Tickets went on sale today for the America’s Cup sailing races, which will take place in San Francisco from July through September.
Race organizers today outlined more details about the regatta, which begins with an opening day celebration on July 4.
It will run through Sept. 21 and end with the America’s Cup Finals between the defending champion Oracle Team USA and the top challenger.
Stephen Barclay, CEO of the America’s Cup Event Authority, described the regatta as “50 days of the most intense competition between the best sailors in the world.”
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The two main sites for visitors will be America’s Cup Park, located along The Embarcadero at Piers 27-29, and the America’s Cup Village at Marina Green.
The premium spots from which to watch the race will be the Marina Green and elsewhere along the city’s northern waterfront. Tickets are now on sale starting at $15.
Barclay said the race will happen so close to shore that spectators “can hear the boats going by.”
Race headquarters and interactive exhibits will be located at the Pier 27-29 site, as well as the America’s Cup Pavilion, a 9,000-seat temporary concert venue that will host up to 30 shows between mid-May and the end of October.
A permit for the venue was approved by the city’s Entertainment Commission on Tuesday night after race organizers made compromises with waterfront residents who are wary of the impacts on their neighborhoods.
An acoustic curtain will be placed around the concert stage to reduce noise, and a community hotline will be set up to handle noise complaints, according to event organizers.
But Jon Golinger, president of the Telegraph Hill Dwellers neighborhood group, said today his organization is considering appealing the approval of the permit because more steps should be taken to minimize the effects on neighbors.
“People in this neighborhood love inviting people to the waterfront,” Golinger said. “But people are used to one Fourth of July, not 30 Fourth of Julys.”
He said additional compromises his group is seeking include financial penalties if concerts last beyond an agreed-upon end time.
Barclay said race organizers are committed to working with the neighbors to ensure that their concerns are addressed.
“We’re trying to make sure everyone has a great experience, including the neighbors.”
More information about tickets for the races and concert series is available online at www.americascup.com.
Dan McMenamin, Bay City News
