ATLANTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – General admission tickets to FIFA Fan Festival Atlanta are sold out as temperatures hover in the 90s, with organizers urging attendees to prepare for the heat ahead of a packed Wednesday schedule.

Three matches are scheduled for Wednesday, including a U.S. Men’s National Team match in the evening, as the World Cup continues in the knockout stage. The festival at Centennial Olympic Park has welcomed nearly 400,000 visitors since the start of the tournament.

What fans should know before they go

Organizers are advising fans to wear light, loose clothing and bring hats. Neck fans are permitted, as are plastic water bottles without labels. The park opens at 11 a.m. and closes at 11 p.m. Wednesday.

“We are aware of the heat index and we want to make sure people are comfortable and safe within the park,” said Chincie Mouton, Director of Sports Engagement & Community Impact for the Georgia World Congress Center Authority.

Shaded areas, a splash pad at the Fountain of Rings, and water filling stations are available throughout the park. Some of those water stations are supplied by Third Rock Sanitation Solutions, a family-owned company based in Alpharetta.

“We believe we are absolutely life support here, because water is essential for all of us,” said Mark Slade with Third Rock Sanitation Solutions, based in Alpharetta.

The stations provide chilled, filtered water across the park.

“Without the water, let’s face it, there would be people dehydrated, falling out, there would be several problems. So, being part of that, it’s a really good feeling, heartfelt feeling,” Slade said.

Paramedics on standby

Paramedics and safety crews will be on hand should anyone become overwhelmed by the heat, organizers said.

Jason Walker and his son traveled from England to see England play Congo in Atlanta. The match will be held indoors at Atlanta Stadium. Walker said the outdoor heat was already noticeable upon arrival.

“I’m obviously suffering from it at the moment, it’s extremely hot at the moment,” Walker said.

All five remaining days of the Fan Festival are sold out for free tickets. Some paid tickets remain available. Organizers will stop admitting fans once capacity is reached — a threshold that has been hit during U.S. games being played at the park. Early arrival is encouraged.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta Commission members met Tuesday, hearing from the public and looking at a variety of issues.

West Augusta community center

A member of the public asked commissioners for confirmation about whether the proposed west Augusta community center is an approved SPLOST 9 project and sought clarification on its designation, prioritization, site location, scope, and projected timeline for implementation.

She asked whether the promised $10 million is protected for that project.

She said west Augusta is one of the city’s fastest-growing areas but still lacks a community center, arguing it is essential infrastructure that would improve health, provide safe recreation, and offer programs for youth and seniors.

Parks and Recreation Director Tameka Williams confirmed the project is included in SPLOST 9 under a broader $21.7 million category for new facilities and facility revitalization, with $10 million intended for the new center.

The speaker expressed concern that because the referendum grouped several parks projects together, the money could eventually be redirected elsewhere.

Commissioner Don Clark assured her the funding is designated for a new community center

Interim City Attorney Plunkett explained that while the referendum language is broad, the materials presented to voters specifically identified $10 million for a West Augusta Community Center, making the commission accountable to that commitment.

Williams noted the project is approved, but key details — including a site, land acquisition, construction timeline, and where it falls in SPLOST priorities—have not yet been determined.

Helene cost update

Commissioners approved a change order to extend some Hurricane Helene work to Dec. 31. Tetra Tech reported the city has submitted an estimated $83.6 million in eligible storm costs.

Of that, $75.9 million has now been approved by FEMA, a 36% increase — roughly $20 million more than when the company last updated commissioners in February.

The company said the remaining work involves navigating FEMA’s extensive documentation, auditing, and compliance requirements as Augusta continues drawing down the approved funds.

During questions, Commissioner Wayne Guilfoyle asked whether FEMA could help cover the millions of dollars in storm damage to trees and canal embankments along the canal.

Tetra Tech said it is working with Augusta Utilities, FEMA, and state officials to determine what portions of that project qualify for reimbursement, but no final determination has been made because of the project’s complexity.

Parking approval

Commissioners approved a motion to approve for city staff to initiate procurement of a parking management firm for the downtown area and for the law department to draft related updates to the Code of Ordinances regarding parking.

Leaders approved moving forward with the next steps toward a downtown parking management system, including starting the procurement process for a private parking management company and drafting updates to Augusta’s parking ordinances.

Commissioner Jordan Johnson questioned whether the city had fully weighed the costs and benefits of outsourcing parking management versus running it in-house.

Engineering Director Dr. Malik said he now recommends hiring a private contractor to handle the entire operation—from equipment to enforcement—with the city receiving a guaranteed revenue amount under the contract. He said that approach would require little to no upfront cost for Augusta because the contractor would absorb implementation expenses.

Malik said the amount of revenue the city receives will depend largely on the hourly parking rate. He previously recommended $1.50 an hour but now believes a minimum of $2.50 would better reflect rising costs. He pointed to cities like Atlanta and Savannah, where parking programs generate millions of dollars annually.

Johnson also asked about the timeline. Malik said staff is currently drafting the request for proposals, with a draft expected before a July stakeholder meeting. The procurement process is still in its early stages, so no implementation schedule has been established, including whether paid parking would coincide with the ongoing Broad Street improvement project.

Johnson requested a list of businesses and organizations participating in stakeholder meetings, saying he wants to ensure the group represents the full downtown community. Malik said participants include the Downtown Development Authority, Augusta Tomorrow, Destination Augusta, economic development officials, restaurants, and downtown business owners.

Commissioners also discussed the ordinance changes that would be needed if paid parking moves forward. The law department said revisions would likely cover parking fees, time limits, violations, and enforcement procedures, using ordinances from cities like Athens, Atlanta, and Savannah as models while updating a draft ordinance

Johnson also asked about potential enforcement costs, including impacts on the courts or sheriff’s office, and said the city should understand those expenses before committing to a system.

He also questioned whether enough public feedback has been gathered, noting Augusta’s previous attempts at paid parking — including parking meters and a downtown parking deck — were unsuccessful

Malik said initial feedback has come primarily through the Downtown Development Authority and conversations with Broad Street businesses, but broader public input will continue as the process moves forward.

D.C. released draft plans for the community surrounding a new Washington Commanders stadium at the former site of RFK Stadium.

Renderings included with the draft plan show the idea is to have a community with open spaces, parks, retail and housing. Walkability and access to the Anacostia River were essential for many who weighed in.

“We’ve been working throughout the development of this master plan with WMATA and the District Department of Transportation, and in this project, as all projects, having lots of ways for people to get to one place is really important, whether on foot, on bike, you’re in a vehicle, you’re taking transit, you’re taking Metrorail or the bus – all of those are provided for,” Office of Planning Director Anita Cozart said. “So, the big part of the master plan is making sure that there is space for those.”

The master plan includes space for a grocery store and as many as 6,500 new houses with 30% of those houses dedicated as affordable.

The community will develop around the stadium after it’s built, Cozart said.

The plan includes the visions and desires of thousands of people and agencies who weighed in on it, but it’s not final. The public is invited to inspect the plan and comment until Aug. 14.

“What did we get right about this master plan; what are some things that we might need to tweak,” Cozart said. “The next step after that is the master plan goes to the City Council.”