Oldsmar is offered free bike racetrack

A bidding war has erupted between the BMX association that dominates Florida and its rival to build a racetrack.

By ED QUIOCO

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 5, 2000

OLDSMAR -- Call it the showdown at the Oldsmar corral.

But instead of crusty gunslingers toting six-shooters, this battle pits two national bicycle motocross associations. Both are competing for the right to build a BMX racetrack at Canal Park on Tampa Road.

This contest began last spring when Oldsmar officials decided to provide recreation for residents who don't play team sports. But it quickly turned into a bidding war between the two BMX-sanctioning organizations, each seemingly bent on one-upping the other.

"I would compare us to MCI and AT&T," said John David, an executive with the National Bicycle League. "We are very competitive with our market share."

Both groups originally offered grant packages worth $5,000 to $10,000 to cover the start-up costs of building a BMX track, according to city estimates. As proposed, the city would allow the association it selected to build a track on city-owned land and sanction the races.

Over the past three months, both associations have added goodies, increasing the estimated value of their packages to the $20,000-to-$40,000 range.

The American Bicycle Association upped its offer to include an $11,000 concession stand, wood-chip walkways and $2,000 in road and parking area improvements. The National Bicycle League offered a computer and printer, 200 personalized business cards and rakes, shovels and a water hose for track maintenance.

"This is crazy, totally amazing." Oldsmar Parks and Recreation Director Lynn Rives said. ". . . You have to laugh. You really do."

City Council members say the competition has benefited the city, but they recently agreed to end it. They have asked both associations to make a final offer, and Rives hopes to make a presentation to the council later this month.

"I'm not in favor of a bidding war," Council member Ed Manny said. "I think there are some moral issues with that. We didn't mean to harass either of them and whatever happened, it was strictly unintentional."

City officials originally applied in April for a grant from the American Bicycle Association, which wants to increase its presence in Florida. After a Times story on the proposal, the National Bicycle League offered a proposal that topped the ABA's package.

The NBL, a non-profit organization based in Ohio, has about 200 tracks in North America, said David, the NBL's senior field director. The association sanctions more than a dozen tracks in Florida, which is home to about a quarter of its more than 40,000 members nationwide.

"Florida is the NBL's No. 1 state," David said. "Obviously, we don't like our competition to come into our area where we are established. A lot of it is a this-is-our-turf kind of thing."

The for-profit ABA boasts that it has 54,000 members in 44 states and more than 274 tracks. But the group's Dade City track is the only one it has in Florida.

"Honestly, Florida has been NBL and they'll do anything to keep us from getting a foothold in Florida, and the best way to stop that from happening is to head us off at the pass," ABA president Clayton John said.

ABA officials scrambled in May to offer a grant package that topped their previous one. Earlier this month, the NBL also sent another offer that more than doubled its previous offer.

"It has gotten to be more of a headache at times," said Rives, who has had to juggle numerous phone calls from both associations.

As it stands, the ABA is proposing to donate the track to the city in return for being able to sanction the races.

"The ABA's proposal is a little sweeter," Rives said. "They want to give the track to the city, which is unbelievable."

Under the NBL's most recent proposal, it will design and build the track and lease the land from the city.

"We are looking at substantial increases from both bicycle organizations," council member Brian Michaels said. "That's the ultimate. We will get it built, and we don't have to pay for it."

Both organizations offer BMX racing nationwide for age groups with different skill levels. They both offer insurance for the city. They both have yearly membership fees and race fees. Both associations also say they will host races and events that can draw thousands of people to the city.

The biggest difference, David and John said, was the way each association scores its races.

Both said last week they didn't want to get into a battle of insults. But each contended that it would be best for Oldsmar.

John said, "We are, like, four times as big as they are and they have been around longer. What does that tell you about who is more productive?"

David said, "Whether it's the NBL or ABA that gets the track, it's going to be a great thing for the city. But what I also know is with the NBL's established membership base, programs and resources, the city of Oldsmar will be much more successful with an NBL facility."

David also boasted that ESPN covers NBL races. Because the NBL already has an established program in Florida, Oldsmar would be able to draw immediately from the association's pool of riders, David said. The NBL has tracks in St. Petersburg, Tampa and Sarasota.

"The kids are used to NBL and that's what they know in Florida," David said. "We are trying to do everything we can to make sure the kids in Oldsmar can participate in the NBL. We wouldn't be going to the lengths we are going to if we didn't think the facility in Oldsmar would be a good facility."

John said the ABA wants to build a track in Oldsmar because it would give the racers who use the league's track in Dade City another place to race. Plus, Oldsmar's central location from Pasco and Hillsborough counties makes the city desirable.

He said the ABA's smaller numbers in Florida would force it to work harder to draw racers.

"We will do more to promote the sport in that area than the opposition," John said. "We will have to go out and beat the bushes more. We will get more people involved who have never been involved because we can't draw from existing riders."

Rives said he was surprised that both groups would try so hard to woo the city. He said it doesn't matter to him which association builds and sanctions the track. He just wanted to provide something different to the residents at little cost to the city.

"All I care about is that I'm providing some recreation that isn't team sports," Rives said. "'I don't know where it will end, but hopefully it will work out for the city. It's a win-win situation."

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