City clears LA Galaxy World Cup watch parties on Hermosa Beach with limited VIP permission
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Summary
Hermosa Beach Council approved an Impact Level 3 application from LA Galaxy for July World Cup watch parties on the beach, subject to neighborhood notification and public‑safety conditions; council allowed the applicant to pursue a limited VIP area while encouraging coordination with local businesses.
Hermosa Beach — The City Council voted Jan. 27 to approve LA Galaxy’s request to host World Cup watch parties on the beach in July, authorizing an Impact Level 3 special event on dates listed in the city's events calendar and obligating the organizer to meet neighborhood‑notification, permitting and public‑safety requirements.
Special-events staff said the event producer anticipates up to 3,000 attendees per day for matches and that program elements could include a large screen, stage, sponsor activations, merchandise and family‑oriented youth-soccer programming coordinated with the Hermosa Beach City School District. Staff described coordination with a longstanding AAU junior-volleyball tournament and noted one remaining footprint conflict that event organizers had agreed to resolve.
LA Galaxy representatives told council they will continue to work with local businesses on hospitality and VIP‑area options. "We had originally been interested in a VIP area on the sand to accommodate VIPs, players, executives and other guests ... we would be open to working with the city to determine what is best," a Galaxy representative said. Council discussion noted Coastal Commission and public-access constraints on paid VIP areas on beaches; staff said limited VIP areas below a 25% footprint threshold can be considered with appropriate coastal permitting.
Council approved staff’s recommendation and, in a separate motion, authorized the applicant to pursue a limited VIP area while encouraging coordination with local businesses for off‑beach hospitality options. Council members stressed that any VIP activation must comply with coastal-access rules and public‑safety requirements.
Next steps: event organizers must complete neighborhood notification, detailed traffic and public‑safety plans, and permitting coordination with city staff; staff and the applicant will continue to work on footprint details and any required Coastal Commission coordination.
Vote: Motion carried with a majority of councilmembers present.