Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Economic Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Columbia County approves $30,000 host-fee incentive for Bulls soccer tournaments to boost hotel bookings
Summary
County signed a tournament agreement with the Bulls soccer club using $30,000 in hotel-motel funds, including tiered incentives to attract teams from beyond a 50-mile radius; county staff said events generate roughly $600,000 in economic impact and fill local hotels.
Columbia County approved a tournament-host agreement with the Bulls soccer club that includes a $30,000 host fee funded from hotel-motel tax revenues and tiered incentives to attract teams from beyond a 50-mile radius.
County Community Services staff said the agreement covers two tournaments held at county facilities, one in August and one in January, and that both events have been held in prior years. Staff estimated the two tournaments together average more than 200 teams and generate a combined economic impact of more than $600,000 for Columbia County hotels and related businesses.
The host fee is tiered so that Bulls organizers receive the full $30,000 only if they recruit a target number of teams from outside a 50-mile radius; smaller numbers of out-of-area teams reduce the fee on a sliding scale. Staff recommended approval; a commissioner moved the item on consent, it was seconded and approved.
Community Services staff said the tournaments “do fill up our Columbia County hotels,” and that the tiered structure is intended to incentivize the club to recruit additional out-of-area teams to increase local economic benefit. No additional financial details or contract terms (length, renewal, or reporting requirements) were discussed in the presentation.
