Miami commissioners approve boat-show agreements
Posted on May 29th, 2015
Miami commissioners approved several key measures on Thursday that further paved the way for the Miami International Boat Show’s move to Miami Marine Stadium Park and Basin in 2016.
“We are pleased with the city commission’s decision, which clarifies that the National Marine Manufacturers Association is a licensee of the city with a license to produce the boat show at Miami Marine Stadium Park and Basin and not a vendor,” show manager Cathy Rick-Joule said in an emailed statement.
“We look forward to bringing the 2016 Miami International Boat Show to the Miami Marine Stadium Park and Basin and continuing to support the Miami-Dade economy while generating $600 million in economic impact.”
The Miami Herald reported today that at the meeting the commission approved a 10-year contract giving the Medley Material Handling Co. exclusive rights to erect tents for special events outside the Marine Stadium.
Commissioners gave administrators the ability to sign deals allowing parking on Virginia Key Beach during the Presidents Day weekend event, as well as access to the city-owned marina facilities and Miami Rowing Club for concessions and other uses.
They also agreed to amend the year-to-year license agreement with the NMMA, which owns the show.
Eventstar was approved to sign a 10-year agreement giving the company exclusive rights to erect tents and other temporary structures for the boat show, as well as any other event held at the $18 million park and exhibit space that the city will construct outside the stadium, the Herald reported.
Commissioners voted 4-1 on the agreement.
The momentum continued even as the village of Key Biscayne filed suit against the city and subsequently entered mediation discussions regarding the show’s move from the Miami Beach Convention Center.
The village has also filed suit against the NMMA, saying the group operated in “closed-door meetings,” allegations the NMMA has denied in court documents. Additionally, the village is paying the public relations firm Schwartz Media Strategies to negatively color public opinion about the show.
Village Mayor Mayra Lindsay has been outwardly opposed to the show’s move. In a statement sent to the Herald regarding the approvals at Thursday’s commissioners meeting, she said the show was “far more invasive and permanent than they’d like taxpayers to believe.”
The NMMA has long maintained that it was not making the investment in the show’s move on a temporary basis, but is looking for a long-term venue.
http://www.tradeonlytoday.com/2015/0...ow-agreements/