States offer tax breaks, funds for chance to host World Cup
U.S. cities and states have lined up with tax breaks and millions of dollars in both public and private investments for a chance at hosting 2026 FIFA World Cup games, set to be announced Thursday.
The prize is a share of what FIFA expects to be more than $5 billion in short-term economic activity generated from the tournament throughout North America.
In hopes of scoring a deal, state lawmakers and city leaders are cutting sales taxes on tickets and pumping millions of dollars into stadium renovations.
Missouri is among a handful of states that preemptively passed a bill to exempt FIFA tickets from sales taxes. Kansas City-area Democratic state Sen. John Rizzo said he expects revenue generated from Kansas City hosting the event to “more than offset” any losses on sales taxes for tickets.
Seventeen stadiums in 16 areas remain in contention to be among 10-12 selected from the U.S. for the tournament, which will be co-hosted with Mexico and Canada. The U.S. will host 60 of the 80 games under FIFA's plan, including all from the quarterfinals on, and there was little doubt over the venues for 10 games each in the other nations.
BLATTER, PLATINI FACE 20-MONTH SUSPENDED JAIL SENTENCES >>
Prosecutors in the fraud trial of former FIFA president Sepp Blatter and vice president Michel Platini asked for both men to get 20-month suspended prison sentences.
Blatter and Platini, a former France national team captain who was president of European governing body UEFA, faced sentences of up to five years for financial wrongdoing but actual jail time was considered to be unlikely ahead of their 11-day trial. Verdicts are expected on July 8.
The 86-year-old Blatter's legal jeopardy increased when prosecutors in FIFA's home city Zurich
confirmed to The Associated Press they had opened criminal proceedings against him in a separate complaint filed by soccer's world body in 2020.
NHL AVALANCHE BEAT LIGHTNING IN OT TO OPEN STANLEY CUP FINAL >>
Andre Burakovsky scored 1:23 into overtime and the Colorado Avalanche opened the Stanley Cup Final with a 4-3 victory over the twotime defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning.
Burakovsky ended it after the Avalanche failed to score on a power play that began late in regulation when three-time champ Patrick Maroon put the puck over the glass. Burakovsky is one of only two Avalanche players who have won the Cup.
The game likely wouldn't have even reached OT if not for big penalty kills by the Avalanche, who were 3 for 3 against Tampa Bay's potent power play. The final kill featured a crucial save by goaltender Darcy Kuemper and a series of clears by Norris Trophy finalist defenseman Cale Makar.
NFL
STEELERS SIGN STAR SAFETY MINKAH FITZPATRICK TO 5-YEAR DEAL >> Minkah Fitzpatrick is staying
in Pittsburgh.
The Steelers signed their star safety to a five-year contract. Financial details were not released. NFL Network reported the deal is worth $73.6 million, which would make him the highest-paid safety in the league.
The 25-year-old Fitzpatrick was ready to enter the final year of his rookie contract. He has been spectacular at times since arriving in Pittsburgh in a trade with Miami in September 2019 and was selected to the Pro Bowl and the AllPro team in each of his first two seasons with the Steelers.
COMMANDERS' SNYDER WON'T TESTIFY BEFORE US HOUSE COMMITTEE >> A lawyer representing Dan Snyder told Congress the Washington Commanders owner will not testify at a hearing next week as part of an investigation into the team's workplace conduct.
Attorney Karen Patton Seymour sent a letter to the leaders of the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Reform on Wednesday explaining the reasons why Snyder was declining the invitation to appear at the June 22 hearing. Among the reasons given were a lack of assurance about the scope of questioning given the existence of multiple ongoing investigations
and a scheduling conflict preventing Snyder from appearing in person.
Seymour wrote Snyder “is unable to accept the Committee's invitation to testify” at the hearing, which the committee called the next step in the investigation and said it will examine how the NFL handles allegations of workplace misconduct and how it sets and enforces standards for all teams.
NBA LEBRON TRADING CARD COULD FETCH RECORD PRICE AT AUCTION >>
LeBron James might be on the cusp of setting another record.
And someone will have to pay a lot of money to make it happen.
A one-of-a-kind James trading card — called the “Triple Logoman” — is up for auction this month, with some believing that it wind up as the most expensive card ever sold. The current record is $6.6 million that was spent for a Honus Wagner trading card last year.
The Wagner card is more than 100 years old. The James card is part of Panini's 2020-21 “Flawless” collection, and features the NBA logo patch from three of his jerseys, one each from his time with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and the Los Angeles Lakers.