Tax sharing agreement proposed to support Roots’ World Cup team proposal
On July 15, City Council will consider authorizing a Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) Sharing Agreement with the Oakland Roots and Soul Sports Club in support of hosting a World Cup Team in their Alameda facility during the 2026 World Cup soccer tournament.
Below is a summary of what is proposed and how to participate.
Proposed TOT Sharing Agreement with Roots SC
In the summer of 2026, the FIFA Men’s World Cup tournament will be held in North America, with the closest games being held at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. The Oakland Roots and Soul Sports Club (Roots) has been approached by the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) to have its training facility, formerly the Oakland Raiders training facility located in Alameda, be designated as a Team Base Camp Training Site.
The benefit to the host community of being a Team Base Camp is the thousands of fans interested in following a team, especially one that is highly ranked. However, the Roots training facility would require upgrades, and the host is expected to carry other costs estimated at $700,000.
Council will consider a resolution to authorize a Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) sharing agreement to support the Roots’ Team Base Camp proposal. A Team Base Camp is projected to generate significant economic benefits, including up to 30,000 hotel room nights, watch parties, community events, and increased tourism. The City would share its TOT revenues only from incremental increases above historic occupancy baselines—77% for hotels and 58% for short-term rentals—with a cap of $150,000. The City’s contribution would help close the Roots’ funding gap without impacting baseline General Fund revenue.
City staff estimate that the event may also generate approximately $22,000 in additional sales tax revenue and increase visibility for Alameda’s hospitality and retail sectors. Staff recommend that the City Council authorize the TOT sharing agreement to support the Roots’ sponsorship of a World Cup team at their Alameda facility.
How to participate
The meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 15, at 7 p.m. at the City Council Chambers, located on the third floor of City Hall, 2263 Santa Clara Avenue.
Members of the public are welcome to participate in person or via Zoom. They may comment on the Non-Agenda, Consent Calendar, and Regular Agenda portions of the Meeting Agenda (link downloads document).
The Non-Agenda portion of the meeting provides an opportunity to address the Council regarding any matter not on the agenda over which the Council has jurisdiction. The Consent Calendar is intended for routine items and approved by a single motion. The Regular Agenda is the central portion of the meeting, where each issue receives a presentation and time for Council discussion and public comment.
Complete this online form to request reasonable accommodation.
Click here for Zoom registration. The Zoom phone number for telephone participants is 669-900-9128; the Meeting ID is 834 8889 8933.
Information to assist with remote participation is available online in the Public Comment and City Council Meeting Guide. The meeting can also be viewed on the City of Alameda’s Facebook page. Note that comments posted there are not monitored.
For each issue, public speakers will have three minutes to speak if there are fewer than five speakers or two minutes to speak if there are five or more speakers.
Community members may also email Council Members on issues of interest before meetings.
Contributing writer Karin K. Jensen covers boards and commissions for the Alameda Post. Contact her via [email protected]. Her writing is collected at https://linktr.ee/karinkjensen and https://alamedapost.com/Karin-K-Jensen.
