Category: america’s cup 34

SAN FRANCISCO PLAYED?

Supervisor Claims SF Was ‘F-ing Played’ By America’s Cup Organizers

Emirates Team New Zealand skippered by Dean Barker competes in a fleet race of the America’s Cup World Series on October 5, 2012 in San Francisco. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) – The America’s Cup Organizing committee is millions short in coming up with private funds to cover the costs of covering the yachting race. Now a San Francisco supervisor has said city officials were “f-ing played” by race organizers and he’s “f-ing ashamed” of the likelihood that the city will spend millions in public funds on the event.

A February 2012 report by the city controller’s office raised concerns that the America’s Cup Organizing Committee wasn’t raising fundsfast enough to meet funding goals. Last week, a spokeswoman for Mayor Ed Lee said officials have raised about $14 million of the estimated $31 million to $34 million neededto host the 55 days of racing beginning in July. Public funds will be used to make up the difference it the city falls short – a scenario which is growing increasingly likely.

Only four racing teams, rather than the dozen or so initially envisioned, have paid entry fees and are planning on competing for the most prestigious trophy in competitive sailing. All four teams will be based at a single location rather than along the city’s waterfront as originally envisioned.

John AvalosSan Francisco Supervisor John Avalos (SF Board of Supervisors)

District 11 Supervisor John Avalos now says he wants a hearing into how the fundraising deficit has grown this large, according to an SF Weekly report, and says that language indicating that organizers would simply“endeavor” to raise their portion of the funding was largely overlooked by city officials.

“I was f-ing played. All the members of the Board of Supervisors were f-ing played,” Avalos said to the Weekly. “There was a full-court press on us from the America’s Cup Organizing Committee to play us…I am totally f-ing ashamed.”

Avalos said he would explore the possibility of calling off the race, but concedes that the city is committed contractually at this point.

Mark Buell, who is chair of the fundraising committee, previously told the San Francisco Chronicle that hosting the America’s Cup will still benefit San Francisco economically even if the city breaks its promise about refraining from using public money to pay for the event.

(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This

WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE SAN FRANCISCO?

UPDATE 2-Puma abandons sailing for running as profit sinks

FRANKFURT, Feb 14 (Reuters) – Sportswear firm Puma said it is pulling out of the sailing market to concentrate on other sports such as soccer and running to rebuild its flagging business, leaving an Americas Cup team seeking a new sponsor.

The German company, which on Thursday reported a 70 percent drop in its annual profit, is going through its biggest reorganisation in 20 years to restore the business and get its products back in fashion in the United States, Europe and China.

The group is closing stores, cutting product lines and last month said it would stop sponsoring rugby union football, no longer providing kit forIreland‘s team after the next season.

Outgoing chief executive Franz Koch, leaving as part of a management shake-up instigated by Puma’s 82 percent owner PPR , told journalists on Thursday it would take “some time” before the restructuring brought visible success.

Sales this year are expected to remain on a level with 2012’s total of 3.27 billion euros. Net earnings, which dropped to 70.2 million euros from 230 million in 2011, are expected to improve significantly this year, Koch said.

Earnings in the final quarter were hit by costs of 98 million euros related to a payout in Spain to reclaim trademark rights from a former licence holder and costs for closing its operations inGreece, Cyprus and Bulgaria. It will continue to distribute products to these countries.

The company also cut its dividend for 2012 to 0.5 euros from 2 euros last time.

Puma’s shares, which have lost 5 percent of their value over the last year, were up 1.2 percent at 234.4 euros by 1424 GMT. “Investors are hoping that Puma can get back to reaching new heights after the restructuring,” said one trader.

 

DROPPING THE OCEAN RACING

The company has already said it wants to focus more on soccer and running and will now stop sponsoring the Oracle sailing team, current holder of the Americas Cup, after the 2013 season. The team wear race gear supplied by Puma and the company’s jumping cat logo can be seen on the sails.

Puma had also entered a team twice in the Volvo Ocean Race, ending in third place in the final in July 2012, but will not be entering another team.

Brands pay upwards of 10 million euros ($13 million) a year to sponsor the major sailing teams, according to sports market research company Repucom.

Koch declined to provide figures, saying only it had invested a “significant amount”.

Repucom said the sport was interesting to higher-end premium brands like Prada because out of the 331 million sailing enthusiasts worldwide around 19 percent are reckoned to be high earners.

However, for the big sportswear brands like Puma, and larger rivals Nike and Adidas, soccer and basketball are much bigger money-spinners due to the sheer number of people following such sports worldwide.

 

BACK ON HIS FEET

Koch will leave the group at the end of March, after less than two years as chief executive, and a replacement will be announced in the coming weeks, the 33 year-old said on Thursday.

With a profit warning, tumbling sales and criticism from predecessor Jochen Zeitz, the former professional hockey player said it had been a tough year. “But like a true sportsman, I am used to getting back on my feet again,” he told reporters.

Until a new chief executive is installed Chief Financial Officer Michael Laemmermann and Chief Commercial Officer Stefano Caroti are to lead the company with support from PPR’s Jean-Francois Palus, who chairs the Puma supervisory board.

$999.00

For $999, you can watch sailing, on public land

02.11.13 – 3:12 pm | Tim Redmond |

(5)

Did SF get kicked in the balls, or what?

 

Here’s the deal of a lifetime: For $999, you can get a ticket to watch the America’s Cup races. From beachers built on public land. Where the non-wealthy public won’t be allowed.

The America’s Cup Event Authority, run by Larry Ellison, who is the third-richest person in the world, has sent out an email soliciting buyers for this special early deal: Buy now, and you will be guaranteed a “reserved section in a preferred area of the bleachers,” as well as exclusive access to parties and events, and a chance to get your picture taken with the Cup.

Which, by the way, is having trouble raising money — and could leave the city on the hook for as much as $20 million. Which loudmouth critics like Aaron Peskin and Chris Daly warned about from the start. So we’ve gone from the races being a huge economic boon, worth billions to the city, to poor Mark Buell, who has to ask people to give money to underwrite Larry Ellison’s yacht party, saying that even if the city loses money, it will still all be worth it.

Those poor San Francisco plebians who don’t have $1,000 will be able to see the races, but Ellison’s team recommends spending the cash, now: “There will be a section of free-view bleachers,” the Event Authority’s Ryan Carroll told me. “But those seats will be limited, and we expect them to fill up quickly.”

And there may still be some cheaper seats coming; tickets for individual races will go on sale later, and seats at the prelims in June might not cost as much, Carroll said.

Other areas for public waterfront viewing “will be congested,” he said.

Jane Sullivan, marketing director for the America’s Cup Organizing Committee (which is the city’s operation, separate and distinct from Ellison’s), said it’s not neccessary to give Ellison a thousand bucks to see the sailboats whip by at 50 miles an hour: “The entire waterfront will not be filled up and congested,” she said. “There will be ample and lovely free viewing of all the races.”

So let me sum this up: The taxpayers spend $20 million underwriting Ellison’s race. Then Ellison’s team wants us to pay him $999 for the right to sit on a bench on public land and watch. Who does this gentleman think he is? (Oh right: He’s Larry Fucking Ellison.)

SAN FRANCISCO AND AMERICA’S CUP WOES

Stalled efforts to bring in big donors could put San Francisco taxpayers on the hook for upward of $20 million for the America’s Cup.

With the 55 days of steroidal sailing just six months away, fundraising efforts to cover the estimated $31 million to $34 million cost for police, cleanup, transportation and other expenses have pretty much hit the wall at $14 million.

Originally pitched as a competition between as many as 12 international teams, the race is now down to three entries. The shrinking size of the event has helped reduce costs, but it also substantially cut into corporate interest in sponsorships, which city officials originally thought would bring in $300 million.

Recreation and Park Commission President Mark Buell and his group have managed to raise $9 million from local donors and another $5 million from the race organizers in the form of a loan that may not have to be repaid.

Now those sources are about tapped out. So Mayor Ed Lee has personally taken up the drive to raise money.

“He’s optimistic that with a concerted effort, he can keep fundraising on par with expenses as they come in,” said Lee’s spokeswoman, Christine Falvey.

The mayor is also enlisting help from Sen. Dianne Feinstein, House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi and Board of Supervisors President David Chiu. In other words, everyone is on this and hoping it works out. But if it ends in a bailout, the feeling at City Hall seems to be that it’s worth it.

“Between the money that will come in from tourists and the crowds and the sales taxes it will generate,” Buell said, “I still think that, no matter what, it will come out a boon for the city.”

Still, time is short, money is tight – and those who have been working the phones tell us it’s not easy asking for money to help finance a yacht race being put on by Larry Ellison, one of the richest men in the world.

Texas treat: Publicly, Gov. Jerry Brown is calling Texas Gov. Rick Perry‘s three-day trip to try to lure California businesses to the Lone Star State “barely a fart.” But privately, he’s kind of happy about it – figuring the poaching threat plays right into his desire to streamline California’s environmental laws to make the state more business-friendly.

“The stage is set – he’s opened the umbrella wider than any other Democratic governor has ever done before,” said one key aide. “Now he’ll stand back and let the Legislature make their moves.”

Betting line: Now that San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee has announced he intends to appoint Supervisor Carmen Chu as city assessor, speculation is growing about her likely replacement in District Four.

The mayor said he plans to spend the next month hearing from the community and various political constituencies before announcing his pick, but we’re hearing he may be leaning toward Chu’s aide, Katy Tang. She is well-regarded in progressive circles and would have a strong chance of being re-elected in a district where Asian Americans make up the majority.

Another top contender is former prosecutor Suzy Loftus – who not only would be the lone white woman and mother on the board, but is seen as someone not afraid to speak her mind.

Burned: Peninsula school districts weren’t the only losers in a failed lawsuit against San Mateo County seeking to recover $20 million in lost Lehman Bros. investments – so were the county’s taxpayers.

A dozen school districts accused the late county Treasurer Lee Buffington of ignoring prudent investment standards by putting so much of their money into Lehman before the company’s 2008 collapse.

A three-judge state appeals court panel, however, ruled otherwise.

So now, in addition to the $20 million loss, taxpayers are on the hook for the county’s legal bills – which, as of Dec. 31, totaled $1.2 million to the high-powered San Francisco law firm Keker and Van Nest, which the county hired to fend off the school suit.

Keker was brought in because the county counsel’s office works for both the county and the school district.

“That was our point all along,” said winning lawyer Stuart Gasner of Keker’s firm – it “was a lot of robbing Peter to pay Paul. What a waste of time.”

By the way, there may be more legal bills.

Farley Neuman, the San Francisco attorney who filed the case on behalf of the schools – and who gets paid only if he wins – said he is still mulling an appeal to the state Supreme Court.

“In our view, there is an important public policy issue here,” he said.

 

San Francisco Chronicle columnists Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross appear Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays. Matier can be seen on the KPIX-TV morning and evening news. He can also be heard on KCBS radio Monday through Friday at 7:50 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. Got a tip? Call (415) 777-8815, or e-mail matierandross@sfchronicle.com.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/matier-ross/article/America-s-Cup-could-cost-S-F-millions-4265828.php#ixzz2Kayi5L72

For those of us who still follow the America’s Cup, this is not really a surprise. The Cup is barely recognizable. Sailing it seems is secondary to the events surrounding it.  How many concerts? How much advertising? Doesn’t all that mean it should be able to stand on it’s own?

 

 

CONCERT OR REGATTA?

America’s Cup Partners with Live Nation to Present 2013 America’s Cup Concert Series in San Francisco

America’s Cup Pavilion Set to Open on Piers 27/29
World-renowned Musician Sting to Perform on June 2

The America’s Cup and Live Nation are proud to present the America’s Cup Concert Series at the America’s Cup Pavilion, located between Piers 27/29. The America’s Cup Pavilion will host multiple events in the summer of 2013 in San Francisco’s first outdoor, waterfront concert venue.

Sting © Kevin Mazur
Sting, the multi-Grammy award winning musician is the first headline act to be announced. Tickets for the concert, part of the critically acclaimed Back to Bass world tour, will go on sale beginning Friday, February 22nd at 10am at Ticketmaster.com. Additional events will be announced throughout the concert season that runs through October.

The America’s Cup Concert Series is a major live entertainment initiative in support of the America’s Cup Park on the Embarcadero, intended to create a vibrant, public space with a full range of activities for sailors and non-sailors alike.

The new, temporary, 9,000 seat venue will be centered in the America’s Cup Park on Piers 27/29 and will host a wide range of events including concerts, family shows, community and business events, comedy, as well as America’s Cup race activities and viewing sessions.

The America’s Cup Park at Piers 27/29 on the Embarcadero is the center of event activities during the 34th America’s Cup in San Francisco. This is where fans will find team bases, interactive exhibits, food and beverage courts, as well as shops featuring their favorite team gear. This is also the place to come on race days for the Dock-In and Dock-Out shows, as well as team and guest hospitality.

The America’s Cup Concert Series will run throughout the summer of 2013 and coincide with the Louis Vuitton Cup (the America’s Cup Challenger Series), the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup and the America’s Cup Finals.

“The America’s Cup is one of the world’s great sporting events and by partnering with Live Nation we can create a fun atmosphere with both entertainment and educational opportunities in the family-friendly environment of the America’s Cup Park,” said Stephen Barclay, CEO of the 34th America’s Cup. “San Francisco’s storied music history is part of the fabric of this great community and we plan to continue to celebrate music and culture as part of the America’s Cup.”

“We’re honored to partner with an event as prestigious as the America’s Cup to bring an exciting new entertainment venue to San Francisco,” said Jodi Goodman, President of Live Nation Northern California. “An outdoor venue in the City of San Francisco is long overdue. The America’s Cup Park will truly add to our rich San Francisco culture and bring more value to our City and its waterfront.”

The stage and seating on Piers 27/29 will allow America’s Cup organizers to host a range of both ticketed and non-ticketed events. In addition to a full music line-up, the amphitheatre will offer daytime shows featuring educational topics themed around the America’s Cup and race viewing opportunities on a large screen.

Construction is set to begin in spring of 2013 with the first events anticipated by mid-May 2013 and running through October 2013.

ORACLE FINED, BREAKING THIER OWN RULES

Team Oracle “Spy” Penalities

December 31, 2012

By 

scales of justice
The America’s Cup Jury has announced the  penalties for Team Oracle’s “spy mission” against Luna Rossa.

Luna Rossa claimed Oracle violated the so-called “espionage” clause of the race protocol (more on that HERE), the Jury agreed, and told Oracle it would be penalized, fined, and made to return any photos.

According to Jury documents, Oracle returned 10 photos (no videos).The fine was set at E 11,500, and Oracle won’t be allowed to sail either of their AC72s for five days at the end of the next sailing period (Feb 1 to May 1 – in other words, Oracle can’t sail 26 April to 30 April 2013)

Both Luna Rossa and Emirates Team New Zealand asked for much stiffer penalties: Luna Ross said a “financial penalty would be meaningless”, and asked the Jury to reduce the number of sailing days from 30 to 15 between February and May, make Oracle give up two spare daggerboards and one wing.

ETNZ gave the Jury a smorgasbrod of penalties to choose from “A loss of a point or points in the Match… a reduction of Wing Spar Sections… or permitted Daggerboards… a reduction in permitted sailing days….” and an order of no more “recon” missions.

Back To Main Page

Here’s what the jury had to say:

29th December 2012
JURY CASE AC19

JURY NOTICE JN060
DECISION on PENALTY and COSTS

APPLICATION from Luna Rossa Challenge 2013 (LR), representing Circolo della Vela
Sicilia.

1. On 19th November 2012, the Jury received an Application from LR protesting “the
Defender, Oracle Racing, GGYC” (OTUSA) for a reconnaissance incident on 8th
November in the waters off Auckland, New Zealand, claiming a breach of Protocol
Article 37.2(g).

DIRECTIONS No. 1 (JN053)

2. On 21st November 2012 the Jury issued Directions No.1 inviting the Parties to
submit a Response to the LR Application by 5th December 2012, and inviting LR to
submit a Reply to any Responses, by 12th December 2012.

DECISION

3. After considering the Responses and Reply, the Jury published its Decision on
18th December 2012 in Jury Notice JN059:

The Jury is satisfied that OTUSA breached Protocol Article 37.2(g).

DIRECTIONS No.2 (JN059)

4. Jury Notice JN059 ordered that the photographs be delivered to LR and the Jury
by 22nd December 2012, and invited Parties to make submissions on Costs and
Penalty by 24th December.

PHOTOGRAPHS

5. On 22nd December OTUSA complied with the Directions of the Jury and provided
10 photographs to LR and the Jury.

SUBMISSIONS ON PENALTY

6. LR submitted that gathering design information was critical to OTUSA as they
were unable to sail their own AC72. LR concluded that the breach by OTUSA was
quite deliberate and that their interpretation of the Protocol was absolutely artificial.

LR submitted that a financial penalty would be meaningless and an appropriate
penalty would be the reduction of 15 sailing days in the Sailing Period 1st February
to 1st May 2013, together with a reduction of two daggerboards of the maximum
allowed limit under Protocol article 29.7 and a reduction of one wing spar of the
maximum allowed limit under Protocol article 29.6.

7. Emirates Team New Zealand (ETNZ) submitted that the breach was deliberate
and based on a distorted interpretation of OTUSA’s own Protocol. The breach
gave OTUSA a significant advantage resulting from the improved quality of images
obtainable from within the 200m limit. ETNZ suggested that a penalty on the
individual rather than the team was inappropriate as the actions were clearly
sanctioned by the team. ETNZ submitted that to be just and equitable a penalty
has to be meaningful, and that the Jury should select from “A loss of a point or
points in the Match; A reduction either in the number of permitted Wing Spar
sections under Article 29.6 of the Protocol or in the number of permitted
Daggerboards under Article 29.7; A reduction in the number of the permitted
sailing days available to OTUSA between 1 February and 1 May 2013 under
Article 29.2(e) of the Protocol; An order that no OTUSA team members or agents
acting on behalf of OTUSA undertake any reconnaissance activities in Auckland or
San Francisco between the date of the order and the 30th April 2013 or such other
date specified by the Jury.”

8. OTUSA submitted that they never set out to deliberately break Protocol Article
37.2(g), and that “a penalty above and beyond the award of costs would not be
appropriate inasmuch as there was a legitimate and honest difference of opinion
as to the interpretation of the Protocol, the observations/photos obtained when
within 200m are no different than can and have been obtained from outside 200m,
at the time the AC72 observed was not testing, training or competing, and there
were no safety or harassment issues involved in the incident.”

DISCUSSION ON PENALTY

9. OTUSA has apologised to LR and indicated that as a result of the Jury Decision
any team members involved with reconnaissance finding themselves in a similar
situation to this incident will:
“(a) safely manoeuvre their vessel to more than 200m from the AC72 in
question;
(b) not photograph or record the yacht if they may be within 200m of the AC72
yacht; and
(c) apart from what basic seamanship demands, not to observe the AC72
yacht from within 200m.”

10. However, the Jury finds the interpretation that OTUSA relied on to remain within
the 200m limit and to continue to observe and photograph LR was both flawed and
unreasonable. If in doubt, OTUSA could have sought an interpretation of the
Article from the Jury.

11. The Reconnaissance Article is an important provision in the Protocol, and contains
express prohibitions with the intention of preventing the gaining of information by
Competitors about other Competitors. In this case, information in the form of a

number of photographs was obtained in breach of that Article, The benefit (if any)
of such information is not possible to determine but neither can it be undone.

12. Therefore it is appropriate that a meaningful penalty be imposed.

DECISION ON PENALTY

13. During the Second AC72 Sailing Period (1st February 2013 to 1st May 2013)
as provided for in Article 29.2(e), OTUSA may not sail their AC72 yachts on the
final five consecutive days of this Sailing Period, that is 26th April to 30th April 2013
inclusive.

DISCUSSION ON AWARD OF COSTS

14. LR and ETNZ submitted that all costs should be awarded against OTUSA; OTUSA
accepted that it alone should bear the full costs of the case.

COSTS AWARD

15. In accordance with the Jury Guidelines for the Award of Costs and Expenses
published on 13th August 2011, the Jury considers it is just and equitable that
costs of €11,500 are awarded. This amount is to be paid by OTUSA by 14th
January 2013 to: ACRM Operations Ltd Account Number: 4005 1570768517
Swift/BIC: MIDLGB22; IBAN: GB78MIDL4005157076851.