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Public Hearing to Consider Any Written or Oral Comments on the Summary Report Associated with the Economic Development Subsidy to be Provided to the Oakland Roots & Soul in an Amount Not-to-Exceed $150,000 in Support of a World Cup Team at an Alameda Facility during the World Cup Tournament in Summer 2026. (Base Reuse and Economic Development 10061810)
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To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Adam W. Politzer, Interim City Manager
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The FIFA Men’s World Cup tournament is currently being held in North America. The Oakland Roots & Soul (Roots) training facility in the City of Alameda (City) is serving as a Team Base Camp Training Site for the Australia men’s national soccer team.
On July 15, 2025, City Council authorized the City Manager to negotiate and execute a Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) Sharing Agreement to enable the Roots to share up to a maximum of $150,000 from the City’s TOT increment above a baseline amount, in support of their proposal to FIFA to sponsor a World Cup team.
On April 21, 2026, City Council held a public hearing regarding the Economic Development subsidy being considered for the Roots and approved the execution of a TOT Sharing Agreement which would provide the subsidy.
The state of California requires the following multi-step process when an economic development subsidy is given
• First, City Council must hold a public hearing to present a Summary Report, which outlines the terms of the subsidy and the benefits to the community. This public hearing was held on April 21, 2026, when City Council also approved the TOT Sharing Agreement with the Roots.
• After the initial public hearing, the Summary Report is published and noticed on the City website for the public to review and provide comments.
• Prior to the subsidy being disbursed and during the subsidy period, a second public hearing will be held to identify and address public comments on the Summary Report. This second public hearing is scheduled for June 16, 2026.
BACKGROUND
In February 2026, FIFA announced that the Roots would be hosting the Australia men’s World Cup team at their training facility. The main benefit to the host community and surrounding area of being a Team Base Camp is the thousands of fans interested in following the Australia World Cup team, and the spending by these visitors in local businesses and at local hotels and short-term rentals during the World Cup period.
While the presence of a Team Base Camp will provide economic opportunity to the community, hosting a team results in a significant financial cost to the Roots club, estimated to be at least $700,000 and the need to invest approximately $5 million in field upgrades.
The Roots therefore sought partnership with Alameda and the neighboring cities to support and close the financial gap and for the community to benefit overall.
On July 15, 2025, City Council authorized the City Manager to negotiate and execute a TOT Sharing Agreement to enable the Roots to share up to a maximum of $150,000 from the City TOT increment above a baseline amount, in support of their proposal to FIFA to sponsor a World Cup team.
On April 21, 2026, City Council held a public hearing regarding The Economic Development subsidy being considered for the Roots and approved the execution of a TOT Sharing Agreement which would provide the subsidy.
On July 15, 2026, City Council authorized the City Manager to negotiate and execute a TOT Sharing Agreement to enable the Roots to share up to a maximum of $150,000 from the City TOT increment above a baseline amount.
The subsidy provided by the TOT Sharing Agreement is subject to California Government Code Section 53083 which requires that a Summary Report be prepared which outlines the deal points of the subsidy and that a public hearing be held to consider any written or oral comments on the information provided in the report.
DISCUSSION
The purpose of the subsidy is to support the costs that the Roots are incurring to host a World Cup team at their Alameda training facility. The public benefits are as follows:
• Increased global visibility for the Oakland Roots & Soul as a sports entertainment destination.
• Increased global visibility of, and improvements to, the Alameda-based Oakland Roots & Soul training facility as a world class sports venue.
• Substantial increase in the number of national and international visitors to Alameda and surrounding areas, resulting in greater hotel room stays, and increased shopping and dining at local businesses.
• Associated increases in TOT and sales tax revenues to the City’s General Fund.
• Increased regional exposure of the Downtown Alameda, West Alameda, Harbor Bay, Alameda Point, Alameda Landing, South Shore Center, and Marina Village areas as destinations to play, work and shop.
The Summary Report is included as Exhibit 1 and this public hearing is to provide the public with an opportunity to comment on the Summary Report and staff will respond as appropriate.
ALTERNATIVES
Postpone the public hearing until a future City Council meeting. As the TOT Sharing Agreement has been executed, the City is required by State Law to host a public hearing during the subsidy period, which will extend until November 30, 2026.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The $150,000 pledged through the TOT Sharing Agreement will be derived from the incremental increase in TOT generated from the event, assuming that occupancies and corresponding TOT would not exceed average occupancy rates but for the presence of this event. In addition, staff believe there is the possibility of an additional economic benefit to the City in the form of increased spending at restaurants and shops, as well as increased visibility of the amenities offered in Alameda. Therefore staff anticipate a neutral, or positive, fiscal impact to the General Fund.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
The City’s economic development activities are based on the Economic Development Strategic Plan and continue to support and move forward the strategies.
This action is subject to the Levine Act.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This action does not constitute a “project” as defined in California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378, and therefore, no further CEQA analysis is required.
CLIMATE IMPACT
There are no identifiable climate impacts or climate action opportunities associated with the subject of this report.
RECOMMENDATION
Hold a Public Hearing to consider any written or oral comments on the Summary Report associated with the economic development subsidy to be provided to the Oakland Roots & Soul in an amount not-to-exceed $150,000 in support of a World Cup team at an Alameda facility during the World Cup tournament in Summer 2026
Respectfully submitted,
Abigail Thorne-Lyman, Base Reuse and Economic Development Director
By:
Dwayne Dalman, Economic Development Division Manager
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Ross McCarthy, Acting Finance Director
Exhibits:
1. Summary Report
2. TOT Sharing Agreement