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 Counci...
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