THE SUITE LIFE : In Vancouver, Bob Mackin notes FIFA President Sepp Blatter is "expected" to be in the city for the Women's World Cup final. Blatter, other FIFA "top officials and sponsors will enjoy more than the usual luxury at B.C. Place." Walls "have been knocked down and frosted glass installed in boxes on the south side of Level 3," while a "new entry with red doors is at street level on Pacific Boulevard for vehicles carrying dignitaries." Blatter also will "have space for himself at B.C. Place." The "well-heeled can get closer to the FIFA folks at B.C. Place by paying up to [C]$61,500 for an 18-seat suite for all nine Vancouver matches." A nine-seat suite for the final "would put you back $8,400" ( VANCOUVER PROVINCE, 6/5 ).
A WELCOME REPRIEVE : In Miami, Michelle Kaufman writes soccer "will get a monthlong respite" from the FIFA scandal with the Women’s World Cup. Amid "all the negativity engulfing FIFA since news of the scandal broke last week, there are plenty of positive story lines surrounding the tournament." The growth of the women’s game "will be highlighted, as the field expanded from 16 to 24 teams and an extra knockout round was added." Eight countries "will be participating for the first time" ( MIAMI HERALD, 6/5 ). But the AP noted the first question CSA President Victor Montagliani faced Thursday "was whether there were bribes involving Canada's bid to be host." Montagliani said, "This World Cup? No, absolutely not." He was "peppered at the start of Thursday's news conference with questions related to possible improprieties." But it was "somewhat amusing because Canada was the only candidate when the bids were considered" in '11. Montagliani said, "I actually think that it's a positive thing that the first tournament after whatever happened last week is the Women's World Cup. Because women's football is a very pure form of football. And I think women's football can shine some light in the dark clouds that are hanging over the game" ( AP, 6/4 ).
CAUTIONABLE OFFENSE : The GLOBE & MAIL's Cathal Kelly writes under the header, "Kicking Off The World Cup Anywhere But Toronto Is A Mistake." Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium, the site of Saturday's China-Canada opener, "is not famous, or suited to soccer, or attractive." Kelly: "It's actively ugly." The global audience "is used to seeing this level of event played on landscape architecture so pristine it makes Versailles look like urban farmland." Canada’s version is "going to look like the house that gets cleaned by piling all the junk behind the couch." Kelly: "Maybe the enthusiasm of the crowd can make up for the aesthetic shortcomings. Or maybe not. The locals don’t seem all that interested." When England "has to make a good impression, they don’t spend hours debating if it should be highlighting Sunderland or Liverpool." They "go to London, straight off and every time" ( GLOBE & MAIL, 6/5 ).
