REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action to Authorize the City Manager to Negotiate and Execute a License Agreement with Bay FC for the Use of the Youth Soccer Park (YSP) as a Practice Facility for the 2024 National Women’s Soccer League Season
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Enhance Community Sports, Recreational and Arts Assets
BACKGROUND
The Bay Football Club (Bay FC) is the newest expansion team of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). The ownership group, the investment firm of Sixth Street Partners and four former members of the U.S. women’s national team and graduates of Santa Clara University (Brandi Chastain, Leslie Osborne, Danielle Slaton and Aly Wagner) were awarded an expansion franchise on April 4, 2023.
On July 21, 2023, the team announced that they had signed a five-year agreement to play at PayPal Park in San Jose while planning for the construction of their own stadium. The team’s home opener is scheduled for Sunday, March 17, 2024.
While the team has embraced a vision for an iconic global brand that will promote women’s sports, and women’s soccer in particular, the team recognizes that before they can go global, they need to start local. With that in mind, the team approached the City of Santa Clara in early February with an interest in exploring the feasibility of a potential partnership that would involve a license agreement for the use of the amenities at the Youth Soccer Park (YSP). The YSP has been identified as a highly desirable site for the team given the availability of well-maintained grass fields, support amenities, and strong programming for the local soccer community.
Over the past few weeks, the team has met with representatives from the Department of Parks & Recreation to express their interest and to submit a list of additional benefits the team would be willing to provide in support of the City’s sports programs.
The purpose of this report is to provide an overview of proposed terms and conditions, as well as to seek Council action, to authorize the City Manager to finalize negotiations and execute a license agreement, subject to the review and approval as to form by the City Attorney.
DISCUSSION
In addition to required field use and maintenance fees, Bay FC is proposing to offer the City the following additional community benefits:
• An open practice for members of the Santa Clara community to watch training and interact with Bay FC players and coaches. The two parties would work in good faith to find a time amenable to both parties (likely sometime during the summer months).
• Five, one-hour individual player appearances throughout the NWSL season at mutually agreed upon training sessions and/or matches.
• Three, two-hour clinics exclusively for Santa Clara youth soccer groups, led by Bay FC coaching staff. Types, dates, and number of attendees to be mutually agreed upon by both parties.
• Official community partner status, which would enable City programs to be included in the conversation as the team develops programming with corporate partners and key stakeholders.
• Discounted group tickets for Santa Clara Youth soccer players to 2-4 Bay FC home games in the 2024 season.
• A donation of equipment and/or materials with an estimated value of up to $25,000. This equipment may include weight equipment, tables and chairs, training supplies, and/or other maintenance equipment that will enhance the experience at the facility for both the community and team users.
In consideration of this partnership, Bay FC would request the following:
• Use of one grass field and building support amenities (community room, training room, and restroom/shower facilities) between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., twice a week starting March 29, 2024 and no later than November 27, 2024.
• In the event of inclement weather or additional need, the ability to schedule up to 8 additional one-day uses, subject to availability and at least 24 hours advance notice.
• That the fields be properly lined and sufficiently maintained to ensure the safety of Bay FC players.
Adult Use of Youth Soccer Park
Historically, the City has not allowed adult use of the fields at the Youth Soccer Park. In evaluating Bay FC’s request to utilize the Youth Soccer Park, staff researched the conditions of use for the facility and determined that there is no formal restriction that would prohibit adult use at the Youth Soccer Park. However, there is strong public sentiment that the facility is intended for the primary purpose of supporting youth sports. That sentiment has been acknowledged by Bay FC and the proposed use has been designed to ensure that the adult use will not negatively impact the current youth programming focus and that youth will have priority use over the fields. All adult programming, subject to the proposed license agreement, would end no later than 3 p.m. Bay FC has committed that the fields will be maintained such that there shall be minimal impact to the grass fields. This will be achieved by rotating their use between the fields and working with City staff to provide the resources necessary to restore fields to an acceptable level of play.
Fees & Community Benefits
The current Municipal Fee Schedule provides for the following field use fees for commercial/non-resident users of City Sports fields:
1. Field Rental = $280 per hour
2. Field Preparation (Lining of Grass Fields) = $300 per day
3. Building Rental = $90 per hour, per building
4. Staff Support During Rental (2 staff) = $36 per staff, per hour
Based on a projected use of 70 days of one grass field, access to 3 buildings and on-site staff support for a total of 6 hours per day, the total fees are projected to be $203,840. If the 8 days of turf field use is exercised due to inclement weather, that would be an additional $20,896 for a grand total of $224,736 (please note, turf field are lined and consequently, cost for field preparation would not be incurred). The parties recognize that there will be opportunities for additional community benefits to enhance the quality of experience for users and would recommend that the value of those benefits be recognized as an offset to the base field rental fees.
Proposed Agreement
The proposal from Bay FC affords the City the opportunity to embark on a new era of partnership and revenue generation. While the City remains committed to maintaining quality youth sports programs as a focus of the YSP, the chance to partner with a professional sport team-particularly a professional women’s sport team founded by individuals committed to the City of Santa Clara who share the City’s commitment to youth sports-is a truly unique opportunity.
For this reason, staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to continue negotiations with Bay FC for a license agreement with the terms and conditions broadly outlined in this report, subject to the review and approval as to form by the City Attorney.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered does not constitute a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(a) as it has no potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
Should the City Council authorize the City Manager to finalize a license agreement with Bay FC, the City will benefit from new revenue in the range of approximately $197,000 to $225,000 that would cover Bay FC’s City facility use, maintenance costs and staffing costs. Moreover, the agreement will establish a foundational relationship with the Bay Area’s newest pro sport team to help position the City of Santa Clara as a vital hub for women and youth sports in the future. The license agreement will also allow the City to pilot and evaluate the impact of adult programming at the Youth Sports Park, potentially providing a new source of revenue to support City sports programs.
COORDINATION
This report has been coordinated with the Finance Department, the City Attorney’s Office, and the City Manager.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov <mailto:clerk@santaclaraca.gov> or at the public information desk at any City of Santa Clara public library.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a license agreement with Bay FC for use of the Youth Soccer Park as a practice facility for a period of eighty (80) days between March 29, 2024 and November 27, 2024 with terms and conditions outlined in this report, at a base rental cost of no more than $224,736 and no less than $178,640 with a corresponding offset for mutually-agreed upon community benefits, and with the option to allow Bay FC to use the YSP for up to an additional eight (8) days at a rental rate consistent with Council’s direction, subject to City standard insurance and indemnity requirements, and in a final form approved by the City Attorney.
Staff
Reviewed by: Cynthia Bojorquez, Assistant City Manager, Acting Director, Parks & Recreation Department
Approved by: Jovan Grogan, City Manager