Louisiana is considering the possibility of adding international soccer and rugby matches to the events that can receive state funding support. Senate Bill 404, proposed by Sen. Patrick Connick, R-Marrero, would allow the international and national governing bodies of soccer and rugby to qualify for state incentives if their teams compete in Louisiana. Events that could receive funding include World Cup matches and exhibitions between national or professional teams. Organizations such as FIFA, World Rugby, U.S. Soccer, and USA Rugby would be newly eligible for support from the state’s major event fund.
Connick introduced the legislation on behalf of NOLA Gold, a professional rugby team based in Metairie. The bill has passed the Senate and is awaiting a vote in the House of Representatives. The state’s incentive fund currently holds around $22 million and is used to attract major events like the Super Bowl, WWE Wrestlemania, national political party conventions, and the NCAA Final Four basketball championship. Additionally, lesser-known sporting events like mixed martial arts tournaments and U.S. Bowling Congress tournaments also qualify for funding under existing law.
Legislators defend spending public money on these large events by arguing that they bring in more tax revenue for the state through expenditures on hotels and other goods and services by out-of-town visitors. The funds are also used to support annual events in New Orleans like the Bayou Classic, Essence Festival, and Zurich Classic golf tournament. The current budget making its way through the Louisiana Legislature plans to allocate $14 million from the major events incentive fund for the next year. Governor Jeff Landry had requested $10 million of that funding be allocated to Super Bowl LIX, which will be held in New Orleans in 2025.
Although the United States will host the soccer World Cup in 2026, New Orleans is not among the host cities that have been selected. The city could potentially be a host in 2031 when America hosts and competes in the Rugby World Cup.