Inside Plymouth Argyle’s 46,000-seater World Cup stadium plans as Wayne Rooney’s side battle relegation to third tier

PLYMOUTH ARGYLE are battling relegation from the Championship under former England captain Wayne Rooney’s management.

And the Pilgrims’ home form has been crucial in keeping their heads above water – with Rooney’s men currently sitting 18th in the Championship and a point ahead of the bottom three.

Argyle have lost just one home game so far this season at their 17,000-seater stadium.

But in a parallel universe, Home Park could have looked very different.

That’s because Plymouth once had ambitious plans for the 2018 World Cup, and was chosen by the FA as one of the host cities.

However, England’s failed bid to host the World Cup that year – with the tournament instead being handed to Russia – ultimately saw the plans fall flat.

Had England won the bidding, Home Park, where Plymouth have played since 1893, would have been set to become a stunning 46,000-seater arena.

This would have been surrounded by a £150million project of shops, cinemas, restaurants, a hotel and an ice rink.

State-of-the-art tramlines, as well as a new pier and stunning Drake‘s Island would attract the super-rich.

The city’s rejuvenation would also see it playing host to other major sporting events such as the America’s Cup – sailing’s own version of the World Cup.

The ambitious project would have created 3,700 jobs and £292m in investment for the city.

Argyle would have hosted four World Cup matches, along with training camps around the region and “Fan Fests” on the Hoe and at Stonehouse Creek costing over £15m over 31 days.

There was widespread support for the bid from locals, while politicians jetted to South Africa to try and promote Plymouth‘s campaign.

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However, the light of ambition became shrouded in the darkness of the ashes that nearly became Plymouth Argyle.

The Plymouth Herald revealed the city council itself lost £700,000 in the failed bid.

Plymouth City Council alone spent £147,000 with another £250,000 being underwritten by Argyle.

The Devon outfit owed £17m due to the project, sending the club into administration in 2011.

James Brent’s Akkeron Group eventually agreed a deal with administrators to buy the club, with former chairman Peter Risdale leaving the club when the deal was completed.

Argyle sold Home Park back to the city council for £1.6m and agreed to pay £135,000 a year in rent.

If this project had not been torpedoed by Fifa, Plymouth may well have been among the first names when considering who might host games for Euro 2028.

However, the tournament – which will be across England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland after Northern Ireland pulled out – will not feature any trips to the West Country.

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk