Cats in the Dogpatch

It is with much disappointment and dismay that we seem to be looking at a series of unfortunate events surrounding the 2013 America’s Cup, as it descends into a downward spiral towards the abyss which ultimately could lead the prestigious event bolting to greener pastures (shores) in 2016.
For San Francisco, who in the words of our former esteemed mayor, Diane Feinstein; is “the city that knows how” now moves towards a city that will be left with a majority of its waterfront decaying and decrepit for yet another generation.
Larry Ellison has given San Francisco a golden opportunity to host the “Super Bowl” of sailing and other events like it for many years to come. While he has been saddled with dysfunction in his own house, with an inept America’s Cup Event Authority (ACEA) that has struggled to raise the profile, organization and funds necessary to host the event here; it is important to rebuild our waterfront.
We need more than just giving it a sprucing up for 2013. The City of San Francisco needs to move forward with its original vision (for the most part, minus the tweaks’) in order to create a waterfront that will pay dividends for future generations that will create real jobs, revenue and public interest with an opportunity to host other prestigious events from around the world like the Volvo Around the World Race and the Olympics.
After committing to fix up Pier’s 31&32 in exchange for development rights both the ACEA and the City have backed off from their original agreement for a compromise plan that barely covers the cost to repave the parking lot, let alone allow the challengers to use the facilities for the AC 72 catamarans.
Given the massive size of the hulls and wing sails for each competitor there is hardly enough room on the piers for 1 or 2 teams, with just one boat, let alone the Kiwi’s or the Italians which will have two each for sure.
The Challenger Village has for the time being been relocated down at Pier 80. As a reclamation project the Dogpatch neighborhood is doing well, but it is not set up for international spectators to visit for the America's Cup.
Most of the danger for the crews and teams will be when they get out of their cars at work, rather than the inherent risks they will face out on the water when they are ripping it out on SF Bay at 35 knots in their fragile AC 72 Cats!
The downsizing and dumbing down of the America’s Cup event here, in comparison to recent cities that have hosted the event in Auckland, New Zealand, Fremantle, Western Australia and Valencia, Spain is an embarrassment.
The ACEA has done itself in with confusion over securing dates in our area for an America’s Cup World Series (ACWS) event. Is there a date in August? Is it going to be in New York City? October? When? How can San Francisco host an event in just a few months when the dates are so fluid?
The America’s Cup Race Management (ACRM) is in excellent shape under the strong leadership of Ian Murray, but it’s time for the ACEA to bring in an outside company with big time global marketing experience who can properly run the and organize event activities.
Naples and Venice, Italy, Newport, RI; have had secured places on the calendar for almost a year and for corporate sponsors, restaurants, hotels, airlines and for anyone else associated in tourism here in San Francisco how can anyone realistically be ready?
It seems the only city capable, with the facilities and showing the desire to host the America’s Cup in California is San Diego. Aside from the ACWS event which was held there last fall, which was disappointing more because of a poor planning of activities than a lack of action on the racecourse.
San Diego seems to be better positioned to host the event in the future, unless ACEA and the elected officials who represent San Francisco can put the majority of the people’s interest in place here first or next fall’s elections won’t just be a referendum on Ross Mirkarimi, but a chance for SF to vote for a future we showcase around the world!