2014 Tour de France will start in Yorkshire and come to Sheffield

[DYKWIA]

Yes, obviously. But is it worthwhile financially to bring it to South Yorkshire? I do not know.

 

Having watched several stages of the TDF over in Europe and when London and the south east hosted the grand depart a few years ago, I think it's a major coup that Sheffield is hosting the finish for stage 2.

 

I think many who don't follow pro cycling just don't realise how big of an event the TDF is.

[Agent Orange]

Well, maybe you're right- if the promised tourist influx arrives (and spends £££ here). Let's hope that it does.

 

I hope so too.

 

Here's a bit of information relating to TdF that might shed some light on this:

 

http://letour.yorkshire.com/news/Tour-de-France-The-Facts

 

[cuttsie]

What cuttise means by free is it's free to watch. Hence it been the biggest free annual sporting event in the world.

Thats what I mean but its like trying to suck eggs.

[sheff71]

Refer to my previous comment re: the greatest show on earth. The TdF is dubbed this.

 

Just because it is dubbed that, it doesn't mean it's necessarily true! I've heard many football fans claim their team is '...the greatest team, the world has ever seen...'

 

It's all well and good people saying how it's going to be great for Sheffield... but it would've helped the ailing economy more if they went into the heart of the city centre for the finish, rather than a series of miniscule hills (by TDF standards) on the edge of the city. I guess it's not just the HS2 planners who don't want to come into the heart of Sheffield...

 

More to the point, in most of the coverage on tv so far, they highlight the start at Leeds, and that it goes to York, but it seems the Sheffield bit is seen as significantly less important as the Leeds bit, and it's almost like a stopover on the way to Cambridge - which is a shame - certainly when you get away from Calendar or Look North. Perhaps our stage needs better promotion than we've seen so far, so the city and it's traders can make as much profit as possible from all the millions coming to Sheffield because of the tdf.

 

---------- Post added 29-10-2013 at 23:42 ----------

 

I never thought I would see the day when me and thee agreed on owt but the Tour brings every one together as is demonstrated every year throughout Europe.

Only in Sheffield can you get folk who think that it is a waste of time.

I mean what other WORLD sporting event will ever be held here again.

 

Have you never heard of the World Snooker Championships, held in Sheffield at the Crucible since 1977?

 

Whether you like snooker or not, for those people who follow that sport, they know Sheffield is the home of their World Championship Final...

Edited October 29, 2013 by sheff71

[Agent Orange]

Just because it is dubbed that, it doesn't mean it's necessarily true! I've heard many football fans claim their team is '...the greatest team, the world has ever seen...'

 

It's all well and good people saying how it's going to be great for Sheffield... but it would've helped the ailing economy more if they went into the heart of the city centre for the finish, rather than a series of miniscule hills (by TDF standards) on the edge of the city. I guess it's not just the HS2 planners who don't want to come into the heart of Sheffield...

 

More to the point, in most of the coverage on tv so far, they highlight the start at Leeds, and that it goes to York, but it seems the Sheffield bit is seen as significantly less important as the Leeds bit, and it's almost like a stopover on the way to Cambridge - which is a shame - certainly when you get away from Calendar or Look North. Perhaps our stage needs better promotion than we've seen so far, so the city and it's traders can make as much profit as possible from all the millions coming to Sheffield because of the tdf.

 

---------- Post added 29-10-2013 at 23:42 ----------

 

 

Have you never heard of the World Snooker Championships, held in Sheffield at the Crucible since 1977?

 

Whether you like snooker or not, for those people who follow that sport, they know Sheffield is the home of their World Championship Final...

 

Gosh, get me out of this city. Such negativity.

 

So what, it doesn't finish in the city centre - boohoo. The fact it finishes in Sheffield is a positive and will be a positive to the economy. The city, if you had not noticed, does not stop at the city centre. People will be spending money in the immediate area, stopping at hotels within the city centre and making use of other facilities.

[cuttsie]

Just because it is dubbed that, it doesn't mean it's necessarily true! I've heard many football fans claim their team is '...the greatest team, the world has ever seen...'

 

It's all well and good people saying how it's going to be great for Sheffield... but it would've helped the ailing economy more if they went into the heart of the city centre for the finish, rather than a series of miniscule hills (by TDF standards) on the edge of the city. I guess it's not just the HS2 planners who don't want to come into the heart of Sheffield...

 

More to the point, in most of the coverage on tv so far, they highlight the start at Leeds, and that it goes to York, but it seems the Sheffield bit is seen as significantly less important as the Leeds bit, and it's almost like a stopover on the way to Cambridge - which is a shame - certainly when you get away from Calendar or Look North. Perhaps our stage needs better promotion than we've seen so far, so the city and it's traders can make as much profit as possible from all the millions coming to Sheffield because of the tdf.

 

---------- Post added 29-10-2013 at 23:42 ----------

 

 

Have you never heard of the World Snooker Championships, held in Sheffield at the Crucible since 1977?

 

Whether you like snooker or not, for those people who follow that sport, they know Sheffield is the home of their World Championship Final...

 

I follow the World snooker at the Crucable and when certain members of the Council where trying to get it banned! due to the event being sponsored by Embassy I fought for it to be retained and was in touch with David Blunkit who was the council leader at that time [who backed my concern may I add].

 

Few people realise that we were in danger of losing that event due to the P.C. brigade on the Council.

The World Snooker however is a minor event when compared to the Tour De France.

[alchresearch]

All the non-sense about promoting the area simply puts money into all too few pockets

 

Not true, I've seen the benefits first hand in Manchester and Liverpool.

 

But in those places their residents got behind the schemes and events.

[RobWilson]

It's all well and good people saying how it's going to be great for Sheffield... but it would've helped the ailing economy more if they went into the heart of the city centre for the finish, rather than a series of miniscule hills (by TDF standards) on the edge of the city. I guess it's not just the HS2 planners who don't want to come into the heart of Sheffield...

 

For all sorts of logistical reasons, the city centre is nowhere near large enough to stage the end of a TdF stage. There isn't anywhere near enough room for all the team buses for a start. The first stage of last year's race in Corsica was nearly a disaster when a team coach got stuck under the finish line gantry! I'm quite glad that it's not finishing outside the Town Hall for that reason alone.

 

When it comes to the end of a TdF sprint stage their speeds go up from 30mph to around 50mph, so you just can't have the possibility of a large group sprinting along Pinstone Street. It's just not wide enough. At, say, 40mph you really wouldn't be able to appreciate the city centre's beautiful architecture anyway - better to leave people to realise that it's only a very short cycle ride indeed from Sheffield to Bradfield and the magnificent hills. If Sheffield is to really benefit from the TdF it has to make people realise that it's one third in the Peak District and not just steelworks. We all know it's an "outdoors" kind of city, but few outsiders do.

 

It's a real shame that the race isn't going to do a loop from Leppings Lane back up the Rivelin Valley, Lodge Moor, Fulwood, Ringinglow, Ecclesall Road and the city centre before heading to the finish at Meadowhall. That would be just about the best advert for Sheffield but would also cause traffic chaos in the city even if it is on a Sunday. They can't block off that much of the city's roads for several hours, nor can they go anywhere near the hospitals, either.

 

More to the point, in most of the coverage on tv so far, they highlight the start at Leeds, and that it goes to York, but it seems the Sheffield bit is seen as significantly less important as the Leeds bit, and it's almost like a stopover on the way to Cambridge - which is a shame - certainly when you get away from Calendar or Look North. Perhaps our stage needs better promotion than we've seen so far, so the city and it's traders can make as much profit as possible from all the millions coming to Sheffield because of the tdf.

 

Leeds undoubtedly gets the best of the event in terms of getting a mention and having all the formalities before the race even begins, but in all honesty the start of each day's race is a bit of a non event as nobody is really racing at that point. I doubt that many people watch the start of a 5 hour stage,, even if it is televised! The finishes are FAR, FAR more exciting and noteworthy. In the long term, the scenery and the hills will be the real winners. The HD aerial shots on the outskirts of Sheffield will be absolutely stunning.

 

The beauty of the TdF for Sheffield is that we have 8 months before it even gets here. The marketing opportunity is here now, not just on the day itself. North Yorkshire have really got into gear aready, and South Yorkshire needs to take note.

 

Have you never heard of the World Snooker Championships, held in Sheffield at the Crucible since 1977?

 

Whether you like snooker or not, for those people who follow that sport, they know Sheffield is the home of their World Championship Final...

 

Did you read Jimmy White's quotes from yesterday? He seems quite certain it'll be off to China sooner or later. He's only the lastest in a long line of pro snooker players being quite negative about Sheffield. I'm pretty sure that the Chinese have enough money to build a snooker arena a little larger than The Crucible, more viewers and possibly even more players. Sadly it's probably only a matter of time. I think the best we can hope for in the long term is for a rotation of venues for the World Champs, rather like the Open Golf.

Edited October 30, 2013 by RobWilson

[LABurton]

How come people are moaning about the cost and the road closures associated with The Tour, which will only be in Yorkshire once in our lifetime, but where football is concerned it's OK to close roads most weekends for 9 months of the year? Absolute craziness.

[alchresearch]

Or the marathon once a year.