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Foxborough says World Cup licenses contingent on funding; security and parking verification addressed
Summary
Town officials told the Select Board the town will hold licenses until financial and security conditions for FIFA World Cup events are satisfied. The manager reported ticket-verification concerns were resolved and warned the town cannot front large reimbursement-style grants.
The Foxborough Select Board heard an update on Feb. 3 about local preparations for FIFA World Cup events that will use Gillette Stadium and related town assets, and was told licenses will be conditioned on financial and security assurances.
Town Manager (identified in the meeting) said the town has applied for roughly $7.7 million in grant support for manpower and capital expenses tied to World Cup operations but cautioned that the grant may not be funded in full. The manager said the town is not in a position to advance large sums up front expecting later reimbursement and that, unless the financial terms set in local licenses are met, the town would withhold a license.
Why it matters: The town is hosting local operations for a national and international event; unresolved funding or security issues could affect whether the town grants necessary licenses and permits.
On security and logistics, the manager reported continued coordination with Boston 2026 and the governor’s office and weekly staff meetings; the manager said the ticket verification process for parking — a concern previously raised by Chief Grace — "has been addressed," and Chief Grace was reported satisfied with the process. The town manager emphasized that public-safety chiefs set operational requirements and that those needs must be met for an event to move forward.
The board earlier had entered executive session (the motion announced at the start of the meeting) listing as permissible topics the deployment of security personnel or strategy related to stadium events and strategy in preparation for negotiations; the executive-session motion also referenced contract negotiations concerning finance director Marie Alam. The board recorded a roll call vote to enter executive session and later reconvened.
Town staff said land-use personnel are actively working on site-plan issues and that a stadium-advisory committee met recently. The manager also said the grant model for much of the World Cup support is reimbursement-based, which would require pre-funding or other arrangements to avoid cash‑flow shortfalls.
No final license decision was recorded at the meeting; the manager said the town will press for the financial terms it requires and would not grant a license unless the conditions are satisfied.
