It seems everyone has an opinion on where Amazon should build its second headquarters.

Speculation and handicapping have run amok since the Seattle-based company announced it was seeking bids to accommodate what it says will be a $5 billion, 50,000-employee campus with the potential to generate billions in economic benefits.

The Seattle Times reports that more than 100 cities, states, provinces and counties in the U.S. and Canada will vie for what is shaping up to be one the greatest economic development opportunities in generations. It’s also shaping up to be one of the most expensive for taxpayers; the company’s potential incentives and tax-related subsidies tied to the new HQ2 are widely anticipated to reach in the billions.

Local officials have until Oct. 19 to submit proposals to Amazon. The company expects to announce a winner next year.

The jockeying has led to some false starts over the past week. Bloomberg, citing “a person briefed on the matter,” reported that Boston was a leading candidatefor the new “HQ2” facility. But that report was quickly shot down by Amazon. Similar canards have had a daily presence on the news wires.

“We are just getting started with the process, and every city is on an equal playing field,” Amazon spokesman Drew Herdener said not long after the Bloomberg report went live. Read the full story here.