Agenda 09/23/2025 Item #16F 5 (Execute a Sponsorship Agreement with 3 STEP SPORTS LLC (“3 STEP SPORTS”)9/23/2025
Item # 16.F.5
ID# 2025-3474
Executive Summary
To approve and authorize the Chair to execute a Sponsorship Agreement with 3 STEP SPORTS LLC (“3 STEP
SPORTS”) for $2,325,000.00 to host and promote youth and amateur sporting events, including Football University
National Championships and Top Gun Showcase, from 2025 through 2030, and make a finding that this action promotes
tourism.
OBJECTIVE: Approval of a Sponsorship Agreement between Collier County and 3 STEP SPORTS for continued and
expanded hosting of the FBU National Championship (“FBUNC”), Top Gun Showcase, and additional youth and
amateur sports events in Collier County (“Events”) through 2030.
CONSIDERATIONS: Football University LLC has a Current Sponsorship Agreement, which was executed on July 15,
2020, that will expire on December 31, 2025 (the “Current Sponsorship Agreement”), to host and promote premier
youth football events, including the FBUNC and Top Gun Showcase, along with other emerging amateur sports
tournaments. These events have consistently driven significant economic impact and room night generation, especially
during off-peak travel periods. 3 STEP SPORTS acquired substantially all of the assets of FBU, including but not
limited to the rights to host and promote FBUNC, Top Gun Showcase, and other youth and amateur sports events in
Collier County, and 3 STEP SPORTS is seeking a new Sponsorship Agreement with the County. This Sponsorship
Agreement will supersede all prior agreements, proposals, arrangements, and communications, whether written or oral,
with respect to the Events, including but not limited to the Current Sponsorship Agreement, and is hereby terminated in
its entirety and of no further force and effect as of the date of the new Sponsorship Agreement.
The proposed Sponsorship Agreement provides that 3 STEP SPORTS will continue to host FBU events, including a
broad annual calendar of events from 2025 through 2030, including at least five (5) mutually agreed upon events
annually. All Events will be held at the Paradise Coast Sports Complex or other suitable County venues.
The Sponsorship Agreement provides for sponsorship payments totaling $2,325,000 starting in 2025 through 2030,
disbursed in annual installments per year based on performance metrics and deliverables, including media impressions,
hotel impact, and CVB branding integration. 3 STEP SPORTS will continue incorporating the #PathToNaples message
and CVB branding across all promotional platforms and will use best efforts to facilitate the delivery of CVB
commercials in both live-streamed games and the nationally televised Navy All-American Bowl.
Additionally, the Sponsorship Agreement formalizes commitments for expanded use of CVB support services, including
marketing collaboration, permit coordination, and visitor information distribution, as well as continued tracking of room
night generation and economic impact reporting.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: This item was approved by the Tourist Development Council
at its August 19, 2025, meeting.
This item is consistent with the Collier County strategic plan objectives of promoting Collier County as an exceptional
Tourism destination.
FISCAL IMPACT: Sponsorship payments totaling $2,325,000.00 will be distributed as follows:
• FY25: $250,000
• FY26: $450,000
• FY27: $425,000
• FY28: $425,000
• FY29: $400,000
• FY30: $375,000
These expenditures will be included in the Tourism Promotion Fund (1011) budget for each respective fiscal year and
are contingent on Tourist Development Tax funding availability. All payments are performance-based and tied to
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9/23/2025
Item # 16.F.5
ID# 2025-3474
contractual deliverables.
GROWTH MANAGEMENT IMPACT: There is no impact to the Growth Management Plan with this Executive
Summary.
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS: This item is approved as to form and legality and requires majority vote for approval. -
CMG
RECOMMENDATIONS: To approve and authorize the Chair to execute a Sponsorship Agreement with 3 STEP
SPORTS LLC (“3 STEP SPORTS”) for $2,325,000.00 to host and promote youth and amateur sporting events,
including Football University National Championships and Top Gun Showcase, from 2025 through 2030, and make a
finding that this action promotes tourism.
PREPARED BY: Jay Tusa, Tourism Director, John Melleky, Arts and Culture Manager, Tourism
ATTACHMENTS:
1. 2025 FBU Collier County Presentation
2. 2025-30 FBU Sponsorship Agreement
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THEN. NOW. FOREVER
•Not Your Normal Partnership
•Collier County is Family.
•Positive Community Impact
•Relocation to Mainstay
•#PathToNaples is 365
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BY-THE-NUMBERS
Football University focuses on providing a direct economic impact to
Collier County through our events. Local Shops, Restaurants, Hotels,
Tourism and more have all seen direct financial benefits through
FBU. Our consumer base has a healthy appetite when it comes to
travel & spending, and many families even now call Naples, FL home
after visiting during an FBU event. $500K
AVG. CVB
SPEND
$50K
SCHOLARSHIPS
$140K
AVG. PCSC
SPEND
500+
LOCALLY
EMPLOYED
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FBU & COLLIER COUNTY
EVENTS THROUGH THE YEARS
Collier County Events
❖Top Gun
❖FBUNC Regionals
❖Champ Week
❖Futures
❖FAAB
Top Gun
❖1,000 Attendees
❖2,000 Visitors
❖750 Rooms
❖6.8M Social
Champ Week
❖3,500 Rooms
❖13.6M Social
❖32 Teams
❖200 Futures
❖70 Freshman
FBU events in 2020
were the first events
held at PCSC and took
place during Covid
2020
Collier County Events
❖Top Gun
❖FBUNC Regionals
❖Champ Week
❖Futures
❖FAAB
Top Gun
❖1,300 Attendees
❖3,000 Visitors
❖1,815 Rooms
❖12M Social
Champ Week
❖3,920 Rooms
❖20M Social
❖40 Teams
❖250 Futures
❖70 Freshman
FBU Events in 2021 took
place during aftermath
of Hurricane Elsa
2021
Collier County Events
❖Top Gun
❖FBUNC Regionals
❖Champ Week
❖Futures
❖FAAB
Top Gun
❖1,500 Attendees
❖4,000 Visitors
❖1,900 Rooms
❖22M Social
Champ Week
❖4,066 Rooms
❖50M Social
❖44 Teams
❖300 Futures
❖70 Freshman
2022
Collier County Events
❖Top Gun
❖Champ Week
❖Futures
❖FAAB
❖PLC Circuit*
❖National Hockey*
❖Nike Lacrosse*
Top Gun
❖1,750 Attendees
❖4,500 Visitors
❖2,526 Rooms
❖50M Social
Champ Week
❖7,366 Rooms*
❖70M Social
❖48 Teams
❖400 Futures
❖70 Freshman
2023
Collier County Events
❖Top Gun
❖FBUNC Regionals
❖Champ Week
❖Futures
❖FAAB
❖PLC Circuit*
❖National Hockey*
❖NXT Lacrosse*
Top Gun
❖1,900 Attendees
❖4,800 Visitors
❖2,714 Rooms
❖76M Social
Champ Week
❖7500 Rooms*
❖100M Social
❖64 Teams
❖425 Futures
❖70 Freshman
2024
Collier County Events
❖Top Gun
❖7v7 Championships
❖FBUNC Regionals
❖Champ Week
❖Futures
❖FAAB
❖PLC Circuit*
❖National Hockey*
❖NXT Lacrosse*
❖EDP Soccer*
❖Football Extra*
Top Gun
❖2,000 Attendees
❖5,000 Visitors
❖3,000 Rooms
❖100M Social
Champ Week
❖8000 Rooms*
❖150M Social
❖72 Teams
❖450 Futures
❖70 Freshman
2025
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FOUNDED IN
CONJUNCTION WITH
U.S. ARMY ALL-
AMERICAN BOWL
ONE-DAY COMBINE
FEATURING THE TOP
UNDERCLASSMEN IN
THE COUNTRY
HELD ANNUALLY AT THE
ALAMODOME IN SAN
ANTONIO, TX
PROPERTY WAS
PURCHASED BY NBC
SPORTS IN 2019. NAVY
CAME ABOARD IN 2024
FOUNDED IN 2000
U.S. ARMY ALL-
AMERICAN BOWL
THE ORIGINAL HS ALL-
STAR GAME FEATURING
THE TOP 100 SENIORS
IN THE COUNTRY
MOST WATCHED
AMATEUR SPORTING
EVENT IN THE WORLD
(AVG. 2M VIEWERS)
PROPERTY WAS
PURCHASED BY NBC
SPORTS IN 2019. NAVY
CAME ABOARD IN 2024
#1 Overall NFL Draft Pick, Bryce Young
AFFILIATED PROPERTIES
10+
Student-Athletes
from Naples, FL
invited at FBU to
play in AAB
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2,500+
EVENTS
1,800+
CLUB TEAMS
3,200+
ATHLETES
41
STATES
8
SPORTS
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ADDITIONAL EVENTS
FBUNC Growth
6th, 7th & 8th
Grade NIT
Girls Flag
8U/9U FBUNC
40 Teams &
2,000 Athletes
1,750 Hotel
Room Nights
Largest Field
Hockey Event in
the Country
3,000 Athletes &
700 Coaches
2,500 Hotel
Room Nights
PLC Lacrosse
Championship
Tournament
100 Teams &
1,500 Athletes
1,250 Hotel
Room Nights
EDP Soccer
Tournament
80 Teams &
1,200 Athletes
1,000 Hotel
Room Nights
NXT Lacrosse
Tournament
125 Teams &
2000 Athletes
1,750 Hotel
Room Nights
New Football
Events
Specialists
Showcase
QB/WR Skills
Showcase
High School
Team Camps
1,500 Hotel
Room Nights
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LOCAL SUPPORT
“Last Year alone, FBU contributed to
11% of our Group Base.”
- Jennifer Newtson, Best Western Naples
“FBU and the Paradise Coast go
hand-in-hand. We look forward to
many more years of partnership.”
- Caroline Kissel, Hilton Naples
“December & June couldn’t be a
better time our local hospitality
industry to host FBU Events. Our
hotels, restaurants & attractions
need business during these slower
periods, & FBU delivers every year.”
- Randy Smith, Naples Trolley & Transportation
“If Collier County would lose the
FBU Events that take place during
these off-season months, our county
would see a huge economic loss.”
- Karla Feazell, Hyatt House 5th Avenue
“The consistent revenue from FBU is
relied upon by the local hospitality
industry. FBU is the original event
that proved the need for the PCSC
and is the cause for many other
sports and promoters to bring their
events here. That value is priceless.”
- Liz Sanders, Fairfield/Springhill Naples
“In 2020 we closed due to Covid. We
only opened back up in July for FBU
Top Gun and the grand opening of
the PCSC, promptly closing after the
event. The revenue solely produced
from the FBU event allowed us to
open back up permanently in
December. We only re-opened
because of FBU.”
- Liz Sanders, Fairfield/Springhill Naples
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5-YEAR PLAN
•2026 – $450,000
•2027 – $425,000
•2028 – $425,000
•2029 – $400,000
•2030 – $375,000
Sponsorship FBU Events
•FBU 7V7 National Tournament
•FBU Middle School National Championship
•FBU Freshman All-American Bowl
•FBU Futures Showcase
•FBU Top Gun Showcase
•Three (3) CVB Commercials on all FBU Live
Streamed Events
•Two (2) CVB Commercials on NBC’s live
telecast of the Navy All-American Bowl
throughout the duration of FBU’s
partnership with NBC
Advertising *Additional Events
•Two (2) Additional Events Per Year throughout agreement
•Previous events include, but not limited to:
➢PLC Championship
➢National Field Hockey Championship
➢EDP Soccer Tournament
➢NXT Lacrosse
•Other Events may include, but not limited to:
➢9U FBU National Championship
➢Girls Flag Football National Championship
*Additional events subject to change based on 3step sports Page 3001 of 3896
11th August
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Greg Waldbaum (Aug 11, 2025 14:28:50 MDT)
Greg Waldbaum
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Sponsorship Agreement - stamped (1)
Final Audit Report 2025-08-11
Created:2025-08-11
By:Emma Doherty (emma.doherty@threestep.com)
Status:Signed
Transaction ID:CBJCHBCAABAA1TLhwGc09kiR8QtYS2K1WDeOJr-6lA7T
"Sponsorship Agreement - stamped (1)" History
Document created by Emma Doherty (emma.doherty@threestep.com)
2025-08-11 - 3:44:27 PM GMT
Document emailed to Greg Waldbaum (greg.waldbaum@threestep.com) for signature
2025-08-11 - 3:44:32 PM GMT
Email viewed by Greg Waldbaum (greg.waldbaum@threestep.com)
2025-08-11 - 7:27:33 PM GMT
Document e-signed by Greg Waldbaum (greg.waldbaum@threestep.com)
Signature Date: 2025-08-11 - 8:28:50 PM GMT - Time Source: server
Agreement completed.
2025-08-11 - 8:28:50 PM GMT
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