In a letter to sent to Oracle Team USA’s CEO yesterday, Mayor Ed Lee has officially expressed San Francisco’s interest in hosting the 35th America’s Cup in 2017, but with a few changes.
As proposed, the America’s Cup Park and Pavilion would return to Pier 27-29 and the teams would be based upon Pier 27-29 as well rather than on Pier 30-32. Marina Green would once again serve as the secondary venue for Cup viewing and concessions.
The City would like the months-long schedule for the Cup to be condensed and is not offering any development rights nor long-term transfers of real estate as part of their proposal.
Race organizers are expected to pick the host city for the 35th America’s Cup by March 1, 2014.
why?
Look forward to it. It has turned out to be a good run this year with a lot of suspense. I hope there will be more competitors next time.
If done with eyes open– no big subsidies or giveaways– this makes sense for all involved.
Classic Ed Lee.
In my thoughts, I always wondered why the public had to subsidize a billionaire’s hobby, in the first place.
In my thoughts, I always wondered why people refer to sailing as a “billionaires hobby” despite the fact it’s a sport enjoyed by people from a wide spectrum of financial classes.
“Fool me once, shame on me…”
It seems very likely that the America’s Cup race will be held around Lanai. Mr. Ellison bought this Hawai’ian island some time back and will be building an ultra-luxury hotel. The viewing of the race from the island would be fantastic.
Fishchum – I agree with you that many economic levels enjoy sailing. But, it takes many millions of dollars or Euros to fund a racing vehicle in the America’s Cup.
SF Citizen: I don’t get it. It takes many millions of dollars to fund any professional baseball team, soccer team, etc. Why should international sailing be different?
If billionaires want to spend hundreds of millions on their hobby, I say great! That’s one way to redistribute the money. You’d rather LE hoards his money to pass on to his spawn?
Like any investment the city can make, the next AC may pay off and it may not. Arguably the last one didn’t but making a bet that it’ll be much better next time isn’t the worst investment the city can make.
In a lot of ways the last AC was a proof-of-concept (the boats, the venue, etc) that wasn’t proven until the last series. Whoever gets the AC race next will get all the benefits of the proven concept with far less risk.
Agree with SF Citizen, have also heard rumor about America’s cup being held in waters between Maui , Molokai and Larry Ellison’s Island Lanai, which already has two spectacular Four Seasons resorts I have stayed at ( Manele Bay and Koele). Racing around Lanai and using Lahaina on Maui as a home base with all the would be incredible.
Btw- Ellison’s tennis complex in Indian Wells is being expanded with a whole new stadium and he was not given any money by the desert cities. Ed Lee should take note.
San Francisco realtors, dust off that ad copy!!!
“See Americas Cup (maybe) from your windows!”