HomeMy WebLinkAboutLTAC 2023-02-10 Agenda PacketOMIN i let
AGENDA
Lodging Tax Advisory Committee
11:30 A.M., Friday, February 10, 2023
Hybrid Meeting
The public can view and listen to the meeting with the information below or attend the meeting in person at
Tukwila City Hall (6200 Southcenter Blvd.), Hazelnut conference room.
CALL IN INSTRUCTIONS: 253-292-9750 PHONE ID: 173 755 312#
Join on your computer or mobile app: Click here to join the meeting
For assistance during the meeting, please call (206) 731-9071.
1. Welcome and Introductions
2. Review of Agenda
3. Approval of Minutes
a. September 9, 2022
b. October 28, 2022
c. January 13, 2023
4. Special Presentations (NONE)
5. Pending Funding Requests
a. Starfire Sports (2023/2024, $110,000, $55,000 per year), Ben Oliver, President/CEO, Starfire Sports
6. General Business
7. Announcements
8. Roundtable
9. Adjourn
Next Scheduled Meeting: When: 11:30 A.M. March 10, 2023
Location: Hybrid
City of Tukwila
6200 Southcenter Blvd.
Tukwila, WA 98188
Application to the City of Tukwila for Use of 2023 Lodging Tax Funds
Event or Activity Name (if applicable):
Starfire Sports Tournament and Event Season
Amount of Lodging Tax Requested:
$110,000 for 2023 and 2024 ($55,000 per
year).
Applicant Organization:
Starfire Sports
Federal Tax ID Number:
47-0887811
Mailing Address:
14800 Starfire Way, Tukwila WA
98188
Primary Contact Name:
Ben Oliver
Primary Contact Phone:
(206) 267-7417
Primary Contact Email Address:
beno@starfiresports.com
Check all the service categories that apply to this application:
✓ Tourism promotion or marketing.
✓ Operation of a special event or festival designed to attract tourists.
✓ Operation of a tourism -related facility owned or operated by a non-profit organization.
✓ Operation and/or capital costs of a tourism -related facility owned by a municipality or a
public facilities district.
Check which one of the following applies to your agency:
✓ Non -Profit (Note: Attach a copy of your current non-profit corporate registration from
the Washington Secretary of State Office)
Municipality
For Profit Corporation
I am an authorized agent of the organization/agency applying for funding. I understand that:
• I am proposing a tourism -related service for 2023. If awarded, my organization intends to enter
into a services contract with the City; provide liability insurance for the duration of the contract
naming the City as additional insured and in an amount determined by the City; and file for a
permit for use of City property, if applicable.
• My agency will be required to submit a report documenting economic impact results in a
format determined by the City.
Signature: Benjamin T Oliver Date: 01/11/2023
1) Describe your tourism -related activity or event.
Starfire Sports events and tournaments
1) If an event, list the event name, date(s), and projected overall attendance.
Starfire directly manages 11 soccer tournaments and over 30 third party events including
Seawolves and Tacoma Defiance games. These events draw people from all over the county,
Canada and further aboard. Starfire Sports projected 2023 total attendance is over 1,300,000 visits.
2) Is your event/activity/facility focusing on attracting overnight tourists, day tourists, or both?
Both
3) Describe why visitors will travel to Tukwila to attend your event/activity/facility.
Starfire Sports is the epicenter of soccer not only here in the Pacific Northwest but nationwide. As
not only the home of our Seattle Sounders FC, OL Reign and the Seattle Seawolves we are host to
over 42 annual events ranging from the recreational youth players to professional players. Starfire's
own tournaments bring over 110 teams in annually from Canada alone while our leagues and youth
programs bring hundreds of day visitors to Tukwila every day of the week.
4) Describe the geographic target of the visitors you hope to attract (locally, regionally,
nationally, and/or internationally).
Starfire offers programs and events for people from all geographical areas with teams traveling
from around the world to participate in our youth tournaments, the local community of kids who
just want to come down and kick a ball to the professional athletes from National Teams, Major
League Soccer, National Women's Soccer League and Mayor League Rugby who are here for
trainings and to play games, to the players who participate in any one of our youth or adult
programs.
5) Describe the prior success of your event/activity/facility in attracting tourists.
Starfire Sports generates over 117,000 unique visitors and about 1,300,000 visits annually. Of these
visitors, roughly 7% travel more than 50 miles and stay in the area approximately 2-4 nights at a
time. Starfire run tournaments averaged 23% of participating teams traveled more than 50 miles.
6) If this your first time holding the event/activity/facility provide background on why you think
it will be successful.
N/A
Page 2 of 5
7) Describe how you will promote lodging establishments, restaurants, retailers, and
entertainment establishments in the City of Tukwila.
Starfire will promote our events through email and online marketing/advertising/social media. New
partners being formed with surrounding States. Our events will be listed on regional soccer. We are
also currently hiring a fulltime person in Public Relations and Communication.
8) Describe how you will use the name, "Tukwila" in publications, promotions, and for your
event?
Tukwila will not only be integrated into publications, promotions and the appropriate use of
"Tukwila" #hashtags when using social media but also on all tournament branded materials
including clothing.
In the past this integration has seen the media talk more about Tukwila with regards to soccer,
Starfire, the Sounders, Seawolves and now also the OL Reign.
9) Measurements and Metrics (Note: You will be required to report these metrics as part of the
close out of the agreement between your organization and the City.)
As a direct result of your proposed tourism -related service, provide an estimate of:
a.
Overall attendance at your proposed event/activity/facility.
1,300,000
b.
Number of people who will travel fewer than 50 miles for your
event/activity.
150,000
c.
Number of people who will travel more than 50 miles for your
event/activity.
10,000
d.
Of the people who travel more than 50 miles, the number of people
who will travel from another country or state.
23%
e.
Of the people who travel more than 50 miles, the number of people
who will stay overnight in Tukwila.
7,000+/ -
Page 3 of 5
f.
Of the people staying overnight, the number of people who will stay in
6,500+/ -
PAID accommodations (hotel/motel/bed-breakfast) in Tukwila.
g.
Number of paid lodging room nights resulting from your proposed
event/ activity/facility (for example: 25 paid rooms on Friday and 50
paid rooms on Saturday = 75 paid lodging room nights)
10,000+/ -
10) What methodologies did you use to calculate the estimates and what methodologies will you
use to track outcomes, such as total participants, estimated visitor spending, etc?
Team surveys and SSRTA Event Impact Calculator
11) What is the overall budget for your event/activity/facility? What percent of the budget are
you requesting from the City of Tukwila?
Our annual marketing budget is just under $24,000 without the support of LTAC funding that allows
us to market to traveling teams, attend team/marketing conferences for tournaments and event
recruiting.
Applications are considered on a rolling basis. Please contact staff to discuss the process for having the
application reviewed by the City's Lodging Tax Advisory Committee.
Completed applications should be submitted to:
Lodging Tax Advisory Committee
c/o Brandon Miles
City of Tukwila
6200 Southcenter Blvd
Tukwila, WA 98188
Or,
Brandon.Miles@Tukwilawa.gov
Questions?
Page 4 of 5
LTAC Contact:
Brandon J. Miles
(206) 431-3684
Brandon.Miles@Tukwilawa.gov.
Updated: December 29, 2022
Page 5 of 5
OT4k,‘Aillat
Staff Memorandum
Lodging Tax Advisory Committee Funding Request
Name of Applicant:
Starfire Sports
Address:
14800 Starfire Wy
Tukwila, WA 98188
Total Funds Requested:
$110,000 two-year funding request ($55,000 in 2023 and $55,000 in 2024)
About the Applicant:
Starfire Sports, a non-profit entity, has grown into one of the premier sports facilities in the United
States. Over 1.4 million people visited the facility in 2019 (last full year prior to the COVID-19
pandemic) to take part in soccer, rugby, and lacrosse tournaments; to play in outdoor and indoor
soccer leagues; to engage in sport specific training; to review professional sporting events; and for
STEM educational courses. Starfire is home training ground for Seattle Sounder FC and the OL Reign
and the home field for the Seattle Seawolves.
Opening in 2003, Starfire Sports has 12 outdoor fields and two indoor fields. The facility is located at
Fort Dent Park, which is owned by the City of Tukwila. Also located at the Park is a small children's
play area and trails that connect to the regional trail system. The City has maintenance reasonability
for the play area, trails, and parking area.
Starfire regular hosts multiday, weekend soccer, rugby, and lacrosse tournaments, which brings in
teams from throughout North America. Teams stay in hotels throughout the Seattle Southside region,
with a typical split of 70/30 between Tukwila and SeaTac hotels. Players and their families can been
seen throughout Tukwila, at Westfield Southcenter, the Family Fun Center, and area restaurants.
Funds Previously Awarded:
$44,500 in 2019. Starfire did not request funds in 2020, 2021, or 2022 due to the COVID-19
pandemic.
Funding Request Narrative:
Starfire is requesting lodging tax funds in 2023/2024 to assist in promotion and facilitation of leagues,
events, and tournaments. The goal is to have 1,300,000 (not unique) total attendance for Starfire
related events and to generate 10,000 room nights in area lodging businesses. Starfire will promote
its events through email and online marketing, with regional sports organizations and social media
City of Tukwila
6200 Southcenter Blvd.
Tukwila, WA 98188
1,1T41Q41ila
Staff Comments:
After Westfield Southcenter, Starfire is the largest draw of visitors in the City and likely the largest
draw for overnight guests. Additionally, the tournaments and leagues at Starfire bring in people from
throughout the Puget Sound region on day visits to the City. Starfire visitor count including in their
application does not include all third -party events, thus the numbers may actually be lower than the
actual tourist impact on the City.
Since it's opening, Starfire has been a great partner for the City and has helped the City grow a brand
in the soccer and rugby community as being the epicenter of [soccer] or [rugby] in the Pacific NW.
Consistency with Six Year Financial Model:
For 2023 and 2024, the Six Year Financial Plan shows the City spending $150,000 for sponsorship,
such as this. The funds allocated for 2023 will be higher than the budget amount, but revenues for
2022 came in higher and staff anticipated updating the six -financial plan to account for the higher
revenues.
2023 Tourism Six -Year Financial Plan Allocation
Large Sponsorships:
$150,000
City of Tukwila, Copa Surf
Cup (Approved)
($25,000)
($75,000)
Seattle Seawolves
(Approved)
($75,000)
($55,000)
Starfire Sports (Pending)
($55,000)
Remaining
Sponsorship
Funds:
$(5,000)
2024 Tourism Six -Year Financial Plan Allocation
Sponsorships:
$150,000
Seattle Seawolves
(Approved)
($75,000)
Starfire Sports (Pending)
($55,000)
Remaining Sponsorship
Funds:
$20,000
City of Tukwila Staff
Recommendation to LTAC: Approval
Notes:
Starfire will be required to execute a separate service agreement with the City.
City of Tukwila
6200 Southcenter Blvd.
Tukwila, WA 98188
OT4kNilat
DRAFT
Lodging Tax Advisory Committee
Minutes
12:00 PM 1 September 9, 2022
Hybrid Meeting
(Via Teams and at Hazelnut Conference Room at Tukwila City Hall)
Members Present: Chair McLeod, Miesa Berry, Brian Jones, Ben Oliver, Jean Thompson,
Mike West, Jim Davis
Members Absent:
City Staff Present:
Others Present:
Brandon Miles
Matt Moran, Brew Cup and Mark Everton, Seattle Southside Regional
Tourism Authority
Agenda Item
Action
Follow -Up
Welcome and Introductions
Chair McLeod called the
meeting to order at 12:01 PM.
Committee members
introduced themselves.
None
Review of Agenda
Reviewed
None
Approval of Minutes
August 12, 2022, meeting
minutes approved by
consensus.
Special Presentations
Matt Moran, Brew Cup Soccer
Tournament provided an
None
City of Tukwila
6200 Southcenter Blvd.
Tukwila, WA 98188
1,.11r4lciryila
• Brew Cup Soccer
Tournament
overview of a soccer event he
and his team are considering
creating. Matt discussed his
past history in creating and
running events for Major
League Soccer and Washington
Youth soccer. Committee
members asked questions
about the event and provided
suggestions. Committee
expressed interest in seeing
something hopefully move
forward.
Pending Funding Requests
None
General Business
• 2023/2024 Budget
Discussion
Brandon provided an overview
of the upcoming 2023/2024
budget and the an updated six
year financial plan.
None
Announcements
Roundtable
Committee members provided
quick updates on things
happening at their businesses
and in the community.
Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 1:10
PM.
City of Tukwila
6200 Southcenter Blvd.
Tukwila, WA 98188
OT4kNilat
DRAFT
Lodging Tax Advisory Committee
Minutes
12:00 PM 1 October 28, 2022
Hybrid Meeting
(Via Teams and at Hazelnut Conference Room at Tukwila City Hall)
Members Present: Chair McLeod, Miesa Berry, Brian Jones, Ben Oliver, Jean Thompson,
Mike West
Jim Davis
Laurel Humphrey, Brandon Miles, Derek Speck
Mark Everton, Seattle Southside Regional Tourism Authority
Members Absent:
City Staff Present:
Others Present:
Agenda Item
Action
Follow -Up
Welcome and Introductions
Chair McLeod called the
meeting to order at 12:03 PM.
Committee members
introduced themselves.
None
Review of Agenda
Reviewed
None
Approval of Minutes
Not applicable
Minutes from the meeting of
September 9, 2022 will be
presented at a future meeting.
Special Presentations
• None
None
None
City of Tukwila
6200 Southcenter Blvd.
Tukwila, WA 98188
OT4k,‘Aillat
Pending Funding Requests
• Experience Tukwila
Brandon presented an
application requesting
None
$190,000 to fund Experience
Tukwila in 2023.
The members asked questions
about key performance
indicators and changes to
better achieve goals in the
future. They offered
suggestions to get more social
media impact.
Mike moved approval and Ben
seconded. Motion passed.
• Lodging Tax Operations
Brandon presented an
application from the City of
None
Tukwila requesting $338,048 to
fund lodging tax operations for
2023 and 2024.
Jean moved approval and
Bryan seconded. Motion
passed.
• Seawolves Marketing
Services
Brandon presented an
application from the City of
Tukwila requesting $150,000 to
contract with the Seattle
None
Seawolves for marketing
services for 2023 and 2024.
Bryan answered questions and
mentioned a quote from one of
the influencers.
City of Tukwila
6200 Southcenter Blvd.
Tukwila, WA 98188
�Ti�kwila
City of Tukwila
6200 Southcenter Blvd.
Tukwila, WA 98188
Bryan recused himself from
voting. Ben moved approval
and Mike seconded. Motion
passed with 4 in favor, 1
recusal.
General Business
• Proposed Business and
Occupations Tax
Derek and Brandon explained
that the Mayor has proposed a
business and operations tax to
fill a gap in the City's 2023-24
budget. They emailed a
summary to the committee.
The committee asked
questions and expressed their
perspectives.
None
Announcements
Brandon announced that the
OL Reign will start practicing at
Starfire in 2023.
None
Roundtable
Mark commended staff and the
LTAC committee for the
sponsorship of Seawolves and
Experience Tukwila because it
compliments work of the
SSRTA.
None
Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 1:01
PM.
City of Tukwila
6200 Southcenter Blvd.
Tukwila, WA 98188
OT4kNilat
DRAFT
Lodging Tax Advisory Committee
Minutes
11:30 AM 1 January 13, 2023
Hybrid Meeting
(Via Teams and at Hazelnut Conference Room at Tukwila City Hall)
Members Present: Chair Delostrinos Johnson, Jim Davis, Brian Jones, Jean Thompson, Mike
West
Members Absent:
City Staff Present:
Others Present:
Miesa Berry, Ben Oliver
Laurel Humphrey, Brandon Miles, Derek Speck
Mark Everton, Seattle Southside Regional Tourism Authority
Agenda Item
Action
Follow -Up
Welcome and Introductions
Chair Delostrinos Johnson
called the meeting to order at
11:33 AM.
Committee members
introduced themselves.
None
Review of Agenda
Reviewed
None
Approval of Minutes
None
None
Special Presentations
• None
None
None
Pending Funding Requests
• None
None
None
City of Tukwila
6200 Southcenter Blvd.
Tukwila, WA 98188
OT4k,‘Aillat
General Business
• 2022 End of Year
Financial Update
• 2023 Workplan
Brandon presented the 6 year
financial plan with 2022
updates.
Brandon presented potential
work plan items for 2023.
Brian and Mark gave updates
on additional events coming to
our area.
Brandon to update the 6 year
financial plan to reflect 2022
revenue improvements.
Brandon to email the work plan
items to committee.
Announcements
Brandon mentioned the City's
new minimum wage ordinance
is in effect.
Brandon mentioned the City's
new business and occupations
tax (B&O) was approved in
December and takes effect in
January 2024.
Cynthia mentioned the City
wants to work with the
businesses impacted by the
B&O to find the most
sustainable way in the future.
Brandon will email a link to the
city's information page to the
committee.
Roundtable
Jean plans to do more events
to build Seattle Chocolate as a
destination. She is also
interested in exploring
chocolate as welcoming gift for
teams.
None
Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at
12:00 PM.
City of Tukwila
6200 Southcenter Blvd.
Tukwila, WA 98188