Which city has more "global city" potential? Cleveland or Cincinnati or Columbus... (Toledo: sales, credit)

[mrconfusion87]

Just curious what you think on this issue...

Here's a list of characteristics as defined by the Wikipedia article on Global City (Global city - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

The characteristics sometimes chosen include

• International, first-name familiarity; whereby a city is recognized without the need for a political subdivision. For example, although there are numerous cities and other political entities with the name Paris or variations on it, one would say "Paris", not "Paris, France".
• Active influence on and participation in international events and world affairs; for example, Washington, Berlin, Brussels are major capitals of influential nations or unions.
• A fairly large population (the centre of a metropolitan area with a population of at least one million, typically several million).
• A major international airport that serves as an established hub for several international airlines.
• An advanced transportation system that includes several highways and/or a large mass transit network offering multiple modes of transportation (rapid transit, light rail, regional rail, ferry, or bus).
• In the West, several international cultures and communities (such as a Chinatown, a Little Italy, a Tehrangeles or other immigrant communities); for example, New York City, Los Angeles, Toronto, Chicago, San Francisco, São Paulo and Vancouver. In other parts of the world, cities which attract large foreign businesses and related expatriate communities; for example, Hong Kong, Moscow, Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo.
• International financial institutions, law firms, corporate headquarters, international conglomerates, and stock exchanges (for example the World Bank, or the New York Stock Exchange) that have influence over the world economy.
• An advanced communications infrastructure on which modern trans-national corporations rely, such as fiberoptics, Wi-Fi networks, cellular phone services, and other high-speed lines of communications.
• World-renowned cultural institutions, such as museums and universities.
• A lively cultural scene, including film festivals (such as the Berlinale or the Toronto International Film Festival), premieres, a thriving music or theatre scene (for example, West End theatre and Broadway); an orchestra, an opera company, art galleries, and street performers.
• Several powerful and influential media outlets with an international reach, such as the BBC, Reuters, The New York Times, or Agence France-Presse.
• A strong sporting community, including major sports facilities, home teams in major league sports, and the ability and historical experience to host international sporting events such as the Olympic Games, Football World Cup, or Grand Slam tennis events.

Debate away!

[BelieveInCleve]

Based on those characteristics/that definition it would definitely have to be Cleveland, no contest.

Next would be Cincinnati and then Columbus, although Columbus is continuously growing and improving.

[Clevelander17]

Why not just use the GaWC rankings that come out every few years?

GaWC - The World According to GaWC 2008

Anyways, no city in Ohio is a true "global city." Cleveland is probably the closest and most established, but Columbus has come on quite a bit in recent years and will probably surpass Cleveland very soon (if it already hasn't).

[aquila]

First, can we please please PLEASE learn to spell "Cincinnati" correctly? I'm so fed up with people spelling it "Cincinatti", or "Cinncinati" or "Cinccinatti"....and other similar variations. Come on...people don't spell "Cleveland" as "Cleavland", nor do they spell "Columbus" as "Collumbuss". It's really not that hard.

Now onwards....

With respect to that list of characteristics which define a "global city", there are obviously some areas in which each city stands out moreso than the other two. However, none of Ohio's 3 major cities would be classified as "global cities", since no single one of them incorporates everything on that list of characteristics.

[NorthPoleMarathoner]

I would say no Ohio cities would qualify. Whenever I have been overseas I have found that most people have never even heard of Ohio. Only cities in the Midwest people in other countries know about are Detroit, Chicago and St Louis.

But if I had to rank them on potential I would go:

1) Cleveland
2) Akron
3) Cincinnati
4) Toledo
5) Columbus
6) Dayton

[Clevelander17]

Originally Posted by NorthPoleMarathoner

Only cities in the Midwest people in other countries know about are Detroit, Chicago and St Louis.

Apparently folks around the world remember the 1904 Olympic Games!

[JR_C]

When I was in Italy, when asked where I was from by a sales person I would obviously say Ohio. Then, on more than one occasion, they asked if I was from the Columbus area. I was a bit surprised at first. But I don't give Columbus credit for this. I think it was a sales tactic to memorize the capitals of our states so that the salesperson could sound like they knew something about where their potential customer (tourist) came from.

[jam40jeff]

Originally Posted by aquila

First, can we please please PLEASE learn to spell "Cincinnati" correctly? I'm so fed up with people spelling it "Cincinatti", or "Cinncinati" or "Cinccinatti"....and other similar variations. Come on...people don't spell "Cleveland" as "Cleavland", nor do they spell "Columbus" as "Collumbuss". It's really not that hard.

That says something about how unnatural the spelling is, but also may say something as to Cincinnati not being a global city. I would say the top 3 in Ohio are Cleveland, then Columbus, then Cincinnati. Columbus is probably getting close to Cleveland as far as recognition. I think it's a shame, my favorite cities (by far) are Cleveland and Cincinnati, but I just think that's the way outsiders look at Ohio cities.

[Cincy-Rise]

Originally Posted by jam40jeff

That says something about how unnatural the spelling is, but also may say something as to Cincinnati not being a global city.

... or that it was once ranked the 5th hardest city in the U.S. to spell. lol


The answer: none.

[BelieveInCleve]

Cleveland:
-Yes, when you say "Cleveland" almost anywhere people will assume you're talking about Cleveland, OH whether you said Ohio or not. Especially now with the Cleveland Clinic being so large and universal. Sports teams add to that and the reputation, Drew Carey, Lebron James, Bone Thugs n Harmony, John D. Rockefeller, and many others are all well known across the country and world and have helped to get the city recognized in that aspect.
-To some degree.
-Yes, 2.1 million people 2.9 million if you count Akron and 5.2 million in the entire NE Ohio region. Very large population center.
-Yes, CLE, Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.
-Yes, many highways and mass transit/public transportation. RTA, light rail, heavy rail, Buses, Amtrak and possibly a regional rail coming soon.
-Yes, Asia Town, Little Italy, Near Westside/Lorain (Puerto Rican/Hispanic Culture/Community), Glenville Fairfax, etc. (African American Culture/Community), many others etc.
-Yes Cleveland is a major banking and Federal Reserve center.
-Yes, Cleveland was named one of Americas most "wired cities" (ahead of all other Ohio cities) with almost the entire area has cell phone service reception and internet provider services, etc.
-Yes, many museums, universities, and other cultural institutions. Playhouse Square, Cleveland Opera, Cleveland Orchestra, Severance Hall, Blossom Music Center, Cleveland Museum of Art, etc. etc.
-Yes, as mentioned in the previous one. Great Lakes theater festival, Oktoberfest, Puerto Rican Day Parade/Latino Fest (Lorain also with international festival), St. Patricks' day parade, Broadway Musicals, many others etc.
-Yes, to some degree. Cleveland Plain Dealer, other news papers, 5 news channels, etc.
-Yes, very much. 3 very major sports teams and many smaller teams and minor league ones in Cleveland or close by. Quicken Loans Arena (Gund Arena), Progressive Field (Jacobs Field), Browns Stadium, etc. I know I'm missing some but I'm not sure about the last part, I would imagine that we had the capability to do some of those though.

I don't think any other city/metro in Ohio can get close to that. No disrespect to them of course. But yes I believe Cleveland is the most Global City in Ohio.