A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, SUPPORTING THE SOUTH FLORIDA COLLEGE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME TASK FORCE ("TASK FORCE"), IN CONNECTION WITH THE TASK FORCE'S BID TO SECURE THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, TO BE HELD IN SOUTH FLORIDA IN JANUARY OF 2021, 2023, OR 2024, BY AUTHORIZING THE FOLLOWING IN CONNECTION WITH ANY AWARDED COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: A) THE WAIVER OF RENTAL FEES FOR THE MIAMI BEACH CONVENTION CENTER, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $857,540.80; B) THE WAIVER OF SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT FEES, INCLUDING APPLICATION FEE, PERMIT FEE, VEHICLE ACCESS PASS FEE, SQUARE FOOTAGE FEE, USER FEE, AND POLICE AND FIRE ADMINISTRATIVE FEES, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $150,000.00; C) ALL DEFINED FEE WAIVER AMOUNTS ARE TO BE DETERMINED AND RETURNED TO THE CITY COMMISSION FOR APPROVAL; D) A SPONSORSHIP AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TASK FORCE AND THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY MANAGER AND THE CITY ATTORNEY; AND, E) ALL SPONSORSHIPS AND WAIVED FEES SHALL BE SUBJECT TO APPROVAL AND APPROPRIATION VIA THE CITY'S FISCAL YEAR 2017/2018 BUDGET PROCESS.

Adopt the Resolution.

The College Football Playoff (CFP) is a postseason tournament in American college football for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, having replaced the prior Bowl Championship Series model to determine a College Football Champion. The CFP championship game is played on the first Monday that is six or more days after the CFP semifinals, which take place in the first week of January, and the game’s venue is selected based on bids submitted by cities, similar to the National Football League’s Super Bowl or NCAA Final Four basketball tournament. The South Florida College Football Championship Task Force (“Task Force”), which includes the Orange Bowl Committee, is leading the effort to bid for upcoming opportunities for South Florida to host the CFP Championship Games in 2021, 2023, or 2024.  As part of CFP Championship Game bids, the selected destination would be required to host a series of ancillary events for the CFP.   As such, the South Florida College Football Championship Task Force has identified Miami Beach as a community focal point for hosting the CFP National Championship activations events for visiting fans, including, but not limited to the following:

·        Playoff Fan Central: Multi-day ticketed event for fan interactive experiences;

·        Playoff Playlist Live: Multi-day ticketed event featuring outdoor concerts

·       Watch Party: Event for patrons not attending the Game to observe the Game broadcast in a festival setting.

The South Florida College Football Championship Task Force has support from the City comparable to large scale sporting events that requested support from the City in the past, including the Super Bowl and WrestleMania. The Task Force requests, in relation to activations and events associated with any South Florida awarded CFP National Championship Game events, the following: A) waiver of the rental fees associated with use of the Miami Beach Convention Center, not to exceed $857,540.80; B) waiver of  special event fees, including special event application fee, permit fee, vehicle access pass fee, square footage fee, user fee and Police and Fire administrative fees, not to exceed $150,000.00; C) commitment to identifying additional sources of funds, comparable to the City’s support for the 2020 Super Bowl Host Committee, to help defray other related expenses.  The final amounts of such waivers are to be determined following award of such bids and the submission of relevant plans, schedules and event requirements.  Once determined, the Task Force must return to the City Commission for approval of the final waiver amount, which will be defined with a sponsorship agreement in a form acceptable to the City Manager and City Attorney.

The CFP National Championship Game is annually one of the top rated television events, with the game and ancillary events expected to bring over one hundred thousand fans to the City.  Hosting the CFP National Championship Game in South Florida further provides a tremendous boost to tourism, with the Game expected to generate several hundred million dollars in direct and indirect positive economic impact.