The Newsroom
USA Bid Committee launches social networking web site to support U.S. bid for FIFA World Cup™ in 2018 or 2022
Partners with Blue State Digital to develop online platform, introduces "The Game is in US" theme; first 25,000 to sign petition online will receive special-edition theme bumper sticker
NEW YORK (August 12, 2009) - The USA Bid Committee today launched the online campaign around its bid to host the FIFA World Cup(TM) in 2018 or 2022 with the Web site, goUSAbid.com. Developed by renowned digital media strategists Blue State Digital, goUSAbid.com will be the nerve center for all USA Bid Committee initiatives and communication leading up to FIFA's announcement in December 2010 of the host countries for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup.
Highlighting the activation of goUSAbid.com is the unveiling of the USA Bid logo as well as the introduction of the USA Bid theme, "The Game is in US." The theme is the call to action for soccer fans across the country, regardless of their club and country loyalties, to get behind the effort to bring the FIFA World Cup(TM) to the United States. The focal application for the movement is an online petition in support of the bid that also offers fans an opportunity to share their personal stories and soccer memories, demonstrating how "The Game is in US." The first 25,000 fans to sign the petition at goUSAbid.com, will receive a special-edition bumper sticker featuring the Bid logo and "The Game is in US" theme to help them show their support.
"The people of the United States have shown an unprecedented passion for soccer supporting various national teams, international and local clubs in stadiums across America throughout this year's 'Summer of Soccer'," said David Downs, the Executive Director of the USA Bid Committee. "The launch of goUSAbid.com along with the unveiling of our logo and bid theme will give these fans, and thousands of others, the avenue to involve themselves in the USA Bid effort on a personal level in a measurable and meaningful way."
"The United States is home to people from all corners of the world and our bid theme has been developed to appeal to the passion for the sport felt by every single one of them. We believe that the game is in all of us, and we hope that the theme will resonate as a rallying cry for the millions of soccer fans living in the USA who want to see the World Cup return to America."
Featuring heavy user generation and tools for interaction, goUSAbid.com will serve as a toolkit for fans to share their spirit for the USA Bid with friends and strangers everywhere, building a community of ambassadors around the globe. In addition, visitors to the site will be able to host events with supporters in their areas and coordinate watch parties for soccer events at local bars and other establishments with the "Match Finder" tool.
Also featured on goUSAbid.com will be resources for supporters to find out what is going on with the USA Bid in their community.
Besides giving users the opportunity to show their support for the bid, goUSAbid.com will include a dedicated space where visitors will be able to share their stories and experiences about individuals, organizations, charities, foundations and other entities utilizing soccer as a tool for positive social change. The Web site will also allow supporters to make donations to the USA Bid Committee in exchange for merchandise and participate in prize raffle contests.
Breaking news and detailed information regarding the USA Bid will be another hallmark of goUSAbid.com, proving details on the cities and stadiums vying to serve as hosts for the event, the legacy of the 1994 FIFA World Cup USA and the history of U.S. Soccer, and much more.
"GoUSAbid.com is central to all of our efforts in the name of returning the world's largest and most important sporting event to the United States," added Downs. "And based on the spirit of our Bid, which highlights our sense of unity and passion for the game, we are expecting a large amount of visitors to engage in our online platform over the next 14 months."
The development for goUSAbid.com was executed by Blue State Digital, a leader in online fundraising, advocacy, social networking and constituency development programs whose initiatives have motivated millions of people around issues, candidates, products and services. In the historic 2008 United States Presidential run, Blue State Digital managed Obama for America's online fundraising, constituency-building and peer-to-peer networking initiatives, helping to generate record support for then-candidate Obama and his campaign.
President Barack Obama has been an ardent supporter of the effort of the USA Bid Committee to bring the FIFA World Cup(TM) back to the United States in 2018 or 2022. Back in March, President Obama reached out to FIFA - the world's governing body of soccer - to endorse the efforts to bring the world's largest sporting event back to the United States. In that letter to FIFA President Joseph "Sepp" Blatter and U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati, President Obama noted the role soccer played in his life as a youth, and its ability to unite people, communities and nations from every continent.
On Monday, July 27, Obama and Blatter met at the White House to discuss the U.S. bid and other soccer-related topics. The meeting was marked by Blatter confirming his invitation for President Obama to be his guest at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. President Obama has expressed his interest in attending the event pending availability on his schedule.
The United States, Australia, England, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico and Russia have formally declared their desire to host to the FIFA World Cup(TM) in 2018 or 2022. Netherlands-Belgium and Portugal-Spain have each submitted joint bids for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments, while Qatar and South Korea have applied as candidates to play host only to the tournament in 2022.
