In reference to the strange and often obscure political situation in San Francisco, columnist Herb Caen once coined the phrase "Baghdad by the Bay". And the situation surrounding the location of the teams for the next America's Cup is almost as chaotic as the conditions in Baghdad, Iraq. Of course, it's all about money again, in this case that of Oracle boss Larry Ellison, who brought the Cup to San Francisco, and about the bases to be built on the old piers 30 to 32 on the east side of the city centre, along the Embarcadero waterfront, which are in dire need of renovation.
In short, this is not the case. As Mayor Ed Lee said after the conclusion of negotiations with the America's Cup Event Authority announced the plan to base the teams near the Bay Bridge, on Piers 30 to 32, has been cancelled. Instead, they will all be accommodated a few miles further south on Pier 80, where Oracle already has a base. The regatta village is not affected by this decision. According to the plan, it will be located on Piers 27 to 29, along the tourist mile, near the famous Fisherman's Wharf.
Pier 80 is located in the so-called Dogpatch and Bayview district, the industrial area of the city and not far from Hunters Point a contaminated and therefore abandoned former shipyard workers' neighbourhood. The neighbourhood was long regarded as a ghetto for gangs and drug dealers. This is where the expensive sailing boats of wealthy entrepreneurs are parked, in an area that is not advertised in any travel brochure. It is an interesting contrast, but one that is not unwanted by politicians, as San Francisco's exorbitant property prices and the scarcity of building land are prompting the administration to gentrify poor and neglected neighbourhoods in order to create space for new and tax-profitable offices and city flats, regardless of the fact that this means that low-income and, above all, black people are being forced to live in the area. Resettlement are forced to do so.
"The further expansion of Pier 80 ... means millions in development and renewal and job creation in one of the poorest neighbourhoods in the city," the official press release stated. It went on to say that the expansion of Piers 30 to 32 was therefore no longer necessary. But now the highlight: "For the 2012 and 2013 regattas." Sounds more like postponed, not cancelled.
Speculation that a lawsuit against the expansion of Piers 30 to 32 due to alleged violations of the environmental report had something to do with this decision has not been confirmed by either the city or the ACEA. Rather, it seems to be a question of uncertainty as to how many teams actually have enough money to take part in the Cup with the huge and expensive AC72 cats. Three months before the closing date, only three challengers have been confirmed, and it is hoped that at least the Spanish GreenComm team will honour its announcement to build an AC72, which would mean that four additional syndicates would have to be accommodated alongside Oracle, which will have two of these boats.
Press conference by Mayor Lee
In addition to the already known live stream via YouTube, the Sky Sports channel in England will broadcast the America's Cup World Series regattas from Naples and Venice live. From Naples, 13 hours of live programming will be broadcast from 11 to 15 April, starting at 13:00 GMT. Sky TV subscription holders can also watch the programme on mobile devices via Sky Go.
