Fort Worth received $2 million from the North Central Texas Council of Governments for the FIFA World Cup Project Funding Grant for public safety.
Council approved the acceptance of the grant during the June 9 meeting. In addition, a contract change for the Fort Worth Convention Center project was amended to $109 million for the second phase of construction.
Some context
The $2 million in funding is from the FIFA Host Committee, the United States Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The NCTCOG is overseeing reimbursements through an interlocal agreement.
The purpose of the grant is to provide enhanced security for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to city documents.
The city expected to spend $7.03 million to prepare for the World Cup in North Texas, according to previous reporting. During a March 14 council work session, Sonny Saxton, the emergency management and communication director, said the city’s estimated cost for the police department was $2.8 million.
Officer Bradley C. Perez, the Fort Worth Police Department's public information officer, said the city is taking every precaution to help ensure the safety of everyone who decides to visit Fort Worth during the tournament and the department will continue to patrol all areas of Fort Worth.
There will be watch parties held at Sundance Square and the Fort Worth Stockyards. City documents state there is an expected increase in tourism, watch parties and heavy fan travel through the city on match days.
The funding is a reimbursement grant, as city employees will charge time worked on the project and the $2 million will be used to cover that additional time, according to city documents.
What else?
A $7 million amendment to the contract for the Fort Worth Convention Center was approved, bumping the total value of the contract to $109 million for the second phase.
The change by contractor Hunt/Byrne/Smith was to order structural steel and subcontractor design assistance. According to city documents, another amendment for the rest of the structural steel will be presented to the council at a later date, with an anticipated cost of $10 million.
The second phase on construction will replace the arena with additional exhibit halls, ballroom and meeting rooms in the facility that opened in 1968, according to city documents. The second phase is scheduled to be done by early 2030.
The first phase, which cost $95 million, included demolition of the east annex, straightening of Commerce Street, covered loading docks and new food and beverage facilities. A ribbon-cutting was held Dec. 8 to celebrate the phase completion, according to the city website.
The anticipated final cost for the renovations will be between $600-$700 million, according to the city documents.
