BACKGROUND:
Produced by Jesus Gonzalez, an officer with the Cathedral City Police Department, the “Coachella Valley Battle in the Desert” is an annual amateur boxing tournament geared towards those who work in the public safety professions. The boxing event has occurred over the last five plus years and sold out in 2021 with 800 tickets. Mr.
Gonzalez would like to conduct the boxing event again on Saturday, October 1, 2022, from 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm. The event is sanctioned by USA Boxing, and it encourages law enforcement officers and public safety personnel to compete in the sport of boxing.
Some of the proceeds generated go to local charities. The event will take place for the first time at the Cathedral City Community Amphitheater in Downtown Cathedral City.
DISCUSSION:
The boxing event is open to the public with a paid admission. Food, non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages will be sold. Proceeds of the admission and concessions will benefit the organizer. The organizer is asking the City Council to sponsor the Special Use Permit application fee of $510.
Suggested conditions of the SUP would be that the organizer show proof of a City business license, secure event insurance naming the City as an additional insured, allow the City attorney to review and make edits to liability waivers that must be signed by all boxing participants, and the organizer must show proof of all health permits for food and beverages as well as permits from the Alcohol Beverage Commission to sell alcohol. The organizer plans to request the restroom trailer or offer portable toilets in front of the parking garage. The amphitheater is fenced for alcohol and crowd control.
Although the permit states the event running until 11:00 p.m., the likelihood of it going past 10:00 p.m. is slim based on the previous years' end time. The first bout typically starts after 6 pm. All sound is geared to face inward towards the boxing ring which dramatically reduces noise issues. If the organizer decides to use the City’s sound and lighting equipment then he would need to contract with the City’s preferred sound, light and stage operator that has exclusive control over city equipment and pay the associated costs.
The organizer would begin setting up for the event on Friday, September 30 th and teardown would occur around midnight on Saturday, October 1, 2022. All equipment must be removed by Sunday, October 2, 2022, as public works will scalp the grass for the fall season on Monday, October 3, 2022. The organizer expects to attract up to 1,000 attendees.
Security will be handled by either CCPD officers, private security guards, or both.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Since this has become an annual city sponsored event, there is no rental fee charge to use the amphitheater. Since it will be located in the amphitheater much of the in-kind support provided by the public works as in years past will be minimized as there will be no need to use the city’s metal crowd control barriers. The organizer has done a great job cleaning up after the event and leaving the area in good condition.