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Visit Spokane pitches FIFA fan‑zone and urges support to retain local tourism assessment at $5
Summary
Visit Spokane reported contracting and convention trends, outlined a FIFA 2026 fan‑zone and base‑camp effort that could include watch parties in June and July, and asked commissioners to support state legislation to keep the local Tourism Promotion Assessment at $5 per room.
Brandon (Visit Spokane) on Sept. 23 reviewed second‑quarter convention numbers, pipeline contracting and a planned FIFA 2026 program that could bring additional visitors and activation to Spokane.
Brandon said Q2 room‑night goals were 20,000 and the organization achieved about 16,000 contracted room nights. He attributed part of the slower contracting to national funding and planning uncertainties and to a longer contracting cycle among some major groups.
On FIFA, Visit Spokane said Spokane is one of several official fan‑zone sites across the state and is the only designated base camp outside Seattle; teams could still choose or decline Spokane as a base camp once FIFA finalizes assignments. “We are the only base camp outside of Seattle,” Brandon said. The county and Visit Spokane are coordinating with Spokane Sports Commission, the city and other local partners to stage watch parties and an official fan‑zone watch area with streaming, branded activations and partner stops across the city. Potential watch‑party dates called out included June 19 (U.S. men’s team in Seattle), June 25 and early July; teams and base camp choices could be announced as late as February 2026.
Brandon also briefed the board on local tourism financing. He asked for county consideration in supporting state‑level action to indefinitely extend the county’s local allowable Tourism Promotion Assessment (TPA) rate above $2. Spokane currently collects $5 per qualified room night; Brandon said Visit Spokane will ask the Legislature in 2026 to allow the county to retain the $5 rate permanently and noted the TPA reporting requirement due Jan. 1, 2026. He told commissioners the state TPA and a proposed industry assessment would raise statewide destination promotion funding and made a public‑policy case for legislative outreach and letters of support.
Ending
Visit Spokane said it will provide more detailed reporting and a formal request for any county action on legislative support. Staff asked commissioners to consider letters of support for keeping the $5 local rate and noted more community partner outreach will follow as FIFA decisions solidify.
