Henry Grabar celebrates the recent decision by UEFA, European soccer's governing body, to hold their 2020 tournament in cities across the continent, rather than in one or two countries as has been the tradition.
Even if UEFA's decision hasn't been popular with fans, some of whom labeled it "Euro 2020: Sponsored by RyanAir," Grabar believes the novel format for a "Euro for Europe" could help spread the positive benefits associated with such events, without the financial risk commonly required. "The European Championship, like the Olympics and the World Cup, requires its hosts to make massive investments in infrastructure," says Grabar. "The value of such competitions, with their immediate benefits and deferred costs, is a matter of debate, particularly when it comes to the oft-unused sporting facilities."
"Hopefully," he argues, "the new format will see improvements in transportation and facilities spread out among cities in a half-dozen countries, easing the financial burden, dividing the benefits, and opening up the scope of the competition. For the first time we could see matches of huge importance in Sofia, Dublin, Tallinn, Copenhagen, or other cities in small countries. By splitting the costs into more manageable portions, the Euro for Europe gives smaller countries a chance to compete."
Grabar even believes the format could improve the fan experience and the product on the pitch. "The advantages of such a situation aren't just economic for the hosts and visitors alike. Making it easier for the majority of fans to attend games would improve the quality of the tournament. A truly neutral venue is the bane of an exciting match."
FULL STORY: European Soccer Has Reorganized Around Cities, and It Could Be Awesome

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie