Thursday, October 1, 2026
A proposed memorandum of understanding, which outlines the Port of Olympia’s role in hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup Olympia–Lacey Fan Zone, has surfaced a few months ahead of the event.
Community and Economic Development Director Mike Reid presented the proposal to the Port of Olympia Commission at a meeting on Monday, Feb. 23.
The fan zone is part of a statewide effort to make World Cup matches more accessible to communities across Washington, while generating economic development opportunities for participating jurisdictions.
The Seattle FIFA Local Organizing Committee selected Olympia–Lacey as one of nine official fan zone locations, where residents can watch matches on a large outdoor screen and participate in related activities.
The Olympia-Lacey Fan Zone is going to be located at the port’s North Point property for matches on June 19 and June 24–26. Each match is expected to draw between 2,500 and 5,000 attendees to the fan zone, according to event consultant Jennie Foglia-Jones.
The proposed memorandum involves the Port of Olympia, Thurston County, as well as the cities of Olympia, Lacey and Tumwater.
Because the fan zone is going to be funded primarily through lodging tax revenues from the cities and county, expenses incurred during the event would have to be reimbursed rather than paid upfront.
Under the proposal, the Thurston County Chamber of Commerce would serve as the fiscal agent and project manager for the fan zone. Instead of the chamber entering into multiple agreements with participating jurisdictions, Reid said the port would enter into a direct professional services agreement with the chamber.
The participating jurisdictions would then reimburse the port for their share of the costs.
Since the port does not generate lodging taxes, Reid said that the port’s contribution would be in-kind by lending the North Point site at no charge. The port would also assist with operational coordination, providing temporary power and Wi-Fi access, as well as operating an incident command center.
In addition, the port would coordinate controlled access for businesses affected by the event, including Swantown Marina and Anthony’s Hearthfire Grill, to ensure customers retain access to designated parking areas.
Reid emphasized that the port has managed similar logistics for other large events previously held at the North Point site, such as the South Sound Block Party.
The port commission is expected to address the memorandum of understanding at its meeting on March 9.
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Boatyarddog
So, in short they have NO idea of how much "real" income they will generate for this Event
Par for the Course when the POO is involved in bad decision making for Port income
GEEEZE your planning Sucks POO.
Tuesday, February 24 Report this
debpattin
Boatyardguy, where does it say anywhere in this article, or during the Port Commission meeting, that the POO was spending money on FIFA? My reading is that lodging taxes are paying the expenses, and the POO is allowing the FIFA Fan Zone to use the Northpoint parking area.
Tuesday, February 24 Report this
JulesJames
June 26 Egypt (ranked 31) and Iran (20)!!!! That is our best. June 19 USA (15) and Australia (27) should be rowdy-good. June 24 Qatar (56) verses a play-in = meh. Bremerton has 8 days of fan zone. Might pick up a fun cultural match-up there.
Tuesday, February 24 Report this
OlyBlues
I really hope the Daily Zero and the JOLT publish the actual numbers of people who are attending these elaborate "fan zones" paid for by taxpayers and report how much revenue they actually create after deducting expenses. At a time when government says they are going broke and short on revenue, spending lavishly on fan zones for sporting events is irresponsible and reckless gambling with precious tax dollars.
Wednesday, February 25 Report this
Mugwump
So you're telling me I get to have the opportunity to stand outside in the sun (maybe) in a parking lot with a bunch of drunks and watch a (some) soccer match(es) on a big screen? And I get to pay a ridiculous amount of money for this privilege? Not to knock "The Beautiful Game" or anything but PASS.
Wednesday, February 25 Report this
AgGrad
It would take an amazingly good marketing program to attract 10,000 to 20,000 total fans to these events. That number sounds like a wild guess to me, and organizers should not be surprised if only 10% of that number actually show. The "events" will be competing with thousands of local home televisions, as well as dozens of old fashioned sports bars.
To the person who said the FIFA events would be "supported" by the hotel & lodging tax; hotel & lodging taxes are supposed to close the large gap between actual cash port revenues, and the port's high expenses that create its ongoing deficit. Those taxes don't come close to covering that deficit now, I believe.
Wednesday, February 25 Report this
Olyrkrgrrl
It aounds like Olympia got hoodwinked into "participating" in some kind of hyped up scheme, to lure thousands of people to participate in an event made up by the well-known corrupt organization FIFA. To watch sports on an outdoor screen, like an old fashioned outdoor movie theater...because everyone enjoys them so much, we don't even have them any more. Who even wants this here? Why weren't Olympia residents consulted, or allowed to vote on whether we want to open our community to drunken corrupt sports brawlers, all the traffic and noise? Does anyone here even give a hoot about FIFA? Seriously. All the POO should be recalled. They have been duped by an international conspiracy of money making for billionaires and corrupt politicians, and one recipient of a fake trophy.
Check this out, it's from FIFA's website..."From a billion-dollar federal funding surge to the deployment of elite counter-drone technology, the U.S. government and FIFA are working in tandem to transform host cities into “hard zones” for fan protection." Sounds like Donny's friends are spending tons of (our taxpayer?) $$ on "keeping us safe" from drone warfare at these events... uh, yeah...good luck, humans. I hope they know how to aim that thing.
Wednesday, February 25 Report this
Boatyarddog
@debpattin, hey Deb maybe yoir glasses filter reality? This here all costs staff Time, which is County tax Money, unless its all Volenteers. Suppling Temporary Power, Logistics, for parking, WiFi access, Incident Command Center, operational coordination. Is this all Free? NO! Staff and Utilities ALL cost Money.
The port would also assist with operational coordination, providing temporary power and Wi-Fi access, as well as operating an incident command center.
In addition, the port would coordinate controlled access for businesses affected by the event, including Swantown Marina and Anthony’s Hearthfire Grill, to ensure customers retain access to designated parking areas.
Friday, February 27 Report this
Boatyarddog
Id bet dollars, the attendence will be much less than projected. Its what this Port does best, Giveaways, and losses, with zero transparency to the Public, we all have seen it year after Year.
Friday, February 27 Report this
Somney
there will be protests there too though... that is guaranteed.
Monday, March 2 Report this