Laura Woods and ITV move to emergency World Cup studio as broadcaster takes precautions

Laura Woods
Laura Woods (Image credit: Getty)

ITV's World Cup coverage has received an impromptu change of scenery.

Setting up shop in New York City for this summer's World Cup, ITV's presenting team anticipated spending the next six weeks working outdoors with scenic views of the Manhattan skyline.

Unlike rival BBC, whose studio content is based exclusively from their base at Salford's Media City, the broadcaster's Stateside studio has been a bit hit.

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ITV's World Cup studio switch explained

ITV's World Cup studio is set against the New York skyline

ITV's World Cup studio is set against the New York skyline (Image credit: Getty Images)

The ITV studio for the World Cup sits on the roof of a luxury apartment complex in Dumbo, which is an acronym for 'Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass' and is next to Brooklyn Bridge.

It also boasts views of the neighbouring Hudson River and the Manhattan skyline to offer viewers a taste of the Big Apple from the comfort of their television screens.

Patrick Vieira

Patrick Vieira

But presenter Laura Woods as well as pundits Juan Mata, Patrick Vieira and Karen Carney were forced to relocate during coverage of Switzerland's win over Bosnia and Herzegovina.

High winds in the local area heavily impacted on the live coverage with sound becoming distorted while those on air saw their hair and clothes visibly blown.

The on-air team returned soon after in a different setting by moving into a back-up set inside the apartment complex which was free of any inclement interventions.

ITV's wind-swept issues came on the same day that weather caused further havoc across the Big Apple as the US Open in Long Island was temporarily halted by fog.

Woods told viewers: “We have relocated downstairs and inside to get away from the wind.

“Just to give you an idea of just how windy it was, and in case you didn’t see us getting knocked about all over the place, day one of the US Open was also suspended, and they’re not far from us.

“So, listen, ultimately, very windy. But inside here it’s absolutely great.”

Fears of World Cup fixtures being hampered by extreme weather are yet to be realised despite strong evidence ahead of the tournament's opening games.

England's friendly with Costa Rica was delayed by thunderstorms

England's friendly with Costa Rica was delayed by thunderstorms (Image credit: Getty Images)

Last year's Club World Cup was heavily disrupted by electrical storms in the United States with six matches suspended including Chelsea's last-16 tie with Benfica.

The game halted in the 86th minute and only concluded two hours later while kick-off in England's warm-up friendly with Costa Rica in Orlando was delayed by an hour.

Fortunately, concerns of a repeat have yet to distract from the main event so far.

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