Next summer, over 750,000 visitors are expected to flood the Puget Sound region as Seattle hosts matches for the 2026 global soccer tournament. For Kitsap businesses, this isn’t just a moment—it’s a movement.

Event Wrap-Up: Kickstart Kitsap – From Pop-Ups to Profit

Kitsap business owners, community partners, and local leaders gathered at the KEDA Fall Forum: Kickstart Kitsap on October 30 at the Kitsap Conference Center to explore how Kitsap can prepare for the 2026 visitor wave — and turn it into long-term economic opportunity.

Collaboration Across Kitsap

This year’s forum showcased the power of partnership between Kitsap’s destination marketing organizations — Visit Kitsap Peninsula, Love Kitsap/StayKitsap26, and the Greater Kitsap Chamber — along with the Downtown Bremerton Association and local jurisdictions. Together, these organizations are aligning efforts to promote Kitsap as a welcoming, connected destination for visitors and a thriving community for local businesses.

Key Takeaways

• Seattle 2026 Fundamentals — Updates on match dates, logistics, and expected visitor numbers.
• Marketing Kitsap — Local DMOs shared unified messaging to attract and engage visitors across the region. 
• Rules on Branding  — Do's and Don'ts for promoting your business in an effective, legal and compliant manner during world cup 2026. 
• Economic Impact — Data-driven insights into where and how visitors will spend — and how local businesses can prepare. 
• Bremerton Fan Zone Preview — Jessica Combs detailed plans for Quincy Square’s official Fan Zone, highlighting new pop-up business opportunities and extended temporary merchant licenses.
• Pop Ups & Small Business Strategies - Michael Johnson from Seattle Waterfront Parks talks about how sports and city planning can connect local economies and visitor experiences.
• Tourism Best Practices — Cherie Gwinn, Spokane Sports, demonstrated how sports-driven tourism can strengthen local economies and energize communities.

GREATER KITSAP CHAMBER	LOVE KITSAP SLIDES	VISIT KITSAP PENINSULA SLIDES
THE RULES ON BRANDING	THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF FIFA 26	BREMERTON FANZONE
POP UPS AND SMALL BUSINESSES	SPORTS TOURISM & COMMUNITY IMPACT

Please join us in thanking our premier sponsor Puget Sound Energy!