The Republic of Ireland’s bid to host the UEFA 2020 European Championships moved a step closer yesterday albeit with a potential larger shared hosting group than was envisaged in initial discussions between the FAI and counterparts in Scotland and Wales.
UEFA President Michel Platini confirmed yesterday that the tournament would be hosted by up to 12 individual cities spread across the continent.  The bidding process will commence in full in March with a decision on the successful bidders expected in 2014.
The FAI has confirmed it will consider a bid and will look for some advantage from being one of the countries to do so before this multi-host decision was confirmed.
From France 2016, the European Championship finals will be expanded to 24 competing nations.  This would mean six groups of four teams generating 36 games, a round of 16 which adds eight more, four quarter finals, two semi finals and the final itself.
The likely hosting format would be that the final three games will be played in one city with the English FA having already confirmed they will pitch Wembley Stadium for that role; and that the other 48 games will be divided between 12 cities.
If Wembley succeeds that may impact on the other potential British bids to host groups of four games and so bolster the hopes of Dublin.
The Aviva Stadium is well known to UEFA delegates having managed the 2011 Europa League final.  If two stadia are needed then Croke Park would be the only other of sufficient size.  The GAA indicated in recent weeks it would be willing to consider support of a bid for the Rugby World Cup in 2023 and Croke Park has of course been used by the FAI in the past.
The potential value to Ireland and to the local business community of a successful bid would be vast.  Looking back on this summer, the hosting of the Notre Dame – Navy Game created a template on how side events concerning business can be built around the interests of those who will be attending.  The travelling fans provide the main numbers but in the corporate world, the benefits of hosting commercial get togethers and conferences linking the countries that would be playing presents a great opportunity and time to plan it correctly.
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