Soccer & Seattle: World Cup 2026 [June Breakfast]

Explore Event Calendar - NAIOPWA

Prev Month	View Month	Search	Go to Month	Next Month

Soccer & Seattle: World Cup 2026 [June Breakfast]

Thursday, June 11, 2026, 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM PDT

Category: Breakfast Meetings

Seattle has spent the last several years preparing to host nearly a million guests from all corners of the globe for FIFA World Cup 2026. With festivities kicking off on June 11, join NAIOPWA for
an inside look at not only the city of Seattle's preparations, opportunities, and challenges but also the impacts on downtown commercial real estate, with special focus on the Pioneer Square
neighborhood. Featuring Downtown Seattle Association President/CEO Jon Scholes moderating, this event will offer a unique look into Seattle’s position as a world-class destination, from business
to tourism. We’ll also explore the motivations of developers who are betting big on Pioneer Square and their expectations for the future of the area.

Wear your team gear! Join in on the fun and come dressed with team spirit. Whether it’s a jersey, t-shirt, hat, or other team merch, support your favorite World Cup country as Seattle Sounders
PXP announcer and former team captain Danny Jackson welcomes everyone with some opening hype!

NAIOPWA’s Breakfast Meetings convene industry thought leaders and subject matter experts for engaging, unbiased educational panels and networking. With more than 1,400 annual attendees, we
offer timely industry information and networking opportunities featuring the region’s most influential developers, service providers and community leaders. Topics range from financing and leasing to
technology, to government and regulatory policy.

Panelists include:

Jon Scholes, President & CEO, Downtown Seattle Association [Moderator]
Jon Scholes is president & CEO of the Downtown Seattle Association where he is responsible for the operations and programs of the DSA, an 1,100-member association formed in 1958 to create a healthy, vibrant downtown for all. In this capacity, Jon is also responsible for the management of the Metropolitan Improvement District (MID), which was established by property owners and the City of Seattle in 1999 to provide cleaning, safety, transportation, marketing and public-realm management services across 300 square blocks in downtown. He was appointed president and CEO of DSA in November of 2014 following six years as DSA’s vice president of advocacy and economic development.

Greg Smith, Founder & CEO, Urban Visions
As the founder and CEO of Urban Visions—a past NAIOP Washington State Developer of the Year—Greg Smith is a fifth-generation Seattleite who has spent over 40 years shaping the city's urban core and is actively driving its street-level revival ahead of the 2026 World Cup. His immediate focus is squarely on community-driven revitalization and housing, spearheaded by his recent acquisitions of the historic Grand Central block in Pioneer Square, as well as prime residential high-rise site at Third and Virginia. Recently named Executive of the Year by the Puget Sound Business Journal, Greg remains fiercely committed to restoring energy to Seattle's neighborhoods through arts, culture, and urban density.

Chad Dale, Owner, Business Manager, & Real Estate Developer, Sea Creatures
Chad is Sea Creatures' business manager, broker and strategist. Chad was raised in Michigan. He graduated from Taylor University with a BA in business and economics. Chad lives in Seattleʼs Phinney Ridge neighborhood with his wife, Rebecca, and three children, Ondia, Surin, and Riah.

April Putney, Chief Strategy Officer, SeattleFWC26
April Putney is the Chief Strategy Officer and Chief of Staff for Seattle FIFA World Cup 26 Local Organizing Committee (SeattleFWC26), the organization responsible for leading Seattle’s participation as one of the 16 North American cities selected to host the FIFA World Cup 26™. As a nonprofit, SeattleFWC26’s vision is to foster a positive legacy for our region, guided by the spirit or soccer, innovation and inclusion. April brings two decades of senior management, government affairs, policy development, operations, community organizing, and advocacy experience, including nine years in local government. Before joining SeattleFWC26, she most recently served as the deputy to King County Executive Dow Constantine.

Event Details:

Thursday, June 11 | 8 a.m. Networking; 9 - 10 a.m. Breakfast Program
Attendees are encouraged to arrive no later than 8:30 a.m. After that time, your seat may be released to the waitlist.
The Westin Seattle | 1900 5th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101
Take our member survey for $10 off! $105 Members | $55 Student Members | $135 Non-Members (+Sales Tax). Click here to learn more about membership.
Event details and topic are subject to change.

Registration for this event is now closed. There may be limited onsite registration on a first-come, first-served basis.