Help Indy win the bid for the 2018-2022 World Cups

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Indianapolis is making its pitch to bring soccer to the city's football stadium a decade or more in the future.

Those games would be part of the World Cup.

And the world cup would mean world wide attention for Indianapolis and millions of dollars in economic impact.

Lucas Oil Stadium is in the running to host between three and five World Cup games in either 2018 or 2022.

John Dedman of the Indiana Sports Corporation says 18 US cities are still in the running for a chance at hosting a part of the World Cup if the US is selected to hold the event.

"Right now we're really focused on the country's bid and trying to make sure that the U-S locks up either 2018-2022 as a whole."

Delegations from all 18 cities, including Indianapolis have been in New York City meeting with FIFA, the World Cup Sponsoring Organization.

It's just another step in what has been about an 18 month effort to have Indianapolis picked as one of 12 host cities if the US is awarded the World Cup.

Dedman says, it’s an effort that would pay big rewards.

"You would have individuals coming from oversees for up to 30 days to follow their country's team around. You'd have local and regional fans who would descend on the city to eat in our restaurants, shop in our malls, go to our lovely new Lucas Oil stadium and watch soccer action."

That means money flowing from fans into the city for an entire month.

"You're really looking at what could be 30 days of economic impact with international travelers coming here. So you're looking in the estimated range of hundreds of millions of dollars to each of the city's that's chosen," says Dedman.

So far, Indianapolis has made the cut, twice. Lucas Oil Stadium is big enough to meet World Cup requirements, and can be open air or enclosed, whichever is required. The convention center expansion means plenty of room for World Cup events and the number of hotel rooms in the city fits with FIFA’S needs. But first, the U-S has to be awarded the bid. Then Indianapolis will really begin the fight to be in the final 12.

Nine countries are in the running for the 2018 World Cup. Eleven countries are in the running for 2022. FIFA will make it's decision on December 2nd. If the US is awarded the World Cup, then USA soccer will decide which cities get to host the games.

To help Indy win the bid as the host city, the city wants you to sign a petition supporting Indianapolis’ bid to become a World Cup city.