1 City Council Meeting: October 13, 2026 Santa Monica, California RESOLUTION NUMBER[________] (CCS)
(City Council Series)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA
ADOPTING CERTAIN MUNICIPAL CODE WAIVERS DURING THE ESPN SUPER
BOWL LXI ACTIVATION AT THE SANTA MONICA PIER AND SANTA MONICA STATE
BEACH (SANDBOX SOUTH)
WHEREAS, over the next several years, the Los Angeles region will become a global stage for some of the world’s most watched sporting and cultural events, drawing millions of visitors, international media attention, and significant economic activity across the region; and
WHEREAS, Santa Monica’s coastline, public spaces, and established reputation as a world-class destination create a rare opportunity for the City to participate and help shape this regional movement on the global stage; and
WHEREAS, Santa Monica is preparing to host several high-profile sporting and cultural events that are expected to draw significant regional, national, and international attention; and
WHEREAS, event activations include hosting international media organizations, brands, and production agencies expressing interest in temporary installations, broadcast compounds, and hospitality activations; and
WHEREAS, these events will bring global audiences, international exposure, cultural festivals, and hospitality activations throughout the region; and 2 WHEREAS, these events will result in increased foot traffic and visitor activity for the Pier, Promenade, beach, and other retail spaces, and economic benefits for nearby hotels, restaurants, and small businesses; and
WHEREAS, with its iconic beachfront, strong transit connectivity, and established global reputation, Santa Monica is well positioned to engage in regional coordination and pursue strategic partnerships that maximize the benefits of this heightened period of visibility; and
WHEREAS, the upcoming major event cycle will include the "ESPN Super Bowl LXI Activation" (hereinafter referred to as the "Event") with a planned footprint on the Santa Monica Pier, a portion of Santa Monica State Beach known as Sandbox South, and two adjacent parking lots utilized in a phased manner (collectively, the "License Area"); and
WHEREAS, this event will be a large-scale outdoor broadcast and fan activation tailored to Santa Monica’s coastal setting and urban environment, with regional draw, coordinated site planning, temporary infrastructure, and a significant operational footprint; and
WHEREAS, the activation is intended to build on Santa Monica’s cultural identity and create an event that attracts visitors, generates media interest, and contributes to the local economy; and
WHEREAS, the planned activation is a free, ticketed ESPN and The Walt Disney Company broadcast and fan experience at the Santa Monica Pier and Santa Monica State Beach in the week leading up to Super Bowl LXI, including an 80-yard by 40-yard flag football field, cultural programming, merchandise offerings, food and beverage 3 service (including alcoholic beverages subject to proper permits), and appearances by athletes and media figures; and
WHEREAS, ESPN, LLC ("ESPN") and its vendors are developing the event in coordination with City staff to ensure that public safety, mobility, sound mitigation, accessibility, sustainability, and coastal compliance are addressed as the concept advances, including through a Coastal Development Permit application to the California Coastal Commission; and
WHEREAS, in addition to the event itself, ESPN has identified a range of potential community benefits that would be incorporated into the License Agreement, including a flag football field donated to the City at the conclusion of the event, community access programming, hotel space, targeted programming for local community organizations through ESPN’s youth sports initiative, and best efforts to utilize local vendors; and WHEREAS, the proposal also contemplates reasonable efforts to utilize Santa Monica hotels, restaurants, vendors, artists, and other businesses where feasible, with particular attention to Pier and beach-adjacent businesses; and WHEREAS, the proposed activation also presents an opportunity to broaden Santa Monica’s event portfolio with a major sports and broadcast activation that complements the City’s other major event opportunities and helps sustain momentum following the 2026 FIFA World Cup and into future major event cycles; and WHEREAS, the event agreement includes provisions addressing community engagement, public safety, mobility, sound mitigation, sustainability, accessibility, local business coordination, coastal public access, and post-event restoration; and 4 WHEREAS, with this event, the City’s objective is to secure a well-managed activation that supports local economic development while protecting public assets and coastal resources and minimizing impacts; and
WHEREAS, the City Manager’s Office Major Events Division and a crossdepartmental working group have been planning for the operational, logistical, and community impacts associated with this large-scale activation in the City; and WHEREAS, this event foresees active uses of event space, including amplified sound, extended and early-morning broadcast hours, and visible branding necessary for operational and economic viability; and
WHEREAS, on April 14, 2026, the City Council adopted an ordinance amending Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 4.68.210, which allows Council, by resolution, to exempt certain special events from discrete Municipal Code requirements, or to authorize the City Manager to make exemptions, if the following findings are met: (1) Strict application of the Municipal Code would result in practical difficulties or unnecessary hardships, which would frustrate the purposes of the event; (2) The requested exemption is limited to the event period and is otherwise temporary in nature; (3) The premises at which the event will be held will be restored to the original conditions in place prior to the requested exemption; (4) The proposed event is of extraordinary scope and will provide a significant benefit to the community, including, but not limited to, events that (a) generate significant indirect economic and community benefits; (b) attract both residents and visitors; and (c) promote Santa Monica on a regional, national, and global stage; and (5) The permittee or licensee has agreed to implement best practices and provide 5 adequate procedures to minimize and respond to event impacts (the “Major Special Events Ordinance”); and
WHEREAS, in order to effectuate the Event, targeted exemptions to the Santa Monica Municipal Code are required to better accommodate this major special event; and WHEREAS, the exemptions are intended to provide operational flexibility and allow the City to support the Event; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has identified this large upcoming event as extraordinary or unique in scope, scale, or benefit, and the Council deems the below ordinance exemptions necessary to facilitate this major event.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The City Council hereby exempts the Event from provisions of the Santa Monica Municipal Code as set forth below based upon the following findings:
(A) Strict application of the Santa Monica Municipal Code would result in practical difficulties or unnecessary hardships, which would frustrate the purposes of the event.
i. SMMC Section 4.12.110 (Restrictions on demolition, excavation, grading, construction, maintenance or repair of buildings):
The Event at the Santa Monica Pier Deck and Santa Monica State Beach includes construction of temporary broadcast, staging, and sponsor structures. The timeline for event load-in (beginning no earlier than January 15, 2027) and load-out (concluding no later than February 23, 2027) will require working outside of normal construction hours established in SMMC Section 4.12.110, within a daily load-in/load-out window of 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Working strictly within normal construction hours would extend the 6 overall schedule for load-in and load-out and would conflict with operational parameters in place for vehicle access to the Pier and beach that are designed to maintain Pier business operations, beach access, and visitor experience. Event load-in and load-out activity on the beach and Santa Monica Pier Deck will be conducted in accordance with City service needs, ongoing Pier-area construction projects, and Pier and beach operational requirements. Event teams will be required to work with the City’s interdepartmental team to establish a construction management plan to minimize impacts to public access to the Pier, beach, and surrounding neighborhood, and to ensure safe circulation and construction operations. ii. Provisions in Santa Monica Municipal Chapter 4.12, Noise, including, but not limited to, Sections 4.12.025, 4.12.030, 4.12.040, 4.12.050, 4.12.060, 4.12.080,
4.12.100, 4.12.105, 4.12.110:
The premise and goal of the Event is to create a high-visibility Super Bowlweek destination on the Pier and beach with ESPN live broadcast programming beginning as early as 4:00 AM and continuing amplified sound and production activity through 9:00 PM (with limited evening programming to 10:00 PM), delivered to a large audience in an iconic setting via up-todate audio and broadcast technology, and is simply not feasible without a temporary waiver of the City’s existing noise provisions.
Pursuant to the License Agreement between ESPN and the City, ESPN will also be required to implement best audio practices in the live broadcast and event industry, including: directing speakers inward toward activation attendees and orienting the stage and speaker arrays away from adjacent 7 residential and commercial uses to focus sound inside the activation perimeter and minimize noise bleed outside of the activation perimeter; using delay towers to manage audio “throw” across the crowd rather than pushing sound to the full audience area; using cardioid subwoofer arrays to reduce bass energy leakage; and maintaining real-time decibel monitoring by an on-site audio team during all live audio operations, with sound levels not to exceed 110dB.
iii. Provisions in Santa Monica Municipal Sections 3.04.030 and 4.55.120 — City Park and Parking Lot Closure Provisions:
Because ESPN broadcast and production activity on Santa Monica State Beach (Sandbox South) is scheduled to begin as early as 4:00 AM, before the City’s public park and parking lot hours, a temporary exemption from the City’s public park and parking lot closure hoursparking lot hours is needed to permit limited staff, security, and broadcast set-up access during the exempted early-morning window. This access will be coordinated in advance with the City’s police, fire, and lifeguard agencies, and will not be used to restrict public access to the these locations outside the approved event perimeter.
iv. Provisions in Santa Monica Municipal Code Chapters 4.68, Community Event, and Chapter 9.61, Signs, including but not limited to Sections 4.68.130,
9.61.140, 9.61.180, and 9.61.230:
In line with the goals of the activation, and to adequately promote the largescale event in a short period of time, ESPN is seeking the ability to add creative special event signage at related and/or ancillary event locations 8 within one mile of the activation site, including signage identifying the tiered sponsor activation structures contemplated in the site plan. To ensure appropriate site management and pedestrian and traffic safety, ESPN will also need additional flexibility to provide wayfinding signage at various City locations to be determined by the City Manager in coordination with ESPN. (B) The premises at which the event will be held will be restored to the original conditions in place prior to the requested exemption.
Pursuant to the License Agreement between ESPN and the City, ESPN shall restore the Pier Deck and beach premises and return them to the City in the same condition in which they existed prior to ESPN’s use, including full clean-up and removal of all fencing, temporary structures, litter, equipment, and personal property. Consistent with ESPN’s proposed construction management and zero waste commitments, any debris resulting from event or construction activities will be removed from the beach within 24 hours of final site breakdown.
(C) The requested exemptions are limited to the event period and are otherwise temporary in nature.
The Event is a single-year license, with load-in beginning no earlier than January 15, 2027 at 8:00 AM; the activation itself occurring February 7 through February 14, 2027; and take-down and removal activities concluding no later than February 23, 2027 at 5:00 PM. Pursuant to the License Agreement, daily operational hours shall be as follows: load-in and load-out, 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM; Pier Deck public hours (February 7–14), 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM; Santa Monica Beach event hours (February 7–14), 9 4:00 AM to 9:00 PM; provided that smaller evening programming on either the Pier Deck or Santa Monica Beach may occur from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM on February 7–14, 2027.
(D) The proposed event is of extraordinary scope and will provide a significant benefit to the community.
The Event will attract local residents and national visitors alike, will generate significant indirect economic and community benefits, and will promote Santa Monica on a national and global stage.
Event Background
ESPN is looking to use the License Area to host a free, ticketed activation featuring interactive broadcasts and events in anticipation of Super Bowl LXI. Admission will be free, with electronic tickets required for entry to manage capacity; entry to the Santa Monica Pier will be in timed increments, while entry to the beach will remain open as long as capacity is not exceeded. Total site capacity shall not exceed 6,000 persons on the Pier Deck and 25,000 persons on Sandbox South at any time.
Economic Benefits from the Event
The City of Santa Monica will experience the following types of economic benefits from the event:
1. General Economic Benefits
• Direct jobs, labor income, and economic output within the city associated with event setup and takedown, including some jobs and labor income that may 10 accrue to Santa Monica residents. ESPN anticipates daily on-site staffing during event operations of approximately 75 marketing, 300 production (including directing and talent), 36 contracted security, 31 production/technical services, and 200 operations personnel.
• Indirect economic impacts resulting from event setup and takedown that involve supply chain purchases of goods and services from Santa Monica businesses. • Induced economic impacts associated with household spending directly and indirectly impacting Santa Monica workers associated with the event. • Similar direct, indirect, and induced economic impacts associated with event operations and economic activity generated by out-of-town visitor spending at the event and elsewhere in the city, some of which may accrue to Santa Monica residents and businesses. Promotion of Santa Monica as a tourism destination via the event sponsor’s advertising and national broadcast coverage.
2. Tax Revenue Benefits
• Business License Tax revenue from all business activity occurring within the License Area related to setup, takedown, and operation of the event. • Additional sales of food, beverages, and merchandise within the License Area resulting in additional sales tax revenue.
• Incidental spending by employees associated with event setup, takedown, and operations resulting in additional sales tax revenue and Business License Tax revenue for businesses where spending occurs.
• Incidental spending by out-of-town visitors within the Downtown area and elsewhere in the city for food, beverage, and retail shopping resulting in additional sales tax revenue and Business License Tax revenue for businesses where spending occurs.
• Incremental Transient Occupancy Tax revenue generated from overnight stays by employees involved in event setup and takedown.
• Incremental Transient Occupancy Tax revenue associated with out-of-town overnight guests attending the event.
• Parking Tax revenues associated with net additional paid parking within the City.
• Incremental traffic fine revenue associated with event personnel and out-oftown event visitors. 11 (E) ESPN has agreed to implement best practices and adequate procedures to minimize noise levels and other impacts from the event.
With respect to noise and lighting, as detailed in Section 1(A)(ii) above and in the License Agreement, ESPN’s proposed siting and design of the activation is intended to reduce impacts based upon best practices in the broadcast and liveevent industry for outdoor productions.
With respect to lighting, all stage and production lighting will be engineered to prevent light trespass, using targeted, downward- and inward-directed beams wherever feasible and pointed only north, south, or landward; any lighting facing the ocean will be shielded. Perimeter and safety lighting will be downturned, coordinated with local police/fire/lifeguard planning, and will use lumen reduction and motion-sensor controls where feasible. No up-lighting, searchlights, or event search beams will be used, and all lighting will be directed landward and away from the ocean and night sky to the maximum extent feasible.
With respect to coastal public access, ESPN will maintain a minimum 10- foot dry sand corridor along the seaward edge of the event boundary throughout the full fenced period, and will place the perimeter fence a minimum of 15 feet inland of the mean high tide line, to preserve lateral shoreline access throughout the event.
With years of live broadcast and event experience across many venues, ESPN and its production and audio vendors are able to optimize on-site sound and lighting quality while minimizing off-site impacts.
SECTION 2. This Resolution shall become effective [Please confirm the effective date].
12 SECTION 3. The City Manager is hereby authorized to approve additional exemptions from the Municipal Code to meet operational needs of the event where the City Manager has made the findings set forth in Santa Monica Municipal Code Section
4.68.210(E).
SECTION 4. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution, and thenceforth and thereafter the same shall be in full force and effect.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_________________________
HEIDI VON TONGELN
City Attorney