Tumwater mayor calls 2026 FIFA Fan Zone plans for tourism ‘convoluted and frustrating’
The Tumwater City Council received a briefing this week on the city’s participation in the 2026 FIFA Fan Zone.
The council agreed to seek more information before agreeing to participate, citing concerns over Tumwater’s financial responsibility and whether next year’s World Cup soccer events will truly boost tourism in the region.
Next summer, the 23rd FIFA international men’s soccer championship will be held in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, including in Seattle.
The FIFA Fan Zones are designated areas where fans without stadium tickets can gather to watch World Cup matches on large screens, participate in football-themed activities, enjoy related entertainment, and watch the tournament with other fans.
Tumwater City Administrator Lisa Parks said Seattle is one of 11 host cities that will be sponsoring matches.
She said the Seattle Organizing Committee has designated nine fan zones across Washington, including what’s called the Olympia, Lacey, Thurston County fan zone. Most of the events are planned to occur on the port peninsula in Olympia.
“The idea is that the live match broadcast would be sort of the featured event, but that there would also be food and beverage vendors as well as what are described as cultural showcases and community programming activities and sponsorship activities as well as family friendly entertainment,” Parks said.
She said there’s expected to be approximately 2,500 people at each of these events, and there are six definitive dates that the fan zone would exist. She said there may be additional dates depending on how matches go. The final is scheduled for July 19, 2026.
The request of the jurisdictions that are hosting fan zones is in-kind resources to primarily cover staff time and logistical support. Parks said the amount of in-kind staff support from each jurisdiction may vary, and the amount isn’t currently defined.
She said there’s also a need for facilities and parking, as well as marketing and promotions associated with the event.
Parks said she isn’t sure why the organizing committee didn’t include Tumwater in its planning or naming of the fan zone, despite it working with the other two cities when plans for the fan zone started shaping up months ago. Mayor Debbie Sullivan said she’s requested that Tumwater be more explicitly included, if they are to participate in fan zone activities.
Parks said the idea is that these events will boost regional tourism.
“It might help support local businesses, particularly those in the hospitality industry, and it could potentially elevate Thurston County’s visibility as a place to visit and a place to come to,” Parks said.
There are several financial and staffing impacts the council expressed concern over. Parks said each jurisdiction is being asked to contribute $375,000 for event resources. That’s not an expense accounted for in the city’s two-year budget.
Parks said the money could come as an amendment to the General Fund, or potentially from the city’s lodging tax funds.
She said it’s difficult to know right now what the level of staffing commitment would be, but folks would be needed to serve on committees to help plan and prepare for the events. Parks said there could also be a request for law enforcement or fire and emergency services staff.
Sullivan said it seems like the city is having to commit to plans without having all the details.
“It’s been a very convoluted process and very frustrating,” she said.
Council member Peter Agabi said he doesn’t think the events are going to draw that many people to the region, and he doesn’t see the city spending $375,000 to make the events happen.
Parks said there are questions about the impacts to Tumwater and whether the city would see the same benefits and level of tourism as Lacey and Olympia. She said there’s also a general lack of information on what the events will entail.
The council requested Parks plan a meeting with the Thurston County Chamber of Commerce to learn more about the financial implications and where the other jurisdictions are in their planning.
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