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Parks & Public Spaces
Application from the Madison Square Park Conservancy for “MadSq World Cup” in Madison Square Park from June 12th to July 13th, 2014
At the regularly scheduled monthly meeting of Community Board Five on Thursday, May 08, 2014, the following resolution passed with a vote of 35 in favor; 0 opposed; 1 abstaining:
WHEREAS, the Madison Square Park Conservancy ("Applicant") submitted an application to hold "MadSq World Cup," a series of screenings of the 2014 World Cup soccer games, from June 12th to July 13th, 2014 in Madison Square Park; and
WHEREAS, The event is to consist of the installation of a two-sided television screen and truss, approximately 20 feet long and 15 feet high, located on the gravel area in the south end of the Park, to broadcast World Cup soccer games live, with benches on astroturf available for limited seating; and
WHEREAS, Set-up would take place on June 12th and cleanup would be completed by July 15th, 2014, making the series an event totaling 33 days in duration; and
WHEREAS, The schedule of the event will differ each day based on the game schedule, but would begin between 12:00pm and 4:00pm and end by 10:00pm; and
WHEREAS, Although there would be minimal amplified sound and no subwoofers used, as it is the intention of the Applicant not to broadcast television commentators in the Park, the screen would broadcast a live ESPN feed when World Cup games are not airing, and additionally the Applicant is considering screening movies following certain games; and
WHEREAS, Signage would consist of branding on two entrance marquee structures that would be 15' in height, in addition to fence-line branding of approximately 3' in height around the perimeter of the viewing area, all of which would include the World Cup logo as well as the logos of various event sponsors; and
WHEREAS, Although the fence-line branding would provide a border between the Park's pathways and the viewing area, which would allow the Park's pathways to be clear and usable by members of the public, Community Board Five strongly objects to the presence of sponsorship signage within the Park for a period of 31 days; and
WHEREAS, The Applicant estimated that 300-600 people would attend during any individual soccer game, with the event to be staffed with a significant security presence; and
WHEREAS, The event is to occur directly after the annual Big Apple BBQ, further limiting the use of the Park by regular users, with set up beginning the day after the breakdown of the Big Apple BBQ; and
WHEREAS, Community Board Five's Policy on Large Events in Madison Square Park expressly states concerns with the Park being used for event purposes on consecutive weekends, let alone for consecutive days within a week; and
WHEREAS, While the Applicant was open to scaling back movie screenings, some of the event seating for the first two weeks, and some of the signage, the Applicant was unwilling to modify the duration of the event; and
WHEREAS, Community Board Five has significant objections to the disruption of customary Park use in the height of the summer season by the duration of the event, the double-sided television screen, the potential for noise coming from a crowd of viewers, the presence of sponsorship signage for such a period of time, and the event's immediate proximity to the Big Apple BBQ; and
WHEREAS, Community Board Five questions whether a series of events lasting 33 days could in any reasonable estimation be referred to as one "event"; and
WHEREAS, Community Board Five insists that a series of events lasting 33 days is excessive, would be disruptive to the patrons of the Park, and is not supportable due to the precedent it would establish; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, Community Board Five strongly recommends denial of the application from the Madison Square Park Conservancy for "MadSq World Cup" in Madison Square Park from June 12th to July 13th, 2014.