Event officials told our sister station WBRC that the massive 11-day competition left behind a $14 million deficit. That’s after costing $65 million to produce.
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin asked City Council on August 15 for another $five million to help pay this debt. The World Games CEO, Nick Sellers, tells WBRC if City Council approves the money, it would go directly to their outstanding debt with local businesses.
O’Quinn said World Games officials met with council members last week to share their plans to get the vendor’s their money. He said Mayor Woodfin also discussed the multiple different options from where the city can pull the money from. World Games CEO Sellers blames low ticket sales on the international impacts of Covid-19 and a loss of sponsorships at the last minute.
“Some of these companies are very new,” O’Quinn said. “They came about because of the opportunity The World Games presented. We definitely encouraged people to get out in front of The World Games and take advantage of this opportunity.”