Is the World Cup worth it?
Brazil's Amazonia Arena in Manaus, deep in the Amazon. Building of the stadium has been criticized because access to the city is limited and no professional soccer team plays in the area.
What is Brazil getting in return for its $11B investment in this year’s World Cup?
Some economists predict the soccer tournament will be marginally profitable for the South American country, but some Brazilians wonder about the economic benefit of building stadiums in remote places like Manaus, deep in the Amazonian jungle and inaccessible by car.
Associate professor of business (and rabid soccer fan) Nick Bontis writes in the Hamilton Spectator that the real economic winner at this year’s World Cup will be soccer’s international governing body and tournament organizer FIFA. He says the organization stands to gain $4B in World Cup revenues, much of it coming from sponsorships and TV deals.
“In the end, this global party only happens every few years, so we might as well celebrate too. Canada’s men’s team hasn’t seen action in the World Cup since 1986, so at least for a few weeks, it’s OK to cheer for whomever you want,” he says.
