Miami is likely one of the host cities for the 2026 World Cup — not Fort Lauderdale.
But Fort Lauderdale has acquired a request to dedicate $350,000 in taxpayer {dollars} to assist model the town through the video games.
Mayor Dean Trantalis is questioning why the town would contribute any cash in any respect if Laborious Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens has already been chosen as a host venue.
“The precise video games are going to be performed on the Laborious Rock Stadium, which isn’t in Broward County,” Trantalis stated throughout a current Metropolis Corridor assembly. “The one time soccer gamers will probably be collaborating in Broward County could be at Chase Stadium, however just for follow periods.”
Subsequent yr’s World Cup is being co-hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The matches will probably be held in 16 cities throughout the three nations from June 11 to July 19, with the ultimate going down in New York/New Jersey.
Trantalis additionally questioned how President Donald Trump’s journey ban may influence attendance on the video games.
“Ticket gross sales have plummeted as a result of everybody’s afraid to return to the USA who may discover themselves in an untoward scenario as a result of they’re not a U.S. nationwide,” Trantalis stated. “It was reported that ticket gross sales (for this yr’s video games) at the moment are down as a result of persons are not shopping for the tickets. They’re afraid to return to the U.S.”
The journey ban makes exceptions for “any athlete or member of an athletic workforce, together with coaches, individuals performing a crucial assist function, and fast relations, touring for the World Cup, Olympics, or different main sporting occasion as decided by the secretary of state.”
The journey ban, nevertheless, doesn’t point out exceptions for followers from focused nations eager to journey to the USA to absorb the video games.
Officers with FIFA, organizer of the World Cup, couldn’t be reached for remark.
The World Cup video games would current Fort Lauderdale with a novel branding alternative, Metropolis Supervisor Rickelle Williams instructed the fee.
“It’s actually a global sports activities tourism and financial improvement alternative,” Williams stated. “We’d prefer to leverage our monetary dedication with Go to Lauderdale and Broward County. The request to the county will probably be mentioned in August and the request is about $2.5 million. The $350,000 could be to make it possible for Fort Lauderdale has a stake in no matter activations come out of that.”
The mayor, who represents the town on the county’s Tourism Improvement Council, continued to query whether or not it might be a wise use of taxpayer funds.
“This got here up on the final Vacationer Improvement Council assembly,” Trantalis stated. “And the final sentiment was, ‘What are we getting out of it?’ I’d wish to maintain again and wait and see what that cash’s going to go in direction of and the way we’re going to revenue from that. Actually, I don’t see any acquire from it.”
Susannah Bryan will be reached for remark at sbryan@sunsentinel.com. Observe me on X @Susannah_Bryan