Boston is getting a $1.2 million boost from the state to cover public safety costs for the FIFA World Cup watch parties and events the city is hosting this summer.
The grant was awarded to the city by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism’s Sports and Entertainment Events Fund, according to a document sent to the city and obtained by the Herald.
“This grant round was made available for public safety expenditures in communities hosting official FIFA activities, including World Cup games, Fan Fest, and team home bases, as well as communities that border the stadium in Foxboro,” the document states.
Mayor Michelle Wu’s office did not respond to a request for comment on how the city plans to spend the grant funding. The document states the city was asked to keep the information embargoed through Tuesday.
The money appears to be tied to a $2 million second round of the Sports and Entertainment Events Fund that was launched last month by Gov. Maura Healey’s administration “to support municipal public safety needs tied” to the World Cup, an international soccer event.
Boston is a host city and was among 17 communities to receive grant funding through the $10 million first round. Recipients were announced in late March.
The Wu and Healey administrations have been at odds over the state’s plan to shut down a city-owned portion of Summer Street near South Stadium to traffic during the seven FIFA World Cup matches that will coincide with watch parties in Boston.
Wu’s office slammed the plan as an “inappropriate use of eminent domain” when it was laid out by Transportation Secretary and MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng, who cited public safety concerns, last week.
Boston is hosting watch parties for matches in June and July, as part of Fan Fest celebrations that will take place at City Hall.
