At the October 28, 2017, City Commission meeting, Resolution 2017-30057 was adopted which expressed support for the South Florida College Football PlayoffNational Championship Game (CFPNCG) Host Committee’s bid to secure the championship game to be held in South Florida in January 2021 and subsequent years.  The 2021 CFPNCG was held in and around Miami and Miami Beach from Friday, January 8, 2021, to Monday, January 11, 2021.  Due to ongoing COVID restrictions, the game was limited to 20% of stadium capacity.  Other anticipated activations were also limited, however, the CFPNCG Host Committee did execute “Beachwalk at Lummus Park” which consisted of live shots for national and local media outlets from the venue during Championship weekend, as well as a number of sponsor activations.  The overall economic impact of the 2021 games was $69 million to the South Florida community.The South Florida CFPNCG Host Committee was awarded the 2026 CFP National Championship to be held on Monday, January 19, 2026 – Miami’s 22^nd National Championship.

The South Florida CFPNCG Host Committee requests, for the 2026 CFP National Championship the following:

A) A cash sponsorship in the amount of $500,000 in support of College Football Playoff and Host Committee events taking place in the City of Miami Beach.

B) A city contribution for College Football Playoff and Host Committee event-related public city services (police, fire, sanitation) in an amount not to exceed $300,000.

C)A waiver of city special event permit fees (application, park usage fees, square footage, vehicle beach access, etc.) in the amount not to exceed $250,000 (specific site plans are not currently known)

a. The Host Committee acknowledges that this amount would not include any Boucher Brothers displacement feed for any events taking place directly on the beachfront.

b. The Host Committee is additionally requesting for the City of Miami Beach to waive their portion of the displacement fee. 

D)A waiver of the Miami Beach Convention Center facility rental fees in the amount not to exceed $850,000, subject to a Host Committee commitment that this event will be free to the public (residents and non-residents).

E)The creation of a “Clean Zone”, to provide competing event protection with respect to third-party events requiring a city special event permit for dates to be confirmed.  The area generally bounded by 22 Street to the north, by 5 Street to the south, by Jefferson Street (between Dade Boulevard and 15 Street) and Washington Avenue (between 15 Street and 5 Street) to the west, and by the Atlantic Ocean to the east.

F)A Pepsi sponsorship waiver during this time.

The College Football Playoff National Championship is a postseason tournament in American college football for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division 1 Football Bowl.  The CFPNC championship game is played on the first Monday which is six or more days after the CFPNC semifinals, which take place the first week in January, and the game’s venue is selected based on bids submitted by cities, similar to the Super Bowl.  College Football remains essentially tied with Major League Baseball as the second most popular sport in America.  The College Football Playoff era has delivered ESPN the four biggest audiences in cable history and seven of the top 10.College Football Playoff social media engagements grew to 2.5 million in 2022-23 (+56% year-over-year).

The estimated impact of the 2026 CFP National Championship (based on previous Semifinal and Championship Game Studies) includes:

• Projected economic impact and media value of over $265 million, exceeding previous BCS and CFP national championship games held in Miami
• Over $100 million in media exposure anticipated between August 2025 – January 2026
• Approximately 90 percent of attendees are estimated to live outside South Florida, staying an average of 3.8 nights.

The College Football Playoff will host Playoff Fan Central at the Miami Beach Convention Center tentatively from Friday, January 16 – Sunday, January 18, 2026.  This event will be free to the general public.

The College Football Playoff will host Playoff will host Playoff Playlist Live! at Lummus Park tentatively from Friday, January 16 – Sunday, January 18, 2026.  This event will be free to the general public.

Potential additional events to take place in Miami Beach include:

• The Extra Yard 5K on Sunday, January 18, 2026.   Available to the public with an entry fee.   Miami Beach residents will receive a 25% discount on entry fees.
• Taste of the Championship at the Miami Beach Convention Center on Sunday, January 18, 2026.  Proceeds benefit the College Football Playoff Foundation.  Available to the public with ticket purchase.  Miami Beach residents will receive a 25% discount on tickets.
• The Extra Yard for Teachers Summit in Miami Beach

Two (2) tickets for all City of Miami Beach elected officials to all Host Committee initiatives/events taking place within the geographical limes of Miami Beach.

The City of Miami Beach will be recognized in all Host Committee-produced marketing, digital and social collateral as it pertains to all events in the City of Miami Beach.  Ten (10) social media posts in support of upcoming events, festivals and / or promotions occurring in Miami Beach outside of Bowl Week (City of Miami Beach to provide the Host Committee with content).

The College Football Playoff National Championship is a postseason tournament in American college football for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division 1 Football Bowl.  The CFPNC championship game is played on the first Monday which is six or more days after the CFPNC semifinals, which take place the first week in January, and the game’s venue is selected based on bids submitted by cities, similar to the Super Bowl.  College Football remains essentially tied with Major League Baseball as the second most popular sport in America.  The College Football Playoff era has delivered ESPN the four biggest audiences in cable history and seven of the top 10.College Football Playoff social media engagements grew to 2.5 million in 2022-23 (+56% year-over-year).

The estimated impact of the 2026 CFP National Championship (based on previous Semifinal and Championship Game Studies) includes:

• Projected economic impact and media value of over $265 million, exceeding previous BCS and CFP national championship games held in Miami
• Over $100 million in media exposure anticipated between August 2025 – January 2026
• Approximately 90 percent of attendees are estimated to live outside South Florida, staying an average of 3.8 nights.

The College Football Playoff will host Playoff Fan Central at the Miami Beach Convention Center tentatively from Friday, January 16 – Sunday, January 18, 2026.  This event will be free to the general public.

The College Football Playoff will host Playoff will host Playoff Playlist Live! at Lummus Park tentatively from Friday, January 16 – Sunday, January 18, 2026.  This event will be free to the general public.

Potential additional events to take place in Miami Beach include:

• The Extra Yard 5K on Sunday, January 18, 2026.   Available to the public with an entry fee.   Miami Beach residents will receive a 25% discount on entry fees.
• Taste of the Championship at the Miami Beach Convention Center on Sunday, January 18, 2026.  Proceeds benefit the College Football Playoff Foundation.  Available to the public with ticket purchase.  Miami Beach residents will receive a 25% discount on tickets.
• The Extra Yard for Teachers Summit in Miami Beach

Two (2) tickets for all City of Miami Beach elected officials to all Host Committee initiatives/events taking place within the geographical limes of Miami Beach.

The City of Miami Beach will be recognized in all Host Committee-produced marketing, digital and social collateral as it pertains to all events in the City of Miami Beach.  Ten (10) social media posts in support of upcoming events, festivals and / or promotions occurring in Miami Beach outside of Bowl Week (City of Miami Beach to provide the Host Committee with content).

Total amount of sponsorship of $1.9 Million-dollars, detailed as follows:

• a cash sponsorship in the amount of $500,000 in support of College Football Playoff and Host Committee events taking place in the City of Miami Beach. 
•  A city contribution for College Football Playoff and Host Committee event-related public city services (police, fire, sanitation) in an amount not to exceed $300,000 
• A waiver of city special event permit fees (application, park usage fees, square footage, vehicle beach access, etc.) in the amount not to exceed $250,000 (specific site plans are not currently known)
• A waiver of the Miami Beach Convention Center facility rental fees in the amount not to exceed $850,000, subject to a Host Committee commitment that this event will be free to the public (residents and non-residents). 

The South Florida CFPNCG Host Committee was awarded the 2026 CFP National Championship to be held on Monday, January 19, 2026 – Miami’s 22^nd National Championship. The South Florida CFPNCG Host Committee requests City sponsorship in a total amount of $1.9 million dollars for 2026 CFP National Championship related events, detailed as follows:

• a cash sponsorship in the amount of $500,000 in support of College Football Playoff and Host Committee events taking place in the City of Miami Beach. 
• A city contribution for College Football Playoff and Host Committee event-related public city services (police, fire, sanitation) in an amount not to exceed $300,000. 
• A waiver of city special event permit fees (application, park usage fees, square footage, vehicle beach access, etc.) in the amount not to exceed $250,000 (specific site plans are not currently known).
• A waiver of the Miami Beach Convention Center facility rental fees in the amount not to exceed $850,000, subject to a Host Committee commitment that this event will be free to the public (residents and non-residents).
• The creation of a “Clean Zone,” to provide competing event protection with respect to third-party events requiring a city special event permit for dates to be confirmed.  The area generally bounded by 22nd street to the north, by 5th Street to the south, by Jefferson Street (between Dade Boulevard and 15Street) and Washington Avenue (between 15 Street and 5 Street) to the west, and by the Atlantic Ocean to the east.
•  A Pepsi sponsorship waiver during this time.

The Administration recommends that the Finance and Economic Resiliency Committee discuss the requested sponsorship request, and if there is consensus, recommend the approval for sponsorship to the full City Commission for consideration.