Title
Public Hearing to Consider an Economic Development Subsidy to be Provided to the Oakland Roots & Soul; and
Adoption of Resolution Authorizing the Interim City Manager to Execute a Transient Occupancy Tax Sharing Agreement with the Oakland Roots & Soul in an Amount Not-To-Exceed $150,000 in Support of a World Cup Team at its Alameda Facility during the World Cup Tournament in Summer, 2026. (Base Reuse and Economic Development 10061810)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Adam W. Politzer, Interim City Manager
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In the summer of 2026, the FIFA Men's World Cup tournament will be held in North America. The Oakland Roots & Soul (Roots) has been approved by the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) to have its training facility, located in Alameda, be designated as a Team Base Camp Training Site for the Australia men's national soccer team. 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.
However, the Roots training facility would require upgrades, and the host is expected to carry other costs estimated at $700,000. On July 15, 2025 City Council authorized the City Manager to negotiate and execute a Transient Occupancy Tax Sharing Agreement to enable the Roots to share up to a maximum of $150,000 from the City of Alameda Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) increment above a baseline amount, in support of their proposal to FIFA to sponsor a World Cup team.
Staffs requests that the City Council hold a public hearing regarding the Economic Development subsidy being considered for the Roots and approve the execution of a TOT Sharing Agreement to fund the subsidy.
BACKGROUND
In February 2026, FIFA announced that the Roots would be hosting the Australia men's World Cu...
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