WF's Venue in Question...

S

sunny_az

Guest
For those of you who don't go to PWCT, you may still need to see this.
Posted by Nedra, this is huge...

#1 Fan said:
Council rejects IJSBA proposal
World Finals could be going to San Diego
By BRIAN DiTULLIO

For the first time since the event began, the World Final Jet Ski races may no longer be held in Lake Havasu City.

By a 5-1 vote with Mayor Harvey Jackson dissenting, City Council rejected a proposal from the International Jet Ski Boating Association to have this year's World Finals at Rotary Park. As a result, the World Finals may be headed to California.
Scott Frazier, IJSBA managing director, said the event had been losing money and that there were problems with Crazy Horse Campground, the location used for the last few years.

Specifically, Frazier said Crazy Horse needed some “aesthetic upgrades†for purposes of televising the event and that there has been a “disconnect†with the community since the event was moved there.

Frazier said that if the event were moved to Rotary Park, that would draw more people and give incentives for more sponsors to fund the event. As it stands, Frazier indicated the event lost about $200,000 last year.

From the city's point of view, holding the event at Rotary Park creates some logistical problems, and while city departments continue to assist in support of the event, city staff indicated Rotary Park now is too small to adequately serve the event. Problems mentioned included inadequate parking and lack of access to the park and beaches for the general public while the event is going on.

Dan Cunning, president of the Convention and Visitor's Bureau, said his board also believed that they weren't getting the kind of return they used to and that the event isn't drawing the way it once did. Therefore, they only were allocating $12,000 toward the event this year. The board paid $25,000 for the event last year.

Frazier disputed Cunning's interpretation of drawing power and revenue to the city, stating he paid $20,000 in bed taxes for last year's event. For this year, Frazier requested $35,000 from the city for the event plus an additional $5,000 to run a food festival.

After the vote, Frazier said, “I don't see how the event can possibly stay here for $12,000 in funding.â€

While Frazier's proposal included several benefits to the city, including the cost of pulling the necessary permits, a cut of parking fees, a three-year contract for the event, a two-year right of first refusal to meet other offers, promotional considerations and $20,000 in scaffold renting, City Council felt the costs and responsibilities involved were not equal to the offer and rejected it.

Frazier said Crazy Horse wasn't acceptable to many of the executives involved and that he had no relationship with the Nautical Inn currently.

As for where the World Finals will end up being held, there is no clear answer to that question. Frazier said he would do everything he could to keep the event in Lake Havasu City, but that he couldn't “put on an event I'm going to lose money on.â€

An option he said he is considering is Mission Bay in the San Diego area, but did not give the city a deadline for keeping the event here.

“This event needs to have a home where people look forward to it coming back,†said Frazier.

You may contact the reporter at ditullio@havasunews.com.
__________________________________________________ ____________________
I personally would like to thank everyone who came to the City Council meeting last night to hear Scott Frazier answer questions from Council regarding his proposal for World Finals.
Special Thanks To: Kay Sykes, Gary Hart, Kelly Sprague, Gene Navarro, Arnie, Mike Pipes, and Chris Hagest. It was nice to see you represent the racing community.
Click to expand...
 
jetskier79

jetskier79

I'm goin' for two
Location
San Diego, CA
I kind of agree with mike...to a point. In it's current form, jetski racing isn't very exciting, and I'm WAY into jetskis. However there were a couple interesting posts in there about the AVI resort in Laughlin. Something about the possibility of filling this stadium type deal that had. Now THAT would be cool to watch. Spectators on both sides, racing that's not half a mile off shore. Scoreboards to let people know whos out front.
 
U

unclehulka13

Location
The D
i speak whats on my mind. i have yet to be silenced. If everyone went around not saying what they think, which is pretty much what everyone does, we'd have another pwctoday. If jetski racing isnt popular, i guess those thousands of people that were at WF last year were just there because they were bored and wanted to blow money.
 
Mike Serlin

Mike Serlin

NOW SPORTING A BIONIC LEG
Location
Long Beach, CA !!!
unclehulka13 said:
i speak whats on my mind. i have yet to be silenced. If everyone went around not saying what they think, which is pretty much what everyone does, we'd have another pwctoday. If jetski racing isnt popular, i guess those thousands of people that were at WF last year were just there because they were bored and wanted to blow money.
Click to expand...

But everybody at World Finals either races jetskis or knows someone who is racing them. It simply isn't a spectator sport. You can't deny the fact that every year it becomes less and less popular. Motosurf is more exciting to watch as a spectator. The courses are simple and bodies go flying. I'm not saying its gonna make jetskiing wildly popular, I'm just saying it is more exciting to watch in that form.
 
SUPERJET-113

SUPERJET-113

GASKETS FOR CHAMP BRAP!
Site Supporter
Location
Lake Havasu City, AZ USA
For me racing is boring to watch, but fun to participate in!
I guess i do like watching full line stand up races. For 2 years i course marshalled while freestyling and it was awesome sitting in the middle of the track watching! Maybe Im spoiled from the views of racing i used to have!
 
U

unclehulka13

Location
The D
i understand, but the majority of racers/freestylers/freeriders dont have an ocean to go on, nor local access. There is water everywhere, but not ocean water.
 
S

sflsurfrider

watching racing, in itself, is boring unless you know somebody on the course. for me, its all about the freestyle and the general scene at a race. racing, nowadays, pretty much consists of couches and sxr's. BORING! unless theres an SJ spanking the sxr's. point is, they should bring it florida! this is where all the water is!:cheer:
 
S

sunny_az

Guest
I personally love to watch the races. The battles for 2nd to last can be as exciting as the battle for first, too. I've raced and rode many buoys and frankly, I suck. Much props to the racers who spend outrageous funds to race to earn a $15 trophy. It's love of the sport. The same applies to freestyle/freeride...and, I'll admit, the cc couch races can be entertaining, as well.


bad93balster said:
am i the only one that goes and dont know anybody
Click to expand...
Nope, I don't know too many people personally. The ones I do know I have much respect for. I don't go to drink til dawn and party. I go to get up at crack of dawn to watch practice, work the pits, hold on the line and mooch rides on Pro Boats. I left Laurel's Bday party by 11:00, promised to have a certain freak back to the house by 10 so he wouldn't be cranky the next day. Found him hiding behind a chair w/ a girl, hiding so I'd leave w/out him...like I said, freak.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom