Drafter
Clerk 11/04/2009
Title
A MOTION supporting the city of Seattle in its proposal to host the 2018/2022 Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup.
Body
WHEREAS, the city of Seattle is one of twenty-seven cities in the United States being considered by the USA Bid Committee, Inc., to host the 2018 or 2022 Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup, and
WHEREAS, King County and the greater Seattle area have attracted large, enthusiastic crowds for professional soccer matches since 1976, and
WHEREAS, the Seattle Sounders broke Major League Soccer attendance records and merchandise sales in their first season, and
WHEREAS, more than one hundred twenty-five thousand young people actively compete in soccer matches on over one thousand soccer fields in King County, including fields in Seattle, Bellevue, Issaquah and cities throughout the county, and
WHEREAS, the FIFA World Cup will provide King County with a unique opportunity to inspire new generations of soccer enthusiasts, while promoting the region's commitment to recreation and sport, and
WHEREAS, hosting the FIFA World Cup will provide prosperity to the region, as the United States received an estimated four billion dollars in economic benefits from hosting the 1994 FIFA World Cup, and
WHEREAS, soccer fans bring significant additional revenue to the host cities'' hotels, restaurants, shops and treasury, and
WHEREAS, King County is home to the training sites of Starfire Sports Complex, located in Tukwila, Virginia Mason Athletic Center, located in Renton, and Seattle University Soccer Stadium and the University of Washington Soccer Stadium, located in Seattle, and
WHEREAS, the executive and council share a common goal of promoting King County's stature, diversity, and economic vitality, which will be enhanced by hosting the 2018 or 2022 FIFA World Cup, and
WHEREAS, the effectiveness of Seattle's proposal will be enhanced by support, cooperation and information-sharing between the city of Seattle and King County;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT MOVED by the Council of King County:
A. King County should assist the city of Seattle in its pursuit to host the 2018/2022 FIFA World Cup and market King County, the greater Seattle region and the United States, as an attractive host for an international soccer tournament; and
B. King County should look for and pursue opportunities to maximize the
potential economic and cultural benefits to the region from these and all associated activities.