Plans to enlist private developers to construct an athlete’s village and a new “Midtown” neighborhood that would become home to a temporary Olympic stadium created the “biggest sources of risk” in Boston’s now unsuccessful bid to host the 2024 summer games, an analysis done for the state by The Brattle Group found. “The analysis repeatedly emphasizes that cost and revenue estimates made by Boston 2024 were in many cases detached from the realities reported by other host cities, particularly as they applied to the London 2012 Games and pending Olympics in Rio and Tokyo”.
Advertisement
The report concludes the financial implications for the state could have been substantial while its economic impact modest.
Boston 2024 organizers had no immediate comment on the report.
Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker’s refusal to commit himself to backing the bid until the publication of the Brattle Group’s report was a key factor in the USOC’s choice to drop Boston’s much-maligned attempt.
“Even though the bid was withdrawn, this report demonstrates that there were a series of real risks associated with bringing the games to Massachusetts”, Senate President Stanley Rosenberg said in a statement.
But the report also outlines significant risk of going over budget, saying if the massive project didn’t achieve projected cost savings, it could have cost taxpayers $750 million.
Gov. Charlie Baker reacts during a news conference at the Statehouse in Boston earlier this year.
The Brattle Group’s report cost taxpayers $250,000.
Laura Oggeri, a spokeswoman for Walsh, said numerous Brattle Group’s concerns mirrored questions the mayor had throughout the bidding process. He plans to hold a 2:30 p.m. press conference at the State House on Tuesday. “Massachusetts dodged a bullet”.
Advertisement
“This independent analysis confirms that Boston 2024 was a risky deal for taxpayers”, the opposition group said in a statement. “The healthy skepticism expressed by voters and leaders in the State House was warranted”. Stay with MassLive for updates.
