PASADENA : City Expects to Net World Cup Profit : Finances: As much as $2 million may go into municipal coffers once the soccer organization makes its remaining payments for rent and various expenses.

The soccer hooligans didn’t show up in Pasadena for World Cup games, and the dreaded massive traffic jams never materialized.

As a result, World Cup security expenses were lower than expected, and the city was able to put away more money in its coffers than anticipated, according to a report to the City Council this week.

City officials initially thought they would have to use as much as $400,000 of the $2 million that Pasadena would receive in lease payments for the Rose Bowl to pay for security costs away from the stadium.

But Pasadena was able to keep the $2 million, half of which already has been budgeted to pay for more police and for anti-gang and recreation programs, officials said. The remainder is being held in reserve.

In addition, World Cup USA made about $2 million in improvements to the Rose Bowl, including widening of the field and a new handicapped seating section, officials said.

“It was a successful event, and we’re proud of what happened,” City Manager Philip A. Hawkey said.

But the city is still waiting to receive most of its money. World Cup USA owes the city $500,000 in rent and $3.3 million for public safety and other reimbursable city expenses, said Assistant City Manager Edmund F. Sotelo. Payment is expected later this month.

The City Council voted to refer the report for further review to its Business Enterprise Committee, chaired by Councilman Rick Cole. One of the things the committee will examine is whether Hawkey’s figures for the city’s costs of staging the World Cup are accurate and whether all of the $2 million represents profit.

Councilman Isaac Richard said he is concerned that the city has not been fully reimbursed for all staff time spent during two years of planning and preparation for the soccer tournament.

“I question these numbers. I don’t think they’re accurate,” Richard said.

Councilman Bill Crowfoot, who is on the Business Enterprise Committee, said he also wants to be sure the city is able to accurately total the costs of major Rose Bowl events in the future.

“We don’t really have any sense, I think, of what our break-even points are.”

Hawkey said he stands by his figures and also noted that the city will benefit from increased sales and hotel taxes. The city will receive $250,000 in increased bed taxes as a result of the World Cup, but sales tax figures are not available, Finance Director Mary Bradley said.

According to the report, the main glitch in the World Cup effort was Soccer Carnaval, a city-sponsored festival. After World Cup exercised its contractual right to keep the festival closed on game days, Soccer Carnaval flopped and merchants lost thousands of dollars.

The city has paid $58,000 to settle claims with 10 merchants, and 11 claims are pending.