Great Park Board Meeting: FIFA World Cup Training Facility, Amphitheater Relocation, and Cricket Pitch

  • April 26, 2022, 7:00 am America/Los_Angeles

Here are the notable items for the April 26, 2022 Great Park Board meeting. See agenda.

Reminder: This will be the first Great Park Board meeting under the new public comment policy. All public comments on agendized and non-agendized items will be heard at the very beginning of the meeting right after the Pledge of Allegiance. 

Consent Calendar Items

Irvine’s Great Park may become the Training Site for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The draft Training Site Agreement and details can be found in the staff report.

Agenda Item 1.5 * 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP TRAINING SITE AGREEMENT

ACTION:
1) Recommend to the City Council to approve and authorize the City Manager to execute an irrevocable Training Site Agreement, and any other implementing agreements to carry out the intent of this action with the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), and the United States Soccer Federation to use the Great Park Sports Complex as a Training Site for 2026 FIFA World Cup.

2) Recommend to the City Council to authorize the City Manager to negotiate and approve a mutually agreed upon “Training Site Rental Fee” for use of the Great Park Sports Complex as a Training Site for 2026 FIFA World Cup.

 

Council Business Items

Agenda
Item 2.1		 PROJECT DEVELOPMENT PROGRESS REPORT  

ACTION:
Receive and file report and presentation.

For the past several months, Irvine Watchdog has asked for updates on more of the projects that have come before the Great Park Board.

The public has not received a comprehensive progress update since September 28, 2021. The September 2021 Great Park Development Report was 35 pages and provided updates on the numerous projects being decided in the Great Park. Compare it to this month’s 2-page report, agenda item 2.1.

What are the plans for the Great Park? What projects are still being considered? Which plans have been eliminated?

Here is a list of many projects that were proposed, but the public has not received updates on:

    1. American Museum of Natural History
    2. Art Museum
    3. BMX/Pump Track
    4. Botanic Gardens
    5. California Fire Museum
    6. Culture and Trade Center
    7. Equestrian Center
    8. Flying Leatherneck Museum
    9. Korean Gardens
    10. Library
    11. Museum of Heritage & Aviation
    12. Native American Museum
    13. Project Activ
    14. Rhino Rugby
    15. Surf Park
    16. Top Golf
    17. USA Swimming
    18. Whitewater (whitewater rafting)
    19. Wildfire Gymnastics

 

Agenda
Item 2.2		 EXCLUSIVE NEGOTIATING AGREEMENT WITH LIVE NATION WORLDWIDE, INC. FOR AN AMPHITHEATER AT THE GREAT PARK

ACTION:
Recommend that the City Council approve an Exclusive Negotiating Agreement with Live Nation Worldwide, Inc., and authorize the City Manager to execute the agreement.
The Great Park Board will also decide whether or not to enter into an exclusive negotiating agreement with Live Nation for a permanent location for the amphitheater. For residents concerned about the noise from the amphitheater, it will be important to follow up on the sound mitigation efforts which are in the plans.
The current rented amphitheater location will cease operations. The new location has yet to be determined, but will be within the yellow boundary below.

Agenda
Item 2.3		 EXCLUSIVE NEGOTIATING AGREEMENT WITH AMERICAN CRICKET ENTERPRISES INC., FOR A CHAMPIONSHIP CRICKET PITCH AT THE GREAT PARK

ACTION:
Recommend that the City Council approve an Exclusive Negotiating Agreement with American Cricket Enterprises, Inc. and authorize the City Manager to execute the agreement.
On November 13, 2021, American Cricket Enterprises, Inc. (ACE) sent a letter of intent to the City to locate a championship/stadium level cricket pitch within the Great Park. ACE’s mission to bring a world-class cricket league to the United States, including the proposed facility in Irvine. A location has not been determined but will fall within the yellow boundary in the map above for agenda item 2.2.