ICC reviews Florida's World Cup dream

About a dozen representatives of the ICC will visit Florida this week to assess Lauderhill's bid to host matches during the 2007 World Cup.

At the moment local officials have little to show but a dream. But the ICC delegation will be given a tour of the area, and will meet with local hoteliers, businessmen, and the organising committee who are keen to host as many as six of the first-round games.

A draft document outlining the bid was submitted to the ICC last month, and the decision will be announced early in July.

Should the bid be accepted, then the idea is that a 5,000-seater stadium would be built on parkland in Lauderhill, and with temporary seating the capacity could be as high as 20,000. The cricket ground will be part of a larger development which is expected to cost around US$60 million.

If they do give the plan the green light, then the ICC will be taking a gamble as the stadium will not be completed until December 2006, only three months before the first match.