Grant Would Fund Transit-First World Cup Watch Party at Pasadena Civic

Pasadena’s Finance/Audit Committee will consider whether to recommend recognizing and appropriating $50,000 in Los Angeles County grant funding for a 2026 Transit-First Fan Zone soccer watch party at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on June 12, the date of the United States team’s opening World Cup match against Paraguay in Los Angeles.

The proposed action would amend the Office of the City Manager’s Fiscal Year 2026 operating budget by recognizing revenue and appropriating $50,000 in the General Fund to support the free, family-friendly watch party. Because the Finance/Audit Committee is a Tier 4 advisory body, its vote on the appropriation and the underlying Social Program Agreement with the County of Los Angeles would be a recommendation only, with the City Council retaining final authority.

According to the staff report, in June 2022, the City of Los Angeles was named as one of 16 North American host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, spread out across three host countries: the United States, Canada and Mexico. The City of Los Angeles is scheduled to host eight 2026 World Cup matches, including the opening match in the United States on June 12 between the United States and Paraguay.

To increase viewing access to the World Cup matches, official and unofficial Fan Zones are scheduled throughout Los Angeles County. On Jan. 13, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors adopted a motion to facilitate Los Angeles County hosting Official World Cup 2026 Fan Zones at Whittier Narrows Recreation Area and Earvin “Magic” Johnson Park, the staff report notes. Since that time, opportunities have emerged to co-host additional Fan Zones not formally associated with the World Cup, including the Pasadena event.

According to the staff report, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, in collaboration with the County of Los Angeles Fifth Supervisorial District, is financially supporting Transit-First Fan Zones focused on connecting event-goers with easily accessible, high-frequency transit. On May 12, the County granted the City $50,000 and designated Pasadena’s watch party as a Transit-First Fan Zone.

The watch party is planned at the plaza and surrounding area of the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on Green Street from Marengo Avenue to Los Robles Avenue. According to the presentation, doors would open at 4:30 p.m. and the game would begin at 6 p.m. Green Street would be closed from Marengo Avenue to the Pasadena Visitor Center between 10 a.m. and 11 p.m. Screens would be placed in front of the Pasadena Civic Auditorium with game visibility from the sidewalk and Green Street, and the event would feature local food vendors and games.

As part of the Transit-First initiative, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority would activate the Memorial Park and Del Mar Metro stations, with volunteers deployed at the stations to assist passengers with directions to the watch party. The staff report notes that the City, in partnership with the Pasadena Center Operating Company, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the County, would host the event.

As a condition of the grant, and to encourage attendees to use the Metro system, the City would post social media messages with the Metro-provided tags “Go Metro” and “Transit-First” and would include logos and recognition of the sponsors and supporters. The Economic Development Division would also work in collaboration with the City’s Public Information Office to update a web page hosted by Visit Pasadena, issue a press release, post social media messages and produce a flyer.

The staff report describes the World Cup as a timely and valuable “dress rehearsal” for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games and notes that lessons learned from the World Cup Fan Zones would inform planning for proposed fan-based celebrations for the 2028 Games.

The proposed action would be categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act under State CEQA Guidelines Sections 15303, 15304 and 15323. Staff also recommend that the City Council find that neither competitive bidding nor competitive selection are required pursuant to City Charter Section 1002(H) and Pasadena Municipal Code Section 4.08.049(8). If the Finance/Audit Committee votes to recommend the appropriation, the matter would advance to the City Council for final action.

The Finance/Audit Committee is scheduled to meet at 3 p.m. on Monday, May 18, in the Council Chamber, Room S249, at Pasadena City Hall, 100 North Garfield Avenue, in Pasadena. For more information call (626) 744-7311 or visit https://www.cityofpasadena.net/commissions/agendas/.