gen a p rt
July 10, 2023
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Rose Bowl Operating Company (RBOC)
SUBJECT: License Agreement with Los Angeles Football Club for one (1) Soccer Match to be held on Friday, August 11, 2023.
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that City Council:
1. Acknowledge that the RBOC Board of Directors found that the license agreement proposed herein is categorically exempt under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15323 (Normal Operations of Facilities for Public Gatherings), there are no features that distinguish this project from others in this exempt class, and therefore there are no unusual circumstances present; and
2. Make the findings set forth herein and required by PMC Section 3.32.270.A to authorize the RBOC to host displacement event number 25 for 2023.
BACKGROUND:
The Rose Bowl has had a tremendous history of hosting soccer at our venue, including the finals of both the men's and women's World Cups as well as the Finals of the Olympics in 1984, and COPA America in June of 2016. Our historic landmark has also hosted national teams of United States, Brazil, and Mexico. In addition, the stadium hosted the Los Angeles Galaxy as a tenant from 1996-2002. In recent years, the Rose Bowl has hosted European club teams, specifically Barcelona, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Inter Milan, and Manchester United.
The RBOC has the opportunity to host one (1) soccer match with Los Angeles Football Club on Friday, August 11, 2023. The attendance for the event is expected to be approximately 50,000 people.
The RBOC Board approved these items unanimously at the RBOC Board meeting on June 12, 2023. The RBOC Board found these items to be exempt from CEQA, MEETING OF 07/10/2023 AGENDA ITEM NO. _l_l __ _
RBOC - Approval to Host Soccer Match
July 10, 2023
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authorized the Chief Executive Officer I General Manager to negotiate and enter into the license agreement, and recommended that Council approve the findings.
Displacement Events:
The soccer match would be the 25th displacement event in 2023, replacing SUM displacement event hold. The first 24 displacement events in 2023 are: six (6) scheduled UCLA football games, the Rose Bowl Game, ten (10) Music Festival dates, four (4) concerts with Live Nation, and two (2) soccer matches with AEG, and one (1) soccer match with Primetime Sports and Entertainment.
Displacement Event Findings:
The Arroyo Public Lands Ordinance (Pasadena Municipal Code Section 3.32.270) establishes guidelines and policies related to the administration of the Arroyo Seco, including the Rose Bowl. The ordinance states that the City seeks to achieve a balance between the use of the Rose Bowl and impact of such use on surrounding residential areas. To achieve that balance, Section 3.32.370 of the ordinance limits the number of displacement events to no more than 15 in any calendar year ·except with the permission of the City Council. In order to exceed 15 displacement events, the City Council must make certain findings.
The August soccer match is anticipated to be the 25th displacement event in 2023. The first 24 displacement events of 2023 are outlined above in this report.
Below are the findings and the rationale for making such findings for potential match date: ·
1. "The additional event represents a unique opportunity that will enhance the stature of the Rose Bowl." The soccer match would be similar in terms of matchup and operations as past matches at the Stadium. The event would garnish significant publicity for the Rose Bowl and Pasadena leading up to the event and continue to contribute to the Rose Bowl's reputation as a world class venue.
2. "The revenue generating potential from the events justifies its consideration." It is estimated that this event will directly generate in excess of $250,000 for the RBOC. In addition, the City of Pasadena would receive a positive economic impact as a result of the portion of sales tax and bed tax that will revert to the City and to businesses in the City arising from significant fan presence in Pasadena.
3. "It is anticipated that the event will not create undue conflicts with Arroyo Seco activities taking place at the same time." Staff will work closely with the Parks and Natural Resources Division of the City of Pasadena, as well as the Pasadena Police Department to best control the displacement of other activities in the Arroyo Seco. As in the past, while these types of events will displace recreational activities, staff is able to minimize displacement to as 2 RBOC - Approval to Host Soccer Match
July 10, 2023
few hours on event day as possible, so that displacement does not take place the entire day.
4. "The event does not impose undue adverse impacts on the surrounding residential area." Planning and preparation will be implemented to minimize impact of the event to the surrounding neighborhoods. The Police Department and staff work carefully with the surrounding area to maintain success in hosting displacement events with minimal disruption and impact.
ENVIRONMENTAL:
State CEQA Guidelines Section 15323 exempts from CEQA review of "normal operations of facilities for public gatherings for which the facilities were designed, where there is a past history of the facility being used for the same or similar kind of purpose." Stadium soccer matches are specifically enumerated as one of the types of activities covered by this exemption. The Rose Bowl Stadium has hosted numerous soccer matches over its history. There is no indication that this soccer match will be any different in terms of environmental effects than any other soccer match hosted in the Bowl in the past, therefore there are no features that distinguish this event from others in the exempt class. The Stadium is the quintessential facility for public gathering, and the RBOC and its staff are well versed in managing the impacts of its use for displacement events such that they are minimized to the maximum extent feasible.
Accordingly, there are no unusual circumstances present that would cause this event to fall outside of this exemption.
FISCAL IMPACT:
It is anticipated that the RBOC will generate in excess of $250,000 from this event. This will enable the RBOC to help meet its operating budget for FY24 and generate additional revenue to help fund the RBOC operating budget and unfunded capital projects.
Respectfully Submitted,
Jens Weiden
Chief Executive Officer I General Manager
Rose Bowl Stadium
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