Greenbrier Commission approves ‘Host City Agreement’ to serve as ‘base camp’ for FIFA World Cup team

LEWISBURG, W.Va. – The Greenbrier County Commission, on Thursday, held a Special Commission Meeting to once again consider the proposed Host City Agreement between the county commission, the Greenbrier Resort, the State of West Virginia, and the FWC 2026 US Inc., for the purposes of hosting a FIFA World Cup 2026 “Team Base Camp” at the Greenbrier Resort. 

“This has been kind of on-again, off-again, but they’ve brought it back up to us,” Commission President Lowell Rose said. “There’s still a couple of details to work out, but we need to have a motion to approve the agreement with the amendments, as negotiated by our attorney, Britt Ludwig.”

Before approving the motion, which was made by Commissioner Richie Holliday, Commissioner Woody Hanna requested clarification as to the potential associated costs which may be incurred by the county.

“Not much of anything, at all,” Rose replied. “The only thing we’ve typically agreed to…is that if the Sheriff’s Department is needed, they will be available to escort people back and forth from the airport to the Greenbrier, or from outside the Greenbrier to the fields and back.”

“However they want to be as needed or on-call, they want to be reimbursed for their time by the hour,” Rose added. “Really there’s no major expenses to the county.”

As explained by Ludwig, “The host city is responsible for helping coordinate security.”

“Of course the Greenbrier will be completely responsible for their on-grounds security at their own expense,” Ludwig said. “But for the off-grounds security…there is some transportation that needs to be secured, and a few other things. The West Virginia State Police and the Sheriff’s Deputies, and perhaps some municipalities will be involved.”

The Greenbrier Resort, Ludwig added, has agreed to reimburse the projected off-ground security expenses of $130,000.

“Above that, FIFA has agreed to step in and pay the balance if it exceeds $130,000,” Ludwig noted. 

Ludwig further added that there will be one open practice day while the team is in the area, that will be open for community involvement. 

With no further discussion, commissioners approved the agreement. The next regular meeting of the Greenbrier County Commission is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 10 at 10 a.m.