In a high-stakes standoff, the town of Foxboro, Massachusetts is refusing to grant an entertainment license for the FIFA World Cup unless it receives upfront funding for the event's security costs. What this really means is that the global soccer extravaganza, set to bring billions in revenue to North America, could be in jeopardy if local officials don't get the financial assurances they're demanding.
A $7.8 Million Price Tag
Foxboro is scheduled to host seven World Cup matches at Gillette Stadium this summer, which will be known as "Boston Stadium" for the tournament. However, town officials say they need $7.8 million to cover the necessary police presence and safety operations. As The Boston Globe reports, the town's select board chairman Bill Yukna made it crystal clear: "This event is not Foxborough's event. This is a national, international event, and it's not up to the Town of Foxborough to support and pay for any of this."
Reimbursement Concerns
The issue is that while Massachusetts is slated to receive around $47 million in federal funds to address security needs across the 11 U.S. host cities, Boston.com explains that the money will be distributed through a reimbursement process controlled by the state. Foxboro's town manager Paige Duncan said the municipality simply can't afford to front millions of dollars and wait to be paid back later.
A High-Stakes Game of Chicken
The bigger picture here is that Foxboro is essentially holding the World Cup hostage, risking the prestigious event's plans for the region unless its financial demands are met. FIFA, the Boston Host Committee, and state/local officials are in high-stakes negotiations to resolve the impasse before the March 1 deadline for entertainment licenses. WCVB reports that the town is prepared to deny the license if the security funding isn't secured, potentially throwing the entire World Cup plans into chaos.