Fort Worth officials are expecting to see an increase in tourism, watch parties and heavy fan travel throughout the city during match days for the FIFA World Cup.
The first of nine events in the Dallas-Fort Worth area will be June 14 for the Group F match featuring the Netherlands and Japan at Dallas Stadium in Arlington.
During the Fort Worth City Council regular meeting and work session meeting March 31, two different World Cup items were discussed, including transportation and signage.
Zooming in
Sonny Saxton, the emergency management and communication director, provided an informal report to the council during the work session. He said the city organized the efforts into five work groups: hospitality, beautification, communications and engagement, infrastructure and safety and security.
“We want to make sure that we have our best foot forward, that we’re welcoming guests,” Saxton said. “We also care a lot about our residents that are not going to the game; how do we make sure that we’re not impacting them, as well?”
The report stated that hotel bookings for Fort Worth remain typical, but said the World Cup lodging demand usually rises after fans secure tickets. The span from June 21-27 has increased demand, with Argentina playing in the World Cup and rock band Rush playing four concerts at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth during that time.
The city is also working on enhanced transit wayfinding signage with Trinity Metro and Trinity Railway Express. Saxton said most fans visiting for the games will be traveling through the CentrePort/DFW Airport Station in Fort Worth city limits.
What else?
Saxton’s report stated there are various transportation-related plans underway for Fort Worth.
That includes loading zones for rideshares and bus loading zones in downtown, on West Seventh Street, at the Cultural District and in the Fort Worth Stockyards.
The report added that train-crossing technology will monitor and manage any blockages at two key train crossings along West Seventh Street and North Main Street. Capital projects that have timelines overlapping with match days will be evaluated for postponement to avoid lane closures in congestion areas.
Crosswalk striping will be refreshed in high-traffic areas near malls, transportation hubs and entertainment zones.
Mitch Whitten, Visit Fort Worth’s chief operating officer, said there are two online training programs that are 90 minutes each. One is for host training to highlight the city and key history, while the other is to learn about the event, the visiting countries and even how to say hello in various languages.
City documents state the anticipated costs between various departments are $7.03 million, with $5.1 million anticipated for reimbursement from federal funding, leaving the city on the hook for $1.92 million.
A closer look
Council voted to temporarily establish World Cup Districts, which suspends certain signing regulations to promote economic development, tourism and community celebration, according to city documents.
The city has established four World Cup Districts:
Stockyards National Historic DistrictSundance Square and Downtown DistrictWest 7th Cultural DistrictSouthside DistrictTo allow local businesses and property owners to display World Cup-themed signage, banners, flags, murals, projections and other dipoles, the city is temporarily suspending requirements for signs from June 1-July 27.
Applicants may apply for a permit to install a World Cup-related display, and there will be an expedited permit review by the Development Services Department, according to city documents.
There will also be a suspension of Historic and Cultural Landmarks Commission, Urban Design Commission and Downtown Design Review Board approvals during the period. Flexible temporary signs and special allowance for off-premise supergraphic signs in the World Cup Districts, up to 450 square feet, were approved.