of Vigo reveals that the 2023 fair generated 84.7 million euros; and adding the volume of business and employment creation, raises the socioeconomic impact to 750 million. In the hospitality, the three days of the event are about 20 million direct billing.

In any case, like the City Council, the hospitality recalls that there is a non -quantifiable return of tourism promotion, “it is not only the purely economic impact in the short term, but the knowledge of people”, a promotional action “worldwide” that would allow them to “access a clientele of countries around the world.” The 1982 World Cup, in which Balaidos hosted, “had an unpayable media impact.”

That reputational benefit does not escape fans. José Méndez Castropresident of the Federation of Celtist Peñas, closes ranks around Caballero, “the only one who truly fought” to defend the headquarters, and argues that “it would be an important impulse to put Vigo on the map in the world of football, which is the activity that moves the most masses.”

Peñistas do not hide their disappointment with everything that is happening and trust that the current moment involves “a turning point” so that the RFEF face a stage of “greater transparency.” They do not point directly to Louzán’s responsibility, but they do believe that he must act. «If the Federation wants to give it a change, it is the right time. What happened, happened, and now they are new and have to be transparent ». They do not believe enough to leave María Tato as “visible head”, but must deepen the responsibilities.