HomeMy WebLinkAboutFS 2015-03-03 Item 2B - Authorization - $6,500 Lodging Tax Funds for Street Pole Banners for Starfire Sports ComplexCity of Tukwila
Jim Haggerton, Mayor
INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor Haggerton
Finance and Safety
FROM: Brandon J. Miles Economic Development Liaison
DATE: February 18, 2015
SUBJECT: Installation of Street Pole Banners for the Sounders
ISSUE
Authorization to expend up to $6,500 in lodging tax funds for the manufacture and installation of
street pole banners around the Starfire Sports Complex.
BACKGROUND
Since 2009, the Starfire Sports Complex at Fort Dent Park, has been the training ground to the
Sounders FC. Sounders FC is one of the dominant and most successful soccer clubs in Major
League Soccer (MLS). Besides training at the facility, the Sounders also host US Open Cup
games at the Starfire Stadium. These games are regularly sold out and attract thousands of
visitors to the City.
In 2014, the Sounders announced that they were forming a second team, known as "S2 ". S2 will
play in the United Soccer League (USL) and provide younger players the opportunity to get
game experience. S2 will train and play all of their 14 homes games at Starfire. Additional
games, such as US Open Cup games for S2 and playoff games are also likely. Season ticket
sales have been strong and it is likely that the S2 games will also be sold out.
The following are staff's estimates for the impacts that the S2 games will have this year at
Starfire:
1. At least 28,000 fans total will visit the city for the 14 scheduled home games.
2. Over 5,000 people will visit the City to attend S2 games who live more than 50 miles
away from the City.
3. Of the 5,000 people who travel more than 50 miles away for the games, over 1,000 will
be from outside the State.
These numbers only include the regularly scheduled S2 games and do not include US Open
games, both by S2 and the MLS Sounders team and does not include likely playoff games by
S2 at Starfire.
Staff is requesting $6,500 in lodging tax funds to install up to 20 light pole banners around the
Starfire sports complex. The banners will be installed along Fort Dent Way and Interurban
Avenue. The banners proposed have several goals:
1. Create a festive environment for fans that have come to the City to attend Sounders
events, which will hopefully attract more fans to visit;
2. Build a deeper connection between the Sounders team and organization with the
Southcenter area and Tukwila Community;
3. Allow the City to begin the process of branding the Southcenter area as an
entertainment district. Many entertainment districts, such as the Stadium District in
Seattle and Portland's Rose District, display light pole banners; and
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INFORMATIONAL MEMO
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4. Provide and opportunity for the City's name to create impressions to fans visiting
Starfire. All of the banners will clearly have "Tukwila" listed on them.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
With installation and a ten percent contingency, it is estimated that the banners will cost no
more than $6,275. The cost of installation could be much lower if we are able to re -use the
brackets that were used in 2008 for the light pole banners that were installed for the City's
centennial. No general funds dollars will be used. The source of the funds for the installation will
come from the City's Lodging Tax. Lodging tax funds are intended to be used for tourism
promotion, such as the banners being proposed.
RECOMMENDATION
The Council is being asked to place this item on the March 9th Committee of the Whole agenda
for discussion and on the March 16th Consent agenda.
As required State Law, the City's Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) considered the
funding request at its meeting on February 20, 2015 and recommended that the City Council
approve the funding request.
ATTACHMENTS
• Draft design of banners (to be provided at Finance and Safety Meeting)
WA2015 Info MemoslLodgingTax banners, doc
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