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Home My WebLink AboutResolutions - 1991.11.21 - 18575E FOBEWING RESIN, MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION # 91242 BY PUBLIC SERVICES COMMITTEE - RUTH A. JOHNSON, CHAIRPERSON IN RE t WORLD CUP SOCCER TOURNAMENT 1994 LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY ASSURANCE TO THE OAKLAND COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Mr. Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen: WHEREAS, the Federation Internationale de Football Association ('FIFA'), has designated the United States as host country for the 1994 World Cup Tournament, the world's largest single sport event; and WHEREAS, the Michigan World Cup 1994 Bid Committee has filed a formal bid to serve as one of the hosts for the games and events; and WHEREAS, the Michigan World Cup 1994 Bid Committee, in its bid, has designated the Pontiac Silverdome as a proposed 1994 World Cup venue; and. WHEREAS, the staging of the World Cup during June and July, 1994 in the Pontiac Silverdome will generate about $80 million in county and regional economic activity, and will offer a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to showcase Michigan and Oakland County to an international audience of about 1.2 billion people; and WHEREAS, outstanding community support is an important criteria in the selection of a 1994 World Cup venue; and WHEREAS, the FIFA requires assurance from local law enforcement agencies that they wIll provide law enforcement and public safety services reasonably necessary to the success of the 1994 World. Cup Soccer Tournaments at the Pontiac Silverdome. - NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners hereby supports the efforts of the Michigan World Cup Bid Committee to have the Pontiac Silverdome selected as a 1994 World Cup venue; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Sheriff is hereby authorized to execute, on behalf of the County of Oakland, the required Declaration of Law Enforcement Agency Assurance for the 1994 World Cup Soccer Tournament attached hereto. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that any additional costs incurred by the Oakland County Sheriff with regard to this Tournament shall not be charged to the Sheriff Department's budget.' Mr. Chairperson, on behalf of the Public Services Committee, I move the adoption of the foregoing resolution. PUBLIC SER:VIpES .01kiliVLITTEE November 21, 1991 FISCAL NOTE FINANCE COMMITTEE, DR. G. WILLIAM CADDELL, CHAIRPERSON WORLD CUP SOCCER TOURNAMENT 1994 LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY ASSURANCE - MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION #9I242 TO THE OAKLAND COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Mr. Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen: Pursuant to Rule XI-G of this Board, the Finance Committee has reviewed Miscellaneous Resolution #91242 and finds: 1) There are no fiscal implications for the 1992/93 Biennial Budget. 2) Fiscal implications for 1994 will be addressed in the 1994/95 Biennial Budget. 3) It is recommended the resolution be amended to indicate that any additional costs incurred or services provided by the Sheriff's Department in 1994 with regard to the Tournament will be paid for by the appropriate contracting agencies at the per diem rates in effect at the time the services are to be performed. BY: IN RE: MANCE COMMITTEE November 21, 1991 Resolution -# 91242 Moved by Johnson supported by Huntoon the resolution be adopted. Moved by Bishop the resolution be amended as recommended in the Fiscal Note. Discussion followed. Moved by Aaron supported by Serra the resolution be amended by striking the last BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED paragraph. Discussion followed. Mr. Olsen recommended the paragraph be amended to read "BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that no additional unreimbursed expenses shall be incurred by Oakland County relative to this. activity." Mr. Aaron supported the amendment. Vote on the amendment: A sufficient majority having voted therefor, the amendment carried. • Vote on resolution, as amended: AYES: Olsen, Palmer, Pappageorge, Pernick, Schmid, Serra, Skarritt, Wolf, Aaron, Bishop, Caddell, Crake, Ferrens, Gosling, Huntoon, Jensen, Johnson, Krause, McCulloch, Millard, Moffitt, Oaks. (22) NAYS: McPherson. (1) A sufficient majority having voted therefor, the resolution, as amended, was adopted. , STATE OF MICHIGAN) COUNTY OF OAKLAND I, Lynn D. Allen, Clerk of the County of Oakland, do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution• is a true and accurate copy of a resolution adopted by the Oakland County .Board of Commissioners on November 21, 1991 with the on record thereof now remaining in my office. In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the County , of Oakland at Pontiac, Michigan this 21st . day or) . ; 91 November „,j 19 _ _ t • 7- c.„...,..: . -.." -"C''''......" r?,,, ,V4, —.... tynnir-TTien, ZOunty-Tierk TO: FROM: Joseph D. Joachim Deputy County Executive DATE: October 22, 1991 Commissioner Ruth A. Johnson Oakland County Board of Commissioners Daniel T. Murphy, Oakland County Executive MEMORANDUM SUBJECT: LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY ASSURANCE FOR WORLD CUP SOCCER TOURNAMENT 1994 Attached is the proposed Declaration of Law Enforcement Agency Assurance required by the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) for Michigan's bid to have the Pontiac Silverdome selected a venue for five to six events of the World Cup Soccer Tournaments during June and July, 1994. The Pontiac Silverdome is one (1) of nineteen (19) sites in the U.S. that are still in competition to be selected as one of the twelve (12) venues for World Cup Soccer 1994 (twenty-seven (27) originally competed). Further cuts will be made in November. The law enforcement declaration is mandatory to survive the next cut. The staging of the World Cup Soccer Tournament, the world's largest single sports event during 1994 in the Pontiac Silverdome, will generate about $80 million in local economic activity. It will also showcase Oakland County to an international audience of about 1.2 billion people. I have enclosed a recommended resolution which authorizes the Sheriff to execute the Declaration of Law Enforcement Agency Assurance, attached thereto, for the Committee's consideration. Also attached is information about the World Cup Soccer Tournaments and an informational copy of Pontiac's security resolution. Similar resolutions have been provided by the City of Detroit, Wayne County, and the State of Michigan. The security on the grounds of the Silverdome still remains the responsibility of the Silverdome as it is with any event. I will be at your Public Services Committee meeting on October 29, 1991 to answer any questions. mma cc: Sheriff John Nichols enclosures Executive Office Building • 1200 North Telegraph Road Pontiac, Michigan 48341 • (313) 858-0484 John F. Nichols, County Sheriff Hereby issues this Declaration of Law Enforcement Agency Assurance for The 1994 World Cup Soccer Tournament WHEREAS, upon application made by the United States Soccer Federation (the "Federation" ) , the reco • 'zed national governing body for soccer within the United States, the Federation Internationale de Football Association ("FIFA") , the world governing body for soccer, has desi . ted the United States as host country for the 1994 World Cup, the world's largest single sport event; and WHEREAS, the County of Oakland, Michigan, is desirous of having the Pontiac Silverdome designated as a 1994 World Cup venue and has wit • • its jurisdiction facilities and their premises, access roads, thoroughfares and other areas which may be used for the purposes of organizing, financing, promoting, accommodating, staging and conducting the 1994 World Cup and its related activities; and IHEREAS, the County Sheriff, of the County of Oakland, Michi • . , is officially charged with the responsibility to provide public safety services within the jurisdiction of the County of Oakland; As requested by the World Cup '94 Organizing Committee, the entity authorized by FIFA and the Federation to or:. • 'ze and stage the 1994 World Cup, and as part of the formal bid of Mic • • to be designated as a 1994 World Cup venue, the Oakland County Sheriff declares as follows: Upon designation as a 1994 World Cup venue, and at all times thereafter, the 0.. and County Sheriff shall provide all law enforcement and public safety services reasonably necessary to the success of the 1994 World Cup within its jurisdiction including all planning, training or deployment activities related to the provision of such services, all at no cost, expense or liability to the Or: . • 'zing Committee. 2. The Oakland County Sheriff agrees that neither FIFA, the Federation, the Organizing Committee nor any director, member, officer, employee or other representative of FIFA, the Federation or the Organizing Committee shall be held accountable for or incur any finan cial responsibility or liability of any kind or nature whatsoever in connection with the law enforcement and public safety services planned and provided relating to the 1994 '..rorld Cup. John F. Nichols Oakland County Sheriff Dated: 1. City of Pontiac. Michigan WALLACE E. HOLLAND MAYOR Executive Office 450 Wide Track Drive, East Pontiac, Michigan 48342 wo.RLD CUP 313-857-7611 Fax 313-338-7680 UBLIC SAFETY ASS WHEREAS, upon application made by the United States Soccer Federation (the "Federation"), the recognized national governing body for soccer within the United States, the Federation Internationale de Football Association ("FIFA"), the world governing body for soccer, has designated the United States as host country for the 1994 World Cup, the world's largest single sport event; and WHEREAS, the City of Pontiac is desirous of hosting the 1994 World Cup and has within its jurisdiction facilities and their premises, access roads, thoroughfares and other areas which may be used for the purposes of organizing, financing, promoting, accommodating, staging and conducting the 1994 World Cup and its related activities; and WHEREAS, the Police and Fire Departments of the City of Pontiac, are officially charged with the responsibility to provide public safety services within the jurisdiction; NOW, THEREFORE, as requested by the World Cup '94 Organizing Committee ("Organizing Committee"), the entity authorized by FIFA and the Federation to organize and stage 1994 World Cup, and as part of the formal bid of the Pontiac Silverdome to be designated as the 1994 World Cup venue, the Pontiac Police and Fire Departments declare as follows: Upon designation as a 1994 World Cup venue, and at all times thereafter, the Pontiac Police and Fire Departments shall provide all law enforcement and public safety services (including without limitation proper vehicular and pedestrian traffic control, security, police escorts from time to time as requested by the Organizing Committee and other police services and supplies for the protection of people and property) reasonably necessary to the success of the 1994 World Cup within its jurisdiction (whether, recognizing the uniqueness and extraordinary scope of the World Cup, such services are below, equal to or beyond the normal level and range of public safety services usually provided for events held within the jurisdiction), including all planning, training or deployment activities related to the provision of such services, all at no cost, expense or financial liability to FIFA, the Federation, the Organizing Committee nor any director, member, officer, employee or other representat4ves of FIFA. allace E. Holland, Mayor City of Pontiac, Michigan "Only The Best. The Very Best For Pontiac - Oci LIO :WOC=A7IS OVIINOd 1691 95 CIE: I August 5,; C- ,_] LEJ AUG 0 8 1991 COUNTY EXECUTIVE JOHN F. NICHOLS SHERIFF BILLY J. NOUN Undersheriff John F. Nichols Sheriff CA:ILA -CD COUNTY SHEAFF'S DEPARTMENT 1201 North Ildegraph Road Pontiac, Michigan 48341 313/858-5000 Dear Chairman Rewold: On August 5, at 10;30 a.m., I met with Deputy County Executive Kenneth Burchill who informed me that Oakland County and the City of Pontiac were desirous of having the Pontiac Silverdome designated as a 1994 World Cup venue for the United States Soccer Federation. Upon perusal of the included documents, Paragraphs One and Two indicate that the full requirement for law enforcement and public safety necessary for the success of the World Cup including planning, training, deployment, requires the provision of such services all at no expense or liability to the requesting Committee. This, obviously, would include the potential of overtime in unknown amounts since there are no past patterns in the United States as to number of attendees that are to be handled or the personnel requirements -- with the commitment period of some two months. I am including a copy of the Executive Declaration signed by Mr. Murphy -- unsigned by myself, for your perusal. Prior to my signature, I should like the Board of Commissioners to review the documents and authorize participation by this Department if they so desire. I have no problem in accepting the responsibility except that I should not want to do it without the clearcut understanding that there will, undoubtedly, be some major costs involved. I informed Mr. Burchil). that I was going to forward the request to you for the Board's approval, and I would get back with him when any decision is made. Sincerely, Commissioner Roy Rewold, Chairperson Board of Commissioners County of Oakland JFN/ba Enclosures: Document 1 - Agreement/Executive Declaration by Murphy/Nichols Document 2 - Public Safety Assurance statement, City of Pontiac by Wallace E. Holland, Mayor Document 3/4 Press releases issued by World Cup pc: 1,-K. Q. Burchill, Deputy County Executive FOR IMMEDIATE USE May 1, 1991 Contact: Jim Trecker 212/332-1994 TWENTY-SEVEN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES FILE BIDS TO SERVE AS SITES FOR 1994 WORLD CUP NEW YORK, May 1 -- Twenty-seven United States communities have filed formal bids to serve as hosts for games and other events of the 1994 FIFA World Cup soccer championship, it was announced here today, the deadline for cities to submit applications. Charles G. Cale, chief executive officer of World Cup USA 1994, the organizing committee for the event, said "this is an historic occasion for us and, I believe, for the World Cup tournament. Never have so many sites bid to participate in a World Cup, and we are proud of the interest shown across the country." Bids were received from Atlanta; Boston/Foxboro; Charlotte, North Carolina; Chicago; Columbus, Ohio; Dallas; Denver; Detroit/Pontiac; Honolulu; Houston; Kansas City, Missouri; Knoxville; Las Vegas; Los Angeles/Pasadena; Miami; New Haven, Connecticut; New Jersey; New York City; New Orleans; Orlando/Kissimmee-St. Cloud; Philadelphia; Phoenix; Portland/Corvallis; San Francisco Bay Area; Seattle; Tampa Bay; and Washington, D.C. TWENTY-SEVEN CO ITIES BID FOR 1994 WORLD CUP, page 2 The timetable for venue selection calls for each of the communities to make an oral presentation later this month and for World Cup USA 1994 to make recommendations to FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association, soccer's world governing body) this summer. Final announcement of sites will be made in late 1991. "The number of bids we received today is dramatic evidence of the strength of soccer in the United States," commented Alan I. Rothenberg, president of the United States Soccer Federation and co-chairman of World Cup USA. "All of us are dedicated to leaving a strong legacy for soccer as a result of the 1994 World Cup, and this interest is highly encouraging." Though sites will be determined by the end of 1991, the allocation of games to specific venues and stadiums will not occur until mid-1992. The FIFA World Cup is the world's largest single-sport event and is scheduled every four years. The last tournament in Italy in 1990 was viewed by a cumulative television audience of more than 26 billion persons. The 1994 World Cup will take place in June and July and will bring together 24 national teams, including the United States as host nation and Germany as defending champion. Venue Atlanta Charlotte I 1st rd. games & 1/8th final Boston/Foxboro OC, 1st & 2nd round games, semi, 3d/4th pl. Bid Details 1st rd. games, 1/8th final Stadiurn Bobby Dodd Foxboro Charlotte* Chicago Columbus Dallas OC, 1st & 2nd rd. games, semi, 3d/4th pl. 1st & 2nd round games, semi OC, all rounds, final Soldier Ohio Cotton Denver Detroit/Pontiac Honolulu Houston 1st rd. games 1st & 2nd round games 1st rd. games 1st rd. games Mile High Silverdome Aloha Astrodome Kansas City rerr I OC, all rounds, final Arrowhead Knoxville I 1st & 2nd round games, semi Neyland Las Vegas I Final Draw NA Los Angeles/Pasadena I 1st & 2nd round games, semi, final Coliseum Rose Bowl Miami I OC, all rounds, final 4"--4 I OC, 1st & 2nd round games, semi, 3d/4th I OC, all rounds, final Joe Robbie Orange Bowl Yale Bowl Giants Rutgers New York, New York New Orleans Orlando/Kissimmee/ St. Cloud Philadelphia Phoenix Portland/Corvallis OC, all rounds, final OC + 1st rd. games 1st rd. games, semi 1st & 2nd round games, semi 1st rd. games Aqueduct + others TBD Superdome Citrus Bowl Veterans Sun Devil Parker Seattle San Francisco Bay Area Candlestick Stanford Husky Tampa Bay OC, all rounds, final Washington, DC OC, 1st & 2nd round games, semi RFK OC =Opening Ceremonies *Planned or under construction VENUE SELECTION PROCESS CALENDAR May 20-23, 1991 Summer, 1991 September, 1991 December, 1991 Prospective venue communities make oral presentations to World Cup USA 1994 panel in Los Angeles World Cup USA 1994 evaluates venue bids and submits its recommend- ations to FIFA FIFA representatives tour rec- ommended sites Announcement of the 1994 World Cup sites (from 8 to 12 cities will be chosen) Qualifying Draw for the 1994 World Cup (site within the United States TBD) Mid-1992 Announcement of 1994 World Cup schedule and allocation of games to individual cities and stadiums. THE WORLD CUP The Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), soccer's world governing body founded in 1904 and based in Zurich, Switzerland, conducts the World Cup tournament. The FIFA World Cup, staged every four years, is the largest single-sport spectacle in the world--only the Olympic Games compare in scope and international appeal. The most recent World Cup, held in Italy in June and July of 1990, far surpassed any previous tournament in terms of international interest. Italia '90 was viewed by a cumulative worldwide television audience of over 26 billion, and the championship game itself was viewed by 1.3 billion fans, the largest live audience in history. In contrast, Super Bowl XXIV in January, 1990, attracted a live television audience of 110 million viewers. The first World Cup was held in Uruguay in 1930, and except for the war years (1942 and 1946) the event has been held quadrennially. Brazil, West Germany and Italy have each won the World Cup three times, while Uruguay and Argentina have won the coveted trophy twice each. England was victorious in 1966. THE WORLD CUP, page 2 The World Cup tournament consists of 24 national teams playing a total of 52 games over a one-month period. The defending champion and the host country automatically qualify. The remaining 22 countries must survive grueling continental elimination tournaments in which all 165 FIFA countries are eligible to compete. For the 1990 World Cup, 112 nations played 313 games over an 18-month span to determine which nations joined host Italy and defending champion Argentina. The format calls for 36 first round games, during which teams are divided into six groups of four and play a round-robin schedule within the group. This reduces the initial field to 16 teams, which commence the single-elimination second round. THE WORLD CUP Year 1930 1934 1938 1950 1954 1958 1962 1966 1970 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 Site Uruguay Italy France Brazil Switzerland Sweden Chile England Mexico West Germany Argentina Spain Mexico Italy Champion Uruguay Italy Italy Uruguay West Germany Brazil Brazil England Brazil West Germany Argentina Italy Argentina West Germany Runnerup Argentina Czechoslovakia Hungary Brazil Hungary Sweden Czechoslovakia West Germany Italy Netherlands Netherlands West Germany West Germany Argentina Big names gather to support _C(ip bid . By HANK SCHALt_ER Of The Oakland Press wirommamm . _ The selling of World Cup 1994 is under way in earnest. .• . The Michigan World Cup Bid • Committee brought out the big shooters Wednesday night to sell . the World Cup Organizing Com- - mittee on the idea the Pontiac Sil- verclome should be one of 12 sites for world championship soccer action during July 1994. The.gathering at the Cranbrook House in Bloomfield Hills' was a veritable Who's Who of Michigan government and business, all . there to impress upon World Cup * USA 1994 Chairman Alan 1. Rothenberg that the Silverdome should host six World Cup games. The fact soccer fans could spend as much as $80 million dur- ing 2 1/2 weeks of soccer action at the Silverdome was enough to bring together such politicians as Gov. John Engler, Oakland Coun- ty Executive Daniel T. Murphy, Wayne County Executive Edward McNamara, Macomb County Commission Chairman Michael Walsh and Pontiac Mayor Wal- lace E. Holland. It also was motivation enough for General Motors Corp. Chair- man Robert Stempel, Chrysler Corp, President Robert Lutz and such Ford Motor Co. executive's as William Clay 'Ford Jr. and Louis Lata if to show up. ' : -• ' It would be a plus for our com- munity to get the World Cup," Stempel said. "But we have to get ;the general community behind this effort if companies are to get .behind it." At this point, there's no guaran- tee the Silverdome will be select- - ed at a World Cup site. s ." "Your guess is as good as ,"f• mine ;" William McLaughlin, president of the Metropolitan De- troit Convention and Visitors Bu- reau, said when he was asked . :what the Silveraome's char -lees , were. • However, one concern sur- • rounding the Silverdonie bid has been eliminated. Michael Abing- ton, executive director of the Sil- verdome, says it has now been proven grass will grow inside a domed stadium. Plrms call for soccer games here to be played on a scaffold- supported playing surface cov- ered with real grass. , Abington said an $80,000 test conducted at the Superdome in New Orleans has proven conclu- • sively grass can grown in covered , stadiums by using artificial licht- ing. The test was paid for joint ly • by the committees making World Cup bids on behalf of the Houston Astrodome, Supercloine and Sil- . verdome. ' • "The Kentucky bluegrass is growing like crazy in the Super- dome," Abington said. "We had to • do this test because at a time like this you can't make promises you can't keep." Rothenberg, a former Oakland County resident who is among ••. those who will pick the 12 playing sites, agreed it had been proven to , his satisfaction grass will grow in the Silverdome. • He was sure one of the three • • ,t domed stadiums will be s n ',..1",s , as a World Cup playing sitel.'.-ice the Federation International:. de ".• Football (FIFA) officials gav-.., the USA organizing committee mission to to play in indoor sLat;i- . urns. "I think FIFA is curious to see . some World Cup games in domed : stadiums because all across Eu- rope, cities are now in the position ' where they have to replace their stadiums," Rothenberg said. , Rothenberg said the committee representing the Silverdome had enhanced its chances at being se- lected by showing that top execu- tives at GM, Ford and Chrysler ' were interested in having the games played here. "If a community doesn't show corporate support, it isn't going to get the games," he said. • • • , Jim Duggan, executive director. of the Michigan World Cup Bid Committee, hopes to raise be- • tween $1 million and $1,5 in corporate pledges over e text three months to support the verdome The next test for the Silverdome , 'will come in September, when FIFA and World Cup USA 1994 of- ficials will visit the Silverdome for a first-hand look at the stadi- um. . It was expected FIFA and the H organizingOommittee would an- nounce the 12 playing sites on , Dec. 13. However, Rothenburg ° • said that decision could be de- • .1 layed as late as January or Fe- " bruary because of the 26 cities in - the running. . Other areas that made bids to host World Cups games include Atlanta; Boston; Charlotte; Chicago; Columbus, Ohio; Dal- las; Denver; Honolulu; Houston; Kansas City, Mo.; Knoxville, Tenn.; Las Vegas, Nev.; Los An- geles; Miami; New haven, Conn.; New Jersey; New York City; New Orleans; Orlando, Fla.; Philadelphia; Phoenix, Ariz.; Portland, Ore.; San Fran- cisco; Seattle; Tampa, Fla.; arid Washington D.C. . 2 - T . World Curl bid requires a team effor n his Aug. 9 column, "Corporate Detroit ju:,.t doesn't make the cut in bid to boost city's fortunes," Jon Pep- per highlighted the importance of our corporate commu- nity supporting initiatives such as the World Cup bid. Clearly, if De- troit and Michi- gan are to be in the forefront na- tionally and inter- n a tionally, we must be able to mount successful bids for suth events. There is every indication that our civic and cor- porate leadership recognizes the benefits of a suc- cessful World Cup bid, a -c-id that they will respond to our request for support. The U.S. Department of Commerce estimates that 1.5 million visitors will spend $1.5 billion during the monthlong event, and our own economic studies indicate that hosting the World Cup will bring more than $100 million of economic benefit to this region. We would also have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to showcase our state to a global television audience. The World Cup organizing committee, which has the task of selecting 12 venues from the 27 bidders, has stat- ed that the level of community, civic and corporate sup- port will be heavily weighed when the bids are evaluated. To illustrate this suppo , t, we .,erit first to tlie eo. r . community, the youth and senior leagues, which re- sponded magnificently with the $88,000 needed for host - fee deposits. We are now commencing , ,or civic and cor- porate program under newly hired E,xern: be D irector Jim Duggan and Fund-Raising Chairman Howard Hill. We began this effort just 16 days a:to w':i! a reception at Cranbrook, which brought together MH ,;Lall's lead- ers and World Cup Organizing Committee executives. Gov. John Engler and Dan Pero representcdthe state, alongside County Executives Dan Murphy and Ed Mc- Namara, Macomb County Commission Chairman Mike -7alsh and Pontiac Mayor Wallace Holland. Michigan's corporate strength was represented by GM Chairman Bob Stempel, Chrysler President Bob Lutz, William Ford Jr., Lou Lataif and John Roberts from Ford, to- gether with senior executives of many other companies. As a result of this kickoff function and other initia- tives, we have already received our first Commitments of financial support, and we are delighted to say that Gen- eral Motors was first to answer the call! I believe that there will be indoor games for the first time ever in the 1994 World Cup, and the Silverdome is the leading contender for that honor. Jon Pepper is quite correct in his assertions. We have an ongoing need for support as we conclude the bid pro- cess, and we will need pledges of support to show we can meet our financial obligati.Ais ...iver the next three years. We appreciate Pepper having brought the subject to the attention of The News' readership. Roger N. Faulkner CHAIRMAN, MICHIGAN BID COMMITTEE, FARMINGTON HILLS