Fourteen cities were up for consideration, but only three cities remain. The hosting city for the 2014 Gay Games will come down to Washington D.C., Boston and Cleveland.
Cleveland’s bid for “My Games Rock 2014″ includes opening and closing ceremonies at Cleveland Browns Stadium and 34 sports – 24 required events, including swimming, basketball, figure skating and softball, as well as nontraditional events, such as beach volleyball and, in a first for the games, rodeo – that would take place downtown and in Akron.
Due to the size of the city, Cleveland is already at a small disadvantage to host the 2014 games. However, the efforts of local organizations have impressed decision makers to this point. Trips to South Africa were made by organization heads in order to promote the city.
The basis for all of this work obviously comes down to the revenue that the city would gain, currently estimated at $50-$80 million in economic development – something that Cleveland desperately needs. The city has long been looking for events to use Cleveland Browns Stadium since it opened in 1999. This obviously doesn’t make up for the inability to host a Super Bowl thanks to lack of top-flight hotels, but given the state of the economy in Cleveland, Ohio, anything helps.
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Author: Scott
Scott is a co-founder/editor of Waiting For Next Year who resides in Cleveland, Ohio. Feel free to follow him on Twitter or email him at scott@waitingfornextyear.com.Scott has written 1700 articles for Waiting for Next Year.
Cleveland could use some economic stimulus. I hope they get it….the city doesn’t get the respect it deserves.
Regardless of personal beliefs either for or against gays/gay rights, I know this town could use a huge boost in the economy, so I’m with Jason, I hope we get it. This town is suffering right now (i.e. the medical mart debacle) so this would be huge for the city.
What does being gay or straight have to do with an athletic competition? Maybe in the future there will be the all colored games? The all white games? The all Polish games? The Italian games?
Sheesh………..give me a break.
I’m pretty sure it wasn’t straight people that requested these games be put on…but if we’re going to have an all-polish games let me know.
I have to guess that it’ll end up here in DC – much, much more tolerant area as well as a (better?) more developed infrastructure to handle an event of this scale.
That being said, the influx of economic development for Cleveland would be great.
I kept my composure until the gay rodeo was mentioned.
It made me sad that they were bragging about cleveland being “tolerant”. I always think of “put up with; endure”. Upon using the dictionary I was pleased to find it also means “recognize and respect”.
The more you know…
/”gay rodeo” is still funny
When I think tolerance, the word that comes to my mind is definitely Boston. I think the Gay Games would thrive there.
i think columbus would be a better fit than cleveland…knowing the culture down here…
I may have to change my name. Ugh. I seriously don’t care and just think it’s funny, but I am in DC also and can vouch that Dupont Circle makes Lakewood look like a Quaker Community.
I expected more gay jokes in the comment section. Or at least a mention of Sean McDonough doing the play by play.
Will Kobe be playing for the USA?
lol swig, i’m with you…
as far as having the games here, i could care less… if it brings $$$ in, i’m all for it. in totally non-sports related news, but under the same token:
[Cleveland.com]
Will Cleveland be in competition for 2012’s all girl girl games?
That’s a lot of cash that the Cleve could really use. This event gets a thumbs up, and maybe a little hand wave from me.
First Man-Kok, now the gay rodeo.. what’s next?
Because athletics has always been a tolerant and accepting forum for homosexuals. I think you’re looking at apples and oranges, and aren’t thinking of this in its true context.
The Major Leagues didn’t used to allow black people. Neither did restaurants in the south. If you don’t think gays are discriminated against–especially in athletics–you’re being a tad naive I think.
After all, let’s not forget the immortal words of Jeremy Shockey:
“I don’t know, I don’t like to think about that. I hope [there aren't gay players in the NFL]. … I mean, if I knew there was a gay guy on my college football team, I probably wouldn’t, you know, stand for it. You know, I think, you know, they’re going to be in the shower with us and stuff, so I don’t think that’s gonna work. That’s not gonna work, you know?”
Good, We need the money, maybe they could use the space that the airport takes up and really show case how it could be used.
yeah Rick, call it the Polish Marauders team….
Jeremy Shockey, always the eloquent wordsmith
“This obviously doesn’t make up for the inability to host a Super Bowl thanks to lack of top-flight hotels…”
Well, that and we have an open-air stadium in a cold-weather city.
I would like to point out that Ohio went blue in the last election, and this is part of that change.
BTW Lone Star is a Republican for gay rights.
Why do yall have an open air stadium. The Pro stadiums in Texas are not, and the superbowl has been paid in Texas.
From what I understand, even if we had a dome, the city itself does not meet the requirements.
P@ : “That’s a lot of cash that the Cleve could really use. This event gets a thumbs up, and maybe a little hand wave from me.”
LMAO!! I was thinking of using the ‘2 snaps and a twist’ but didn’t wanna cross the line!
Just a correction to the author…
The SuperBowl can’t not be hosted in Cleveland because it requires a domed stadium and Cleveland Browns Stadium does not have a dome. Secondly the stadium is already in use for other events including ones similar to these, such as the International Children’s Games which made its US debut here in Cleveland as well as various concerts, etc.
And lastly Cleveland doesn’t really need anymore of these types of so called economic boosts. Cleveland already plays host to many national games and events for example being one of the 4 pilot cities for the NCAA, gravity games, Rock Hall inductions, National Skating Competitions, etc. etc.
What Cleveland needs is more of what is currently going on such as the Medical Mart and build on the momentum of High Tech and BioTech industry which has finally pushed Cleveland from a blue to a white collar town.
[...] past March, we mentioned that the city of Cleveland was one of the finalists in hosting the 2014 Gay Games along with Washington DC and Boston. Roughly six months later, a [...]