Motion 2018-02 – FIFA World Cup Support Page 1 of 2
MOTION 2018-02:
A MOTION OF THE PORT OF SEATTLE COMMISSION
to support Seattle’s proposal to be a host city for the 2026
Fédèration Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)
World Cup; directing execution of an airport agreement as
part of the city’s proposal; and directing staff to work with
the bid committee to address cost recovery for services
provided at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
ADOPTED
FEBRUARY 13, 2018
TEXT OF THE MOTION
The Port of Seattle supports Seattle’s proposal to be a host city for the 2026 Fédération
Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup. The effectiveness of Seattle’s proposal
will be enhanced by the Port’s cooperation throughout the bid process. As a city known for its
enthusiastic soccer fans, hosting a FIFA World Cup event will promote Seattle as a welcoming
city and demonstrate our region’s commitment to recreation, health, human rights, equality,
and environmental stewardship. In addition, it will bring significant economic benefits to
Seattle’s tourism industry. The Commission directs staff to work with the Seattle bid committee
to address an agreement for cost recovery for services provided at Seattle-Tacoma
International Airport.
STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF THE MOTION
Seattle is one of 32 cities in the United States, Mexico, and Canada being considered by the
United Bid Committee (UBC) as a host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. FIFA will determine
final host country(ies) for 2026 by June 2018 and, along with UBC, will determine final host
cities five years prior to the event.
Seattle is home to Sounders FC, a Major League Soccer (MLS) team, that continues to shatter
attendance records with the highest average attendance in MLS every year since 2009. A FIFA
World Cup event has the potential to inspire new soccer enthusiasts as well as longstanding
soccer fans.
The Port of Seattle supports organizations like Starfire Sports that create world-class sports
opportunities for all youth in our community by providing financial assistance programs that
reach over 5,000 children annually who might otherwise miss out on the opportunity to play
Motion 2018-02 – FIFA World Cup Support Page 2 of 2
soccer on the world-class stage. Last year, the Port of Seattle provided a $6,000 grant to Starfire
Sports to market and promote tournament events and dates to teams traveling from outside of
Washington.
International soccer tournament will bring significant economic benefits. In 1994, the United
States hosted the FIFA World Cup and received an estimated $4 billion in economic benefits as
soccer fans bring significant additional revenue to World Cup host cities’ hotels, restaurants,
retail stores, and local taxes.
An international sporting event requires assurances that facilities are able to accommodate the
number of soccer fans, players, officials, referees, media and other stakeholders traveling to and
from Seattle. As part of the bidding process, the Port of Seattle has been asked to execute an
airport agreement as part of the transport infrastructure component related to being a host city.
The Port recognizes there are legal and operational risks involved with such an agreement,
however, remains committed to working with the Seattle Bid Committee and the UBC
throughout the bid process.
Our facility, the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) continues to be one of the
fastest growing airports in the nation. In 2017, we set another record for the seventh
consecutive year with 46.9 million passengers traveling through Sea-Tac – an increase of 41
percent over the last five years. International passenger traffic was up 5.4 percent in 2017 with
four new international airlines routes and expects three more international routes to be added
in 2018.
To expedite global travel and trade, Sea-Tac is spending over $3 billion in near-term capital
development to accommodate increasing demand within the boundaries of the airport’s
existing footprint while respecting the needs of local communities and the environment. In
2017, the airport broke ground on the new International Arrivals Facility and when complete in
2019 will double its size, increase passenger throughput, and reduce connection time. In
addition, we are expanding and renovating our North Satellite to add gates and amenities and
improving the centralized baggage system.
STATEMENT OF POLICY DIRECTION
The Commission hereby directs the Port staff to execute an airport agreement as part of
Seattle’s proposal to be a host city for 2026 FIFA World Cup and continue to work with the
Seattle Bid Committee throughout the process. The Commission directs staff to work with the
Seattle bid committee to address an agreement for cost recovery for services provided at
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
