Tall Ships to Sink Boston

Gee, and after the state came up with a million dollars for them.

"Tall ships gala gets $1m, but may not fill hotel rooms; Downsized event apt to cut tax take" by Stephanie Ebbert, Globe Staff | June 19, 2009

As the convention center board approved $1 million for a tall ships spectacle yesterday, other tourism officials raised doubts about whether a downsized Sail Boston could pay for itself in hotel taxes. Visitors are in no rush to book hotel rooms for the event, whose plans had been up in the air for months....

Massachusetts Convention Center Authority’s executive director James Rooney said the event will ultimately pay for itself by protecting Boston’s brand, even if it doesn’t return the investment immediately in tax revenue, Rooney said.

PFFFTTTT! That sure is a lot to PAY for a NAME!

Governor Deval Patrick, who spoke with the mayor about the deal at Saturday’s gay pride parade, told reporters Wednesday that it was a “justifiable expense, I think, for the Convention Center to make, based on the uptick for local businesses and services, and people like it.’’

I'm no longer surprised this slick-s*** governor is a liar.

AHEM!

"This Tall tale is one for the books; Standoff between Menino and Sail Boston ends with a Pyrrhic settlement" by Sam Allis, Globe Columnist | June 21, 2009

The mere idea of the city using its dough for some tall ships as Boston Mayor Tom Menino is losing teachers tries our souls. Also, why did Sail Boston have such a hard time raising money if the Tall Ships are so popular?

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GREAT QUESTIONS!

Now where could you get, say, $6 MILLION dollars?!!!

But organizers still had to cancel a parade of ships and two fireworks spectacles, the events that would be expected to draw the largest crowds. Some have voiced diminished enthusiasm for a downsized event.

“Why even have it? Why have tall ships come in at all? They should just cancel the whole thing,’’ said Councilor Sal LaMattina.

YUP!!!

Sail Boston organizers are trying to estimate the economic impact of the downsized event. The Omni Parker House’s director of sales and marketing, David Ritchie, said his bookings are up for the week, but others are disappointed....

Join the ever-growing list of Americans over one thing or another.

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Related links: Empty Port-of-Call

Mayor Menino Sinks Boston's Tall Ships

Boston's Tall Ships Tacking and Jibing

South Carolina Shows Up Massachusetts

You Can't Board Tall Ships From Boston Harbor