Members of the Tumwater City Council convened on Tuesday, March 3, for their first regular meeting of the month. During the meeting, the council approved a regional partnership memorandum of understanding (MOU) to help plan and manage the 2026 Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup Olympia/Lacey Fan Zone.
Prior to discussing planning for the fan zone, a pair of proclamations were made declaring March as both American Red Cross Month and Women’s History Month in Tumwater.
Shannon Glenn, executive director with American Red Cross South Puget Sound and Olympics Chapter, was present to accept the Red Cross proclamation. The chapter serves eight counties in the region, including Thurston County.
“The American Red Cross, particularly in Thurston County, is always there. When I speak with children's groups at elementary schools, what I say is if you see the symbol, you can find help,” Glenn said. “If you’re in an armed conflict, whatever side of it you’re on. If you’re in need of blood services, there’s someone there that has blood … We’ve had a long history here. If there’s a home fire in your community, we’ll show up if someone needs assistance, and we’re so grateful to keep this partnership going.”
Glenn added Tumwater City Hall was going to host a blood drive on March 25, with some appointments still available.
Zonta Club of Olympia member Shelly Willis accepted the Women’s History Month proclamation.
“This proclamation reminds us that women throughout the generations have stepped forward to improve education, expand economic opportunity, protect human rights (and) equality, and build healthier communities,” Willis said. “Women continue to lead with abundant and diverse strategies, both visible and quiet, in an effort to ensure that the systems we pass on to our children are just, are more resilient and are more compassionate than those we inherited.”
Willis presented each member of the council with a yellow rose, the symbol of Zonta International, a nonprofit organization which advocates for women’s rights, equality, education and an end to child marriage and gender-based violence, which provides women around the world with educational programs and service projects according to its website. To learn how to get involved locally, visit the Zonta Club of Olympia’s website at https://www.olympiazonta.org/.
As for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Fan Zone, Tumwater Assistant City Administrator Kelly Adams explained the details of the MOU.
The City of Tumwater is partnering with the neighboring cities of Olympia and Lacey along with the Port of Olympia and Thurston County in the MOU — with the Thurston County Chamber of Commerce serving as the lead organization representing all parties.
“The cities, the county and the port asked the chamber to help and be the lead planning entity for this effort. This is not the chamber’s idea that they’ve asked and solicited the cities to participate in,” Adams said. “The local governments asked the chamber to help, and they so wonderfully volunteered to pull together this effort.”
Funding for the Fan Zone is coming from regional lodging tax advisory committees’ (LTAC) allocations from Tumwater, Lacey, Olympia and Thurston County — with the Port of Olympia providing the host property for the Fan Zone.
Specifically, Thurston County is providing $84,000 in LTAC funds, with Lacey putting up $80,000, Olympia $75,000 and Tumwater $7,500.
Adams explained city staff initially asked the Tumwater LTAC for $50,000; however, after discussion amongst the LTAC members, they chose to recommend the amount of $7,500, which was approved by the Tumwater City Council during its Oct. 21 meeting, with the allocation being on the meeting’s consent calendar.
Per the MOU, aside from providing some LTAC funding, City of Tumwater staff will be responsible for helping disseminate communications and information about Fan Zone days through city channels.
Adams added the purpose of the Olympia/Lacey Fan Zone is to highlight the region’s culture and businesses.
“Our hospitality, our tourism draw, our culture, and how wonderful and vital our businesses are,” Adams said.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup Olympia/Lacey Fan Zone will be located at the Port of Olympia’s North Point on Marine Drive Northeast next to the Billy Frank Jr. Park.
Admission to the Fan Zone will be $10 per person, with children 12 and under getting in free, and will include access to the Fan Zone’s giant LED screen for FIFA World Cup broadcasts. VIP tickets with access to a VIP area will also be for sale.
Jennie Foglia-Jones, through her company JFJ Strategies, is aiding all parties involved in coordinating with Seattle FIFA World Cup Local Organizing Committee to host the Fan Zone, which they expect will attract between 2,500 and 5,000 attendees per match — with plans to have the Fan Zone open for at least four televised World Cup matches starting with the June 19 game between the U.S. men’s national team and Australia.
The other matches they plan on having the Fan Zone open for include the June 24 game between Qatar and a yet-to-be-determined opponent, a June 25 game between the U.S. men’s national team and a yet-to-be-determined opponent and a June 26 game between Egypt and Iran.
She is also coordinating with local transit authorities to facilitate travel accommodations as parking in the Fan Zone’s area is limited. The Olympia police and fire departments will be assisting with security and traffic control during the days when the Fan Zone is open.
“We are working with our local tribes to bring them in to feature their culture, and you’ll see this represented in the food that we’re bringing in as well,” Foglia-Jones said.
The Fan Zone will also feature a beer garden along with soccer-themed games and activities for children to play.
