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Offshore race wants more from city
By BRYAN GILMER
© St. Petersburg Times, ST. PETERSBURG -- The American Power Boat Association's championship offshore race is scheduled to roar in Tampa Bay again Oct. 4-7, but its organizers say they will cancel unless St. Petersburg taxpayers commit tens of thousands of dollars to the event. "I am going to make a decision by Wednesday," said Michael Allweiss, chairman of APBA Offshore, which is based in St. Petersburg. He said he is prepared to move the race to another city if he does not get what he wants. The race is expensive to stage, costing in the neighborhood of $250,000, said Allweiss. He said entry fees, refreshment sales and other sources failed to cover the costs last year. Though Allweiss said Mayor Rick Baker once seemed enthusiastic about negotiating a new deal that would help, Baker's administration objects to many of the new ideas Allweiss proposed to generate that money. Allweiss' group has suggested that the city provide police officers and parks workers for the race for free and that the group be allowed to charge admission to The Pier to view the race. As many as 10,000 people have crammed themselves onto the structure to watch the boats for free during past races. A huge turnout at a recent City Council public hearing on hiring a new company to manage The Pier drew more than 100 people to City Hall, showing how sensitive residents are about what happens at the publicly owned attraction. "The last thing we're going to do is allow an event to make it exclusive," said Economic Development Director Ron Barton. Baker did not return phone calls Friday seeking comment. The final decision on any deal would rest with the City Council. In a July letter to Baker, Allweiss asked the city to provide more than $60,000 in city services for free and to buy "at least $50,000 worth of advertising" on TNN and Speedvision telecasts of the event. Allweiss said he agreed to reduce the amount of advertising spending to $25,000 and offered to let the city find an outside sponsor to buy that amount. The administration is willing to recommend that the city sponsor the event "in name only," giving Allweiss' group the exclusive use of waterfront parks and the right to sell beer and wine there during the event. But under that arrangement, the city bills a promoter for the extra police officers and park workers needed to help with and clean up after an event. "We don't have a lot of money," Barton said. Allweiss said he needs those services provided for free. He also insinuated that without a new agreement the city would never get the still unpaid $63,000 it billed for city services used during last year's race. The Hurricane Classic Foundation, which Allweiss helped found in 1997, entered that agreement with the city. "My position basically to them is that the entity that had contracted for the city services doesn't have any money left in it," Allweiss said. "If y'all tell us to get lost, please explain to me what the incentive is to pay that bill." Allweiss said the bill did not arrive until April and added that he feels the city is trying to overcharge for some services. A disagreement in Sarasota between APBA Offshore and the Suncoast Foundation led to the removal of APBA from plans for next year's July 4 race. Allweiss wrote on his Web site that he asked for a net increase in payments of $36,500 for a higher sanctioning fee and for a larger prize pot for racers. He said Friday the main issue was the local group's refusal to shorten the race course. Allweiss said his goal is for St. Petersburg and APBA Offshore to make money on the event. Some locations are excited to work out ways for that to happen, he said. The Tourist Development Council of Key West recently committed more money to help support the race there, for instance, Allweiss said. Told of the St. Petersburg dispute Friday, Renaissance Vinoy Resort Manger Russell Bond said he hopes the race will not be canceled. "We will be in a position to sell out the hotel from Wednesday through Saturday night, and if past history repeats itself, the folks who are here spend a lot of money throughout the hotel, in the restaurants and bars. It would definitely be a financial impact if the race were not to happen." Though Barton acknowledged the race provides an economic benefit, especially to hotels, he said the administration is not sure whether that impact is worth the concessions Allweiss is demanding. He added that the city has tried to give Allweiss some of what he wants, offering to allow liquor to be served on a barge in the bay, thereby enabling Allweiss to obtain a liquor sponsor for the race. "They might have to walk, that's a true statement," Barton said Friday. "We'll both kind of mutually get to that decision."
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