È stata resa pubblica oggi, martedì 21 dicembre, la lettera (riportata qui sotto) che Stephen Barclay, portavoce del GGYC Bmw Oracle, ha inviato a Keith Stokes, direttore esecutivo del Rhode Island Economic Development Corp.
Ricordiamo che la posizione di San Francisco sembrava molto solida fino a che le autorità della città hanno modificato l’accordo già preso con il defender votandone un secondo, meno dispendioso ma non gradito a Ellison&Coutts.
Ora la situazione inizia a diventare pesante, perché come da Protocollo il defender deve entro il prossimo 31 dicembre comunicare la scelta finale riguardo la sede della XXXIV America’s Cup e il tempo stringe.
A questo punto sembra che le quotazioni di Newport siano molto forti.
Dear Keith,
I would like to thank you for meeting with our team over the past week and, in particular, arranging the meetings yesterday with Governor-
elect Chafee and Senate President Paiva-Weed. Over the past week, you have clearly presented why Rhode Island, and Fort Adams State Park, in particular, has the capability to host the 34th America's Cup, one of the largest sporting events in the world in terms of economic benefit and mass media audience.
In particular, we are impressed with Fort Adams and the possibility of its being the center of public access, use and enjoyment of Narragansett Bay.
We are very serious in our intent to move forward with Rhode Island. There is much to do to meet the timeframes we have set. The Golden Gate Yacht Club has committed to other America's Cup Teams that a host city will be announced by December 31, 2010.
On our side we must establish the how the teams, visitors and VIPs will be accommodated and how we will raise the necessary corporate sponsorship.
You can greatly assist us by advising on the readiness of Fort Adams to complete the necessary public infrastructure improvements to base the teams and hold the event within the timeframes we have discussed with you and your team.
To demonstrate our interest in working with Rhode Island, I have asked Tom Ehman, a fellow member of the GGYC Board and America's Cup Committee and head of External affairs of Bmw Oracle Racing, to attend next monday's Rhode Island Economic Development Corp. december board meeting to convey our interest to your Board and the Governor.
I look forward to our continued dialogue over the next several days.
Yours sincerely,
Stephen Barclay