The San Diego County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution Tuesday supporting a bid to host the America’s Cup in 2017.
Supervisor Dave Roberts says San Diego already “has the infrastructure in place.” There is a new 12-acre waterfront park where shoreline events could be held for up to 8,000 people, the port district building where receptions could be held and the San Diego Bay where the boats could race.
Roberts says rather than a burden to taxpayers, the America's Cup would be an economic boon to San Diego, filling hotels and restaurants, creating jobs.
“This could actually generate over a billion dollars in economic revenue, and over 8,000 jobs could be created, so I just think this has tremendous potential,” he said.
No doubt that's what officials in the Bay Area thought would happen when San Francisco hosted the regatta last summer. The race reportedly did not have as much of an economic impact as was hoped. It ended up costing taxpayers $5 million, taxpayer money some critics say was spent on a sport for billionaires.
For now, the race for host is down to two: San Diego and Bermuda. Bermuda is a British territory. Only twice has the America's Cup been held outside the country of the winning yacht club -- which last year was Oracle Team USA, backed by the Golden Gate Yacht Club.
San Francisco did bid for the race again, but added a number of financial demands to its bid, which apparently knocked it out of the race.
