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≡ TEAM NEW ZEALAND TIE-IN ≡
At 11:05 p.m. Monday evening, the Culver City City Council voted 5-0 to go ahead with a Term Sheet and a follow-up contract with the New Zealand Olympic Committee for a “New Zealand House” and public fan zone in the city.
The meeting came three weeks after the City Council turned away the NZOC, represented in person by chief executive Nicki Nicol and marketing officer Jonny Errington, who had come across the Pacific to execute a non-binding “Term Sheet.”
But the situation was far different on Monday, with 20 of 22 public speakers vociferously in favor of the project, with only one against (one was off-topic). The Term Sheet presented Monday, again a non-binding document that is designed to lead to a long-form contract, described the planned program as:
● “A collaboration between the parties utilising the Culver City Town Plaza and Culver Steps to deliver a New Zealand House experience during LA28.”
● “The Event Concept will be focused on bringing athletes and supporters of the New Zealand Team together with the Culver City community in one unique location. The NZOC will lead and co-ordinate all programming and activation in the Town Plaza if other parties are interested in involvement e.g. Culver City High School Band.”
● “The Town Plaza and Culver Steps would remain open to the public as a free open-air event for the wider Culver City community, the public and friends of the New Zealand Team.”
Two large viewing screens, showing Olympic competitions would be set up by the NZOC at its expense, as well as a stage with the requisite sound and lighting support. Programming is projected from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, and could include “include Maori cultural exhibitions (poi dancing, song, haka); local cultural and music events; medal celebrations with athletes and teams; interviews with athletes and coaches, sharing insights of their Olympic journeys.”
The City’s staff report noted that larger events already staged draw up to 3,000 people and so a 19-day NZOC program could draw 57,000 people into the fan zone. The much-more-limited New Zealand House at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games drew 20,000 for 70 events and 27 cultural performances, and much more interest is expected for 2028.
As to who does what:
● “NZOC would be the National Olympic Committee who would lead on activation within the Town Plaza. It is likely NZOC would invite and partner with Oceania NOCs if they had interest as part of the event, in some capacity to be involved. Any other NOC interested would require NZOC and CCC permission to be included in the content.”
● “NZOC and Culver City Cultural Affairs will partner on additional programming for Culver City cultural performances and activations at the Town Plaza.”
The Term Sheet notes that the project is conditioned on “NZOC securing complementary arrangements for accommodation to ensure NZOC can deliver a full New Zealand Team stakeholder experience.”
The NZOC plan is to spend about $1.4 million on the program, with Culver City’s costs now self-limited to $800,000, assuming $225,000 in new City revenues related to the project, $250,000 in fund-raising and advertising, $75,000 in city “Special Event” funding in fiscal year 2028-29, and $250,000 from the Culver City General Fund in fiscal year 2028-29. If the projected costs were to go beyond this, the NZOC and the City would work to reduce the overall size, scope and cost.
Culver City’s costs include $490,000 for police and fire support and $185,000 for fencing rentals and portable restrooms. The New Zealand project would reduce possible city spending of $452,000 if the city would mount its own fan zone at its own cost.
The spending cap and spending details were significant developments since the 8 September meeting. Moreover, the Culver Arts Foundation had agreed to act as the receiver of privately-raised funds, but during the meeting, committed to leading the fund-raising effort, which it believes can significantly exceed the budgeted target of $250,000.
Culver City Vice Mayor Freddy Puza summarized the Council feeling now:
“There is a lot of obvious excitement for the Olympics – a little skepticism – but mostly excitement and this project will be an exciting opportunity. As part of the sub-committee that brought this forward, I understand the concerns about the budget and we need to be mindful of that. …
“As I said at the last meeting, I think we’ll get even more sponsorships than we anticipate and it’s a great opportunity for local businesses and the community.”
NZOC chief executive Nicol was tuned into the meeting online, with many others, from Auckland – at 7 p.m. local time on Tuesday (!) – and offered thanks for the unanimous support to go forward:
“We do really appreciate the partnership and the rest of the decision that you’ve just made. I’d also like to thank the Council staff … I’d like to acknowledge the community support that we’ve seen here this evening, and also over the last few weeks. All the messages of support that we’ve received, to me personally and also through our office here at the New Zealand Olympic Committee.
“We’ve just been overwhelmed the excitement and the energy that we’ve seen tonight, but also heard over the last few weeks. … We really look forward to building a really deep relationship with the Culver City community over the next three years, and together, we know that we can create something really special. …
“Thank you for trusting us.”
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This is the largest national “house” and fan zone project surfaced so far, with hospitality centers for Greece in Long Beach and Croatia in San Pedro also announced; other National Olympic Committees have already identified pre-Games training sites, such as The Netherlands in Mission Viejo and Great Britain at Stanford University.
There will be more to come, but Culver City’s early tie-in with New Zealand is sure to draw more attention to similar projects, or to also consider other possible options with Culver City.
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