Bermuda 1 Of Last 2 America’s Cup Venues
Bermuda is one of the final two venues shortlisted to host the America’s Cup in 2017, according to an official announcement from the America’s Cup Event Authority earlier today [July 8]; the island is vying with San Diego for the right to host the sailing event.
A spokesperson said, “According to event organisers, having made it to this final stage of the bidding process, the island will host the America’s Cup World Series no matter the outcome of the final venue selection, which will mean an influx of people to Bermuda’s shores for possible events in 2015 and/or 2016.
“According to Premier Michael Dunkley, if Bermuda is successful, the benefits from hosting the 2017 event in terms of job creation and boosting the economy could be “unprecedented”. And he stressed the fact that hosting the event will require a unified, community effort from everyone in Bermuda.
“The Premier also took the opportunity to thank all involved in ensuring Bermuda’s success in the bid process thus far, including the Minister of Economic Development Dr. Grant Gibbons and those in the private sector.”
Premier Dunkley said, “The America’s Cup is the oldest trophy in international sport, predating the modern Olympic Games by 45 years. The event was last hosted by San Francisco in September 2013 and was won by the Oracle Team USA. The finals included a series of races over a period of three months.
“If Bermuda is ultimately successful it has the opportunity of being a milestone, spectacular event for our island. It will highlight Bermuda’s legacy as a maritime sailing destination and give us unprecedented international exposure.
“Hosting an event of this magnitude on Bermuda’s shores will require the support and participation from all spheres of our community. It will require a unified effort from everyone. The benefit potential for Bermuda is something that we should all be cognizant of, and I very much look forward to joining with all of Bermuda in showcasing our hospitality to the world.
“There has been a tremendous amount of work and effort that has gone on behind the scenes by our Bermuda organizing team to advance Bermuda’s chances. I want to publicly thank Minister Gibbons and his team of Government technical officers and private sector partners for their dedication to this monumental cause. They have worked tirelessly to make sure that our bid was first class.”
Dr. Gibbons said, “I can only echo the Premier’s comments in saying that we are very focused on our bid and on generating commercial sponsorship in support of the bid. We are extremely enthusiastic about the possibility of having the privilege of hosting the America’s Cup Finals in 2017. This would be an historic moment for Bermuda, if chosen, and we look forward to continuing to progress through the bid process.
“In terms of adding a boost to our economy, hosting the America’s Cup will undoubtedly mean an increased demand for transportation, accommodation, retail and hospitality services. We would anticipate an investment in upgrades and additional capacity in our hotels and tourism product, and this will ultimately result in an increase in jobs in our construction and tourism sectors. So, as the Premier said, we will need the full support of everyone if we are to ensure this event is a success for all of Bermuda.”
It is anticipated that a final decision on which venue will host the America’s Cup Finals will be determined before the end of the year.
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Articles that link to this one:
- BHA Supports Bermuda’s America’s Cup Bid | Bernews.com | July 10, 2014
- Four Teams Reiterate America’s Cup Support | Bernews.com | July 28, 2014
WOW!!! This is amazing!!!
Well done to the organizing team!!!!
Perhaps this will be the thing that makes us proud to be Bermudians again and pull us all together.
Let’s leave ripping each other apart behind—that is just old school for the old days!!!
Hey PLP here’s those OBA jobs they promised!!!!! Amazing news!!!!!!!!!!
and what’s the OBA’s plan B if the Cup goes to San Diego
Hey JS
This is some of the best news we have had in a while. Let’s be happy about it and get behind it or perhaps you don’t want to see BDA succeed?
We never had it to begin with just having Bermudas name mentioned alongside this globally prestigious event is a win for our beloved Island. Well done all. This is great for our country
We get the prelim. Races which is probably more appropriate and realistic. Either way, this is huge for our isand. Don’t mess up with wild cat strikes etc.!
Lasts longer too, and the strain on our infrastructure is minimised. I agree this would be more appropriate and actually the benefits are greater, with less potential downside.
Where’s Betty, coffee et al in this thread? (tumbleweeds)
We get the preliminary races which will also be huge for the island.
Basically, as it is now we are in an awesome position even if we’re not selected.
Amazing….and 90% of us haven’t a clue just how big this possibility is
Exactly!!!
Of course we do. You really think that lowly of your fellow bermudians? Sad
Thank you OBA standing strong for Bermuda.
Thank you sailing community, bang up job on the World stage; you are a class act.
Come on Bermuda! Let’s get our act together. Great work on this so far OBA, keep at it!
Milk Man maybe you should take a look the airport before it cost us the America’s Cup. When I arrived back on the other day the line was out the door. Many of the tourist looked disgusted when I finally arrived at the front. Might I say some 45+ minutes later you had six customs on the desk and if I recall 5 empty desk. One would think that during the summer you would have sufficient staff on. Then again you don’t have to stand in line anymore, VIP from the plane to GP1.
Remember you never get a second chance to make a good first impression.
I think you are talking about the previous administration. I kinda remember all those self aggrandizing self proclaimed benefits.
Who cares.
This is great news for our country.
Keep looking forward all. Let’s make this happen and those that can’t see the benefit will never see the benefit of anything that will grow out beloved island.
This is absolutely great news for all of us, when the OBA travels results happen, being in the last two is very hopeful indeed!!! What a difference an election makes !!! When the plp traveled all they ever came back with, was a BIG smile on their face???? OBA is working hard for ALL Bermudians!!!
Anyone that is thumbing down the above are not Bermudians, but simple partisan zealots.
Such an event will do wonders for the whole of Bermuda.
PLP/ignorant/BIU will probably organize a march or something to fan the race flames cos sailing is apparently all about rich whites.
People: This is like a free gift when we really need it – Bermuda, don’t mess it up.
People will come here and spend tons and tons of money but easily get scared away by the ignorant PLP scarecrow.
PLP A-HOLES
The World Cup of sailng!
If the truth be known,sponsers are basically investors,they invest in the possible win….the win nets at least 100,000,000,ennit? Then proper marketing and “bingo” ,residual advertisement with clothing ,marine products,alcohol etc…..So basically Bermuda has serious talent and sea faring history….All you do is seek sponsers …design of the vessel is all that has to be done right ,sailing…oh that too….
What happens to all these jobs when the Americas Cup comes to a close???
Don’t be so silly!!!!
The America’s Cup is for a limited period but contractors from all sorts of industries will benefit from this. Whether it’s construction people, carpenters, sign makers, caterers, hotels, bars, restaurants, taxis….all sorts.
Just imagine it not happening?? None of these companies would have the extra work. Put it in perspective…..imagine the money that is circulating just at Cup Match? And no not for Crown and Anchor. Times that by, heck i dunno, LOTS when it comes to the America’s Cup.
Get with this Bermuda!!!! Don’t be damn stick in the mud!
Point is it’s a massive international launch for Bermuda as a tourist destination, and sailing destination. That is permanent. You can’t buy that type of publicity. The event itself would still bring in a massive amount in business. I think they do an audit /impact assessment after these events if you do a search.
I read somewhere that the audit/impact assessment report include a statement from the San Francisco officials stating they had lost money by hosting the America’s Cup, hence them pushing for greater concessions to play host again. I think an event of this prestige and size is magnificent for Bermuda, so long as the future of Bermuda Tourism and locals is kept at the forefront.
The math can be tricky, they may have lost monies on the direct expenditure vs direct revenues, but it is very hard to calculate the monies back through additional taxes on people employed at the time, goods sold relating to the event, additional intake to local businesses above the norm… You also figure those tax revenues are also only a small part of what the local businesses (both directly involved and indirectly) would reap in above the norm… anyway you slice it, there will be a lot of money flowing into the island for the event.
The exposure will be massive on a degree Bermuda has never seen before.
We will get benefits for the next century by virtue of being an incredibly photogenic piece of history.
Well done OBA,
Wow,to have any of the sailing events leading up to or including The Americas Cup is MAGNIFICENT!
Lots of economic potential,jobs and foreign currency,great stuff.All of us Bermudians should try and figure out how to obtain some of those $$$$ for ourselves.No excuses,go for it!
Congratulations to Premier Dunkley and the Bermuda team. Transformational opportunity.
The PLP/BIU will do everything in its power to stop this from happening.
This is great news. However I hope by that time Bermuda will have the public transportation system running smoothly!!!!!
Lately whenever a cruise ship is in Dockyard I’ve waited HOURS for a bus that would actually stop to pick up passengers and not just drive past with the ‘Special’ displayed.
I see a future PLP news conference saying this was their idea and they are happy to see the OBA acting on it…
What does this have to do with PLP? It’s good news for Bermuda..simple…does everything have to turn political with some of you “blind followers?”…we haven’t even won the bid yet and it’s turning political…I’m sure PLP will mention the PGA Grand Slam, and the mudslinging will follow between you all… AN IDLE MIND IS THE DEVILS PLAYGROUND!!! Occupy your mind with positive things folks….peace
What does this have to do with the PLP?
Thankfully, nothing.
Judging by the paltry 29 comments, I don’t see this as a big deal for many people.
Before we think that God is decending upon Bermuda, HOW MUCH MUST THE GOVERNMENT PAY IN SPONSORSHIP FEES FOR THE AMERCIAS’S CUP?
Between US$15million to US$20million or above?
It is a simple question Messrs Gibbons, Richards and Dunkley, as you all are disquietly silent on this issue. Yet a very camouflaging spin “Let’s ALL get behind this Bermuda!”
Wow, transparency left the building when you decked Connonier.
Gentlemen, I am all in when you are all honest and transparent about its cost from the public purse.
London, England
That’s unfortunate because if we are lucky enough to get this, it will be perhaps the biggest, most watched event in our history.
Its important that we do everything we can to get it right. Strikes, writing provocative messages on golf courses for the world to see, are things we need to avoid. We will be on show and we need to appreciate that.
Please bear in mind that we cannot do ANYTHING to get this deal. We cannot overextend our themselves financially in order to clinch this deal.
We cannot categorically state that we have NO FUNDS, cut public services to the bare bone, scream out from Parliament Hill (Richards and Gibbons) that the Opposition is out of touch with reality, cannot comprehend the magnitude of our dire fiscal state of not having enough to pay the public payroll, drawing up the list of government services to cancel, outsource and/or amalgamate – then by an act of God, the OBA finds millions and millions from the government purse to fund the America’s Cup. God, this is truly a miracle…
And the public thinks that it’s only the PLP who spin, lie, deceive, bamboozle, misrepresent, should I go on. The poison is thrown both ways, but now the OBA is literally salivating at the most prestigious opportunity to host an international once in a lifetime event, so they make no comment, not one whisper, on the fact that they MUST commit government funding to this event in order to secure it – they MUST. And they know precisely how much they must commit, so why is that fact a secret from the Bermuda public?
We can be joyous and/or overjoyed, and you may label me a killjoy, but experience has taught former Olympic host countries that hosting can mire your country with more debt. Thus, the Government can place Bermuda further into debt if this event does not bring any further business to Bermuda. We could fly out of recession or we can be mired in it for years beyond our current projections. At least one way or the other Bermudians should go into this event having complete transparency on the cost to the public purse.
London, England
OBA,helping Bermuda get back to work.