Bothell plans World Cup readiness with watch‑party toolkits and business outreach

Members discussed preparing local businesses for Club World Cup and the 2026 World Cup by developing marketing toolkits and coordinating with regional chambers and fan‑zone organizers.

Staff described efforts to coordinate with neighboring cities and the Seattle Chamber to create a master toolkit for small businesses and to encourage individual businesses to host watch parties or promote nearby fan‑zone activity. Committee members noted licensing and production costs for large outdoor screens can be high — in one example a single outdoor screen rental was cited at approximately $13,000 — and that costs for a full large‑scale watch party can reach tens of thousands of dollars.

"From a marketing standpoint, we've already begun marketing both Club World Cup and World Cup and telling people why Bothell should be their place to stay," a staff member said. Members emphasized safety and promoting smaller, locally hosted watch parties as realistic options while the larger regional partners finalize fan‑zone assignments.

Staff did not propose an LTAC funding allocation at the meeting but said they will continue to prepare messaging, a vendor toolkit and guidance for businesses; the committee agreed to monitor nearby Redmond's early watch‑party results as a test case.

Ending: Staff will refine the toolkit and report back as regional fan‑zone assignments and licensing details become clearer.