America's Cup Could Set Sail to SF Tourist District
The city originally proposed Mission Bay for the event, but it might pitch the Fisherman's Wharf area
America’s Cup activities planned over the coming years for San Francisco’s Mission Bay area might be shifted instead to the city’s tourist-focused northeastern waterfront.
City leaders are scrambling to finalize and sign a proposed agreement with Larry Ellison’s San Francisco-based BMW Oracle Racing Team, which is charged with selecting the host of the next race. The team’s deadline for chosing a host city is Dec. 31.
The event would be held over roughly 40 days of sailing staggered over one or two years and conclude in 2013.
The team says San Francisco is bidding against an Italian port to host the race, but city officials say they have been unable to identify an Italian bidder.
A proposed agreement between San Francisco and Ellison’s team would see piers 30 and 32, which are just south of the Bay Bridge, and Pier 50 at Mission Bay used for spectator viewing and other shoreline-based race activities. The agreement requires Board of Supervisors approval.
Mission Bay is a booming redevelopment area located south of AT&T Park.
Under the proposed agreement, Ellison’s team would secure long-term leases of the piers for development purposes. In exchange, it would be required to spend $150 million improving shoreline infrastructure and making other enhancements.
Much of the America’s Cup yacht racing would likely take place between the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz, according to Mark Buell, who is leading negotiations with the team on behalf of San Francisco.
A proposal to use piers 19 to 29, which are between the Ferry Building and Fisherman’s Wharf, instead of Pier 50 for the regatta was the subject of recent discussion.
That proposal, which would place tournament facilities closer to the main racing area, was lauded by Ellison’s team.
“Piers 19-29 in combination with Pier 30/32 are attractive locations for our facilities and could provide an even better interaction with the public than the alternative Pier 30/32 and Pier 50 option,” Stephen Barclay, BMW Oracle Racing’s chief operating officer, wrote in a Nov. 8 letter to city leaders.
But the team asked the city to forge ahead with its original proposal because of the pending Dec. 31 deadline.
“[T]he timeframe that we have available to investigate these new locations precludes a thorough investigation of the implications. Put simply, we have run out of time. The Challenging teams for the 34th America’s Cup have commenced design of their boats and are demanding a decision on the final Match venue. We must make our decision soon,” Barclay wrote.
Barclay suggested performing required environmental reviews for both of the proposals, regardless of which option is included in the agreement documents.
“We have decided to proceed with the current locations. … Should San Francisco be successful in its bid to host the 34th America’s Cup, we will revisit this decision with your executives,” Barclay wrote.
A city report outlining the likely economic impacts on San Francisco of an America’s Cup competition is expected to be published later this week, study author Fred Brousseau said Monday. The Bay Citizen previously reported that it might be published today.
A similar report will be prepared for the entire Board of Supervisors by Dec. 1, when the first committee hearing into the agreement is scheduled, according to Brousseau.
Correction: The photo caption provided by Getty Images contained an error. It has been corrected.
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