Thursday, October 1, 2026
The Port of Olympia is joining a partnership with local jurisdictions in Thurston County to organize fan events during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Port of Olympia Commission authorized Executive Director Alex Smith to enter into a memorandum of understanding for the coordination of the Olympia-Lacey FIFA World Cup Fan Zone.
The action was taken as part of the commission’s consent agenda at a meeting on March 23.
The fan zone will be a ticketed offering where people can watch live FIFA matches on a large screen. The event will include vendors, cultural programming, family-oriented activities and VIP options.
Originally planned for the NorthPoint site, the fan zone will now be held at Port Plaza and is scheduled to open during four games on June 19, 24, 25 and 26.
The Thurston County Chamber of Commerce is the lead entity of the project, which is also being organized by Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater and Thurston County.
Under the memorandum of understanding, the port is supporting the event by providing Port Plaza at no charge, supplying power and Wi-Fi, as well as hosting an incident command center.
The port will also serve as the contracting entity to administer around $175,500 in lodging taxes from partner jurisdictions.
The port will also enter into separate agreements with its partners so that it can be reimbursed for approved expenditures after the event.
9 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
Snevets
Who in the hell is going to fly into this country during this ICE administration?
Monday, March 30 Report this
OlyBlues
This is an unbelievable gambling of $175K plus in our tax dollars by the Port and all local jurisdictions. I do not want to ever hear of these jurisdictions having financial problems and needing more taxes to make ends meet after diverting tax dollars like this to a sports "fan zone." I hope there will be an independent study not commissioned by any jurisdiction involved that will be made public to show if this event met its benchmarks for revenue and bringing in more tax dollars than they are wasting here on totally non-essential services.
Tuesday, March 31 Report this
Olyrkrgrrl
I second the opinion expressed by OlyBlues. It seems like such an extensive expense, to appeal to people that don't even live here, while there are so many other things that could be done.
Tuesday, March 31 Report this
ddttwo2
WHATS UP WITH ALL THE DEBBIE DOWNER COMMENTS?? Could you be less POSITIVE on the largest Sporting event in the entire WORLD???? You all probably hate Soccer (Futbol) anyway so lets keep all of the ICE crap to yourself and whining about TAX dollars being spent by the Port... if you want to complain about anything it should be that FERGUSON just passed a bill that was illegal because the Washington State Voters all have said NO many times to a State Income Tax??? What does he do? calls it something else just to start the ball rolling...
Tuesday, March 31 Report this
Boatyarddog
ddttwo2 you're just out of touch with reality and the rest of olympia , oh , well
Thursday, April 2 Report this
Boatyarddog
ddttwo, it's a tax on Millionairs, LONG OVER DUE! FUTBALL! no one will care about this fail of an event. It's MORE Port Scamming by The Liars of the Commissions.
Friday, April 3 Report this
Wesley
W.T.H. is an "ICE administration"?
Sunday, April 19 Report this
Boatyarddog
So HERE is some Real NEWS for this projected failure An industry that bet big is now calling the World Cup a ‘non-event’
According to the American Hotel & Lodging Association, 80% of hotels across the 11 host cities are describing room bookings as a “non-event.” But Most of Us already knew this. Another projected failure touted as An Income generator. BS! POO
Friday, May 8 Report this
Boatyarddog
ALONG WITH other e ends being canceled due to international Travel bans and entry issues for sports players, musicians from other countries,etc. Here is your Authoritarian Leaders at Work Isolating America so they can clean up.
Friday, May 8 Report this