Thu Dec 25 09:00:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary of the text followed by a rewritten version as a news article:

Summary:

Inglewood, CA, is gearing up for the 2026 World Cup, which will bring a significant economic boost to the city. Airbnb hosts are already capitalizing on the event, with some charging exorbitant rates for accommodations near SoFi Stadium. However, the city plans to establish “Event Zones” or “Clean Zones” with strict regulations on street vendors and temporary structures to manage congestion and ensure public safety during the games. This move, while aimed at security and order, has raised concerns about limiting opportunities for smaller businesses, particularly street vendors, who may be restricted from operating in key areas. The city’s existing Street Vending Ordinance, which includes a 1,000-foot buffer zone around certain establishments, has already faced legal challenges, adding another layer of complexity to the situation. The World Cup will be a test case for how the city will manage events such as the 2028 Olympics.

News Article:

Inglewood Braces for World Cup Windfall and Vendor Crackdown

INGLEWOOD – Inglewood is preparing for a major economic boom as it gears up to host eight matches during the 2026 World Cup. While Airbnb hosts are poised to reap substantial profits, the city’s plans to establish “Event Zones” could limit opportunities for smaller businesses.

According to reports, some Airbnb listings near SoFi Stadium, the venue for the World Cup matches, are charging upwards of $11,000 for a two-night stay. Kevin Demoff, President of the Los Angeles Rams, anticipates economic and community benefits from the world’s largest single-sport event.

However, Inglewood’s City Council is moving to designate certain areas as “Event Zones,” or “Clean Zones,” implementing strict regulations on street vendors, temporary structures, and outdoor advertising. A public hearing is scheduled for January 13, 2026, to finalize the ordinance, which aims to prevent congestion, litter, and obstructions to public safety.

“Given the large scale of the FIFA Game’s official events and the large number of people attending or participating, the City will need to adopt certain regulations concerning temporary structures, the outdoor sale or distribution of goods or materials on streets, sidewalks, and other public rights- of-ways, and temporary outdoor advertising displays visible from public streets in the vicinity of the official events to prevent congestion, litter and other obstructions to vehicular traffic, pedestrians, and emergency services vehicles and personnel; prevent line of sight obstructions; easily identify and investigate unclaimed/suspicious packages and vehicles impacting public safety operations; protect the security of the Official Events; and protect the health and safety of the public.”

This move has raised concerns about limiting the financial opportunities for street vendors who typically operate around the Hollywood Park campus. Inglewood already has a Street Vending Ordinance that creates a 1,000-foot buffer around venues within the Inglewood Sports and Entertainment District, churches, schools, Centinela Hospital, Inglewood Park Cemetery, and the water treatment plant adjacent to Rogers Park, which has faced legal challenges.

Former City Attorney Ken Campos had warned against the 1,000 foot rule, as other cities had been sued for similar regulations, with the LA ordinance being challenged at 500 feet.

Despite these concerns, Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts Jr. appears determined to move forward with the regulations. Roughly 6.5 million people are expected to travel to North America for the 2026 World Cup, with a significant portion heading to Los Angeles. The World Cup is being seen as a crucial test case for managing the influx of visitors expected during the 2028 Olympics.

The city receives 15.5% in Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) from each rental.

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