Item Coversheet

Resolutions - C7  W




COMMISSION MEMORANDUM

TO:Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission 
FROM:Alina T. Hudak, City Manager 
DATE:October  18, 2023
 



SUBJECT:A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE AND ECONOMIC RESILIENCY COMMITTEE, AND APPROVING THE CITYS SPONSORSHIP OF THE SOUTH FLORIDA COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME (CFPNCG) HOST COMMITTEE FOR EVENTS RELATED TO THE 2026 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, TO BE HELD ON JANUARY 19, 2026, INCLUDING: (1) A CASH SPONSORSHIP IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $500,000 FOR EVENTS HELD IN MIAMI BEACH; (2) A WAIVER OF THE MIAMI BEACH CONVENTION CENTER FACILITY RENTAL FEES, IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $850,000; (3) A WAIVER OF CITY SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT FEES, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $250,000; (4) A CITY CONTRIBUTION FOR EVENT RELATED PUBLIC SERVICES (POLICE, FIRE AND SANITATION) IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $300,000; (5) THE CREATION OF A "CLEAN ZONE" WHICH SHALL INCLUDE COMPETING EVENT PROTECTION ON TO BE DETERMINED DATES, WITHIN THE AREA GENERALLY BOUNDED BY 22ND STREET TO THE NORTH, 5TH STREET TO THE SOUTH, JEFFERSON STREET (BETWEEN DADE BLVD AND 15TH STREET) AND WASHINGTON AVENUE (BETWEEN 15TH STREET AND 5TH STREET) TO THE WEST, AND THE ATLANTIC OCEAN TO THE EAST; AND (6) A WAIVER OF EXCLUSIVITY FOR PEPSI BRANDED PRODUCTS; AND FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND CITY CLERK TO EXECUTE A SPONSORSHIP AGREEMENT.

RECOMMENDATION

The Administration recommends acceptance and approval of the Finance and Economic Resiliency Committee's favorable recommendation to approve the city sponsorship of South Florida CFPNCG Host Committe for events related to the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship to be held on January 19, 2026, which includes (1) cash sponsorship in an amount not to exceed $500,000 for events held in Miami Beach, (2) the waiver of Miami Beach Convention Center facility rental fees in an amount not to exceed $850,000, (3) a waiver of City Special Event Permit fees in an amount not to exceed $250,000, and (4) a sponsorship of city services (police, fire, sanitation) in an amount not to exceed $300,000, and (5) the creation of a "Clean Zone" which shall include competing event protection within a to be determined designated area, among other terms, and authorize the Administration to negotiate a sponsorship agreement, and further authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to execute a sponsorship agreement. 

 

The cash sponsorship funding of $500,000 will be budgeted as follows: $100,000 in FY 2024, $200,000 in FY 2025 and $200,000 in FY 2026, with disbursement in FY 2026, following the events.

BACKGROUND/HISTORY

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).

 

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.

ANALYSIS

The South Florida CFPNCG Host Committee was awarded the 2026 CFP National Championship to be held on Monday, January 19, 2026 – Miami’s 22nd National Championship.

 

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 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.

 

On September 22, 2023, the Finance and Economic Resiliency Committee ("FERC") unanimously motioned a favorable recommendation to accept and approve FERC's favorable recommendation to approve the city sponsorship of South Florida CFPNCG Host Committe for events related to the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship to be held on January 19, 2026, which includes (1) cash sponsorship in an amount not to exceed $500,000 for events held in Miami Beach, (2) the waiver of Miami Beach Convention Center facility rental fees in an amount not to exceed $850,000, (3) a waiver of City Special Event Permit fees in an amount not to exceed $250,000, and (4) a sponsorship of city services (police, fire, sanitation) in an amount not to exceed $300,000, and (5) the creation of a "Clean Zone" which shall include competing event protection within a to be determined designated area, among other terms, and authorize the Administration to negotiate a sponsorship agreement subject to approval of the Mayor and City Commission. 

 

The cash sponsorship funding of $500,000 will be budgeted as follows: $100,000 in FY 2024, $200,000 in FY 2025 and $200,000 in FY 2026, with disbursement in FY 2026, following the events.

The Committee requested the event organizer to provide a list of other jurisdictions providing funding to the Host Committee. Below is a list of secured and upcoming funding.

 

Secured Funding:

 

FLORIDA SPORTS FOUNDATION

 

  • The Florida Sports Foundation approved a $1.5MM cash grant to the 2026 Miami Host Committee

 

GREATER MIAMI CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU

 

  • The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau signed an agreement with the 2026 Miami Host Committee for $900,000.

 

Upcoming Funding Requests:

 

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

 

  • The 2026 Miami Host Committee is seeking a package of support from Miami-Dade County similar to the framework requested for the 2021 CFP National Championship – $4.5MM (cash and in-kind)

 

CITY OF MIAMI

 

  • The 2026 Miami Host Committee is seeking a package of support from the City of Miami similar to the framework requested for the 2021 CFP National Championship – $1.35MM (cash and in-kind)


MIAMI DOWTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

 

  • The 2026 Miami Host Committee is seeking a package of support from the Miami Downtown Development Authority similar to the framework requested for the 2021 CFP National Championship – $150,000 grant.

SUPPORTING SURVEY DATA

N/A

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

The fiscal impact of the 2026 College Football National Championship is an amount of $1.9-Million dollars that includes, $500,000 cash sponsorship, $300,000 city services sponsorship, $250,000 in special event fee waivers and $850,000 a rental waiver for the Miami Beach Convention Center. The cash sponsorship funding will be budgeted as follows: $100,000 in FY 2024, $200,000 in FY 2025 and $200,000 in FY 2026, with disbursement in FY 2026. Note that the funding for this item for FY 2024 will come from the Commission approved allocation in the amount of $606,000 for Large Scale Community Events. This $100,000 allocation will leave $506,000 available for additional FY 2024 Large Scale Community Events sponsorships/costs.
Amount(s)/Account(s):

 

CONCLUSION

The Administration recommends acceptance and approval of the Finance and Economic Resiliency Committee's favorable recommendation to approve the city sponsorship of South Florida CFPNCG Host Committe for events related to the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship to be held on January 19, 2026, which includes (1) cash sponsorship in an amount not to exceed $500,000 for events held in Miami Beach, (2) the waiver of Miami Beach Convention Center facility rental fees in an amount not to exceed $850,000, (3) a waiver of City Special Event Permit fees in an amount not to exceed $250,000, and (4) a sponsorship of city services (police, fire, sanitation) in an amount not to exceed $300,000, and (5) the creation of a "Clean Zone" which shall include competing event protection within a to be determined designated area, among other terms, and authorize the Administration to negotiate a sponsorship agreement, and further authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to execute a sponsorship agreement. 

 

The cash sponsorship funding of $500,000 will be budgeted as follows: $100,000 in FY 2024, $200,000 in FY 2025 and $200,000 in FY 2026, with disbursement in FY 2026, following the events.

Applicable Area

South Beach
Is this a "Residents Right to Know" item, pursuant to City Code Section 2-14? Does this item utilize G.O. Bond Funds?
Yes No 

Strategic Connection

Prosperity - Market and promote Miami Beach as a world class arts, culture, and quality entertainment destination.
Legislative Tracking
Tourism and Culture

ATTACHMENTS:
Description
2026 CFPNCG Host Committee Presentation
2021 CFPNC Economic Impact Study
Resolution