FIFA United 2026 Bid Agreements (Baltimore City Law Department)

Lucas Smolcic Larson filed this request with the Baltimore City Law Department of Baltimore, MD.
Multi Request FIFA United 2026 Bid Agreements
Submitted Nov. 26, 2018
Est. Completion None
Status
No Responsive Documents

From: Lucas Smolcic Larson

Subject: Maryland Public Information Act Request: FIFA United 2026 Bid Agreements (Baltimore City Law Department)

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To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Maryland Public Information Act, I hereby request the following records:

The following documents relating to the United Bid for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, often referred to as United 2026, of which the city is a part:

-copies of the signed Host City Agreement, Training Site Agreement, and Stadium Agreement entered into by the city, the United States Soccer Federation (USSF), and the Federation Internationale de Football Association between October 4th, 2017 and March 16th, 2018, at which time the United Bid committee submitted its bid book to FIFA (including all attachments and appendices)
-copies of subsequent Host City, Training Site, and Stadium Agreements entered into by the city, the USSF, and FIFA as a result of negotiation of the terms of the original agreements between March 16th, 2018 and the date this request is processed (please include draft agreements)

In the United bid submitted to FIFA in March 2018, the city is named as a potential host city. The United 2026 Bid Book, submitted to FIFA, is available online (https://img.fifa.com/image/upload/w3yjeu7dadt5erw26wmu.pdf). Reporting by multiple outlets and memos from Dallas, TX city officials have revealed that the United Bid committee and FIFA required the aforementioned agreements from cities for them to be included in the final bid. For further information, see:
https://thebreaker.news/news/united-bid-rejection/
http://dallascityhall.com/government/Council%20Meeting%20Documents/qolacl_2_2026-fifa-world-cup-bid_combined_121117.pdf

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter.

I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 calendar days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Lucas Smolcic Larson

From: Baltimore City Law Department

Subject: Re: MPIA- FIFA United 2026 Bid agreements

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Mr. Larson:

The Baltimore City Law Department is in receipt of your request dated June 27, 2019, attached, for documents related to the United Bid for the 2026 FIFA World Cup agreements. Although you reference another letter, dated November 26, 2018, it is not clear that was ever received by the Law Department.

The request is governed by Maryland's Public Information Act, ("PIA"), codified in Sections 4-101, et. seq. of the General Provisions Article of the Maryland Code. The PIA requires a request for records to be received by the custodian of the records sought. Md. Code, Gen. Prov., § 4-202. Each governmental entity, including each Baltimore City agency is the custodian of its own records. Baltimore City Code, Art. 1 § 10-1. This response is on behalf of the Law Department, which is not the custodian of any of the records you seek.

Nothing in this response is intended to indicate that records sought from City agencies exist or to waive any privileges held by the Mayor and City Council. You may contest this response by filing a complaint in Circuit Court pursuant to GP Section 4-362.

Sincerely,

[cid:image001.png@01D21971.CFDD6E80]<http://www.baltimorecity.gov/>
Department of Law
Khadeja Farahmand, L.L.M
Legal Advice & Opinions
Baltimore City Department of Law
100 N. Holliday Street, Suite 101
Baltimore, MD 21202
Khadeja.Farahmand@baltimorecity.gov<mailto:Khadeja.Farahmand@baltimorecity.gov>
Office: (410)396-3257
Fax: (410) 396-3257

From: Muckrock Staff

Subject: RE: Maryland Public Information Act Request: FIFA United 2026 Bid Agreements (Baltimore City Law Department)

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To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following request, copied below. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.

From: Baltimore City Law Department

Subject: Your PIA Request

Email

Lucas Smolcic Larson:

Attached please see the response sent on July 18, 2019, which stated the Baltimore City Law Department is not the custodian of records sought in your request.

Sincerely,

[cid:image001.png@01D6C257.6BA38470]<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.baltimorecity.gov%2F&data=02%7C01%7C%7C30cdb7bb0c884a02753f08d850e6da31%7C312cb126c6ae4fc2800d318e679ce6c7%7C0%7C0%7C637348299709101716&sdata=sW1M42iVg4NQG2bFFjuvtdyi%2Fz6FRx8FpMNLVVaSk18%3D&reserved=0>
Department of Law

D'ereka Bolden
Assistant City Solicitor
Advice & Opinions Practice Group
Baltimore City Department of Law

100 N. Holliday Street, Suite 101
Baltimore, MD 21202
dereka.bolden@baltimorecity.org<mailto:dereka.bolden@baltimorecity.org>