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34TH AMERICA’S CUP
ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT
SF BUSINESS TIMES | NOVEMBER 4-11, 2011
SF BUSINESS TIMES | NOVEMBER 4-11, 2011
ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT
34TH AMERICA’S CUP
Business Connects with the Cup The race is right outside our door – and that’s what people are excited about. Hosting events, people staying at hotels, eating at restaurants, tours & attractions. They’ll come for the races, and enjoy themselves here before and after.
Connect with buyers Find suppliers Highlighting Bay Area businesses in:
Kevin Carroll
Bob MacIntosh President & CEO, Pier 39
“Hosting the America’s Cup is a great opportunity to showcase our community and welcome visitors to the city where blue jeans were born. With the race course in our backyard, it’s the perfect chance to not only see an exciting sporting event, but also enjoy our world-class restaurants and one-of-a-kind shopping experiences.” Jill Nash Chief Communications Officer and Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs, Levi Strauss & Co.
Businesses like the more than 800 in the Fisherman’s Wharf district should see big economic benefits from America’s Cup events.
O BY PAUL V. OLIVA
n October 13, the Sa n Fra ncisco Chamber of Commerce held an America’s Cup business engagement forum in their boardroom. It was swiftly oversubscribed, with more than 120 businesses. That’s typical these days when an event uses the words “America’s Cup” and “business opportunity” in the same sentence. “We all keep hearing about the enormous economic benefits that are expected from the America’s Cup,” says Jim Lazarus, vice president of public policy for the San Francisco Chamber, former mayoral chief of staff, and general go-to guy for getting things done in SF. “As the excitement builds, more and more businesses are asking how they can get in on the action. This is going to transform the economy, and local businesses want to be front and center when the teams, event organizers and spectators start shopping for services.” To facilitate connections, the America’s Cup Event Authority launched America’s Cup Business Connect, a web-based business portal that will serve as a one-stop shop for local companies to compete for America’s Cup business. Event organizers will also use the portal to announce business and contracting opportunities and for businesses to engage. A separate jobs board lists employ-
ment opportunities with the event organizers. Jennifer Matz, director of the San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD), is glad to have AC Business Connect. Matz says businesses need to start now to figure out how to capitalize on the increased economic activity, how to activate customers, how to advertise. “It’s not like a shipyard, or Candlestick Park, where you have one contract, one decision-maker. It’s lots of opportunities, and we’re figuring out how we help you make your pitch.” For instance, she says, there are 250 local manufacturing businesses that belong to an industry group called SFMade. If an America’s Cup team needs custom AC belts, they can find a local supplier. The OEWD project director for the America’s Cup Michael Martin notes a further benefit. “We hope AC Business Connect is also part of a legacy of interactive tools and web apps to explore the city beyond the America’s Cup. It’s a double bank-shot.” Time will tell how well it works, but the initiative’s off to a strong start. More than 150 businesses registered within the first week. And according to Lazarus, following the Chamber’s business engagement event, many members said they planned to register. SFMade, Pier 39, Fisherman’s Wharf, and other business groups are also linking their companies to the site. To connect, go to www.americascup. com/connect.
DODOCASE
The America’s Cup has attractive demographics for our businesses... We’re passing along AC Business Connect to all of our shops, restaurants and attractions in hopes that they will register.
GUILAIN GRENIER
Executive Director, Fisherman’s Wharf Community Benefit District
DodoCase is a thriving San Francisco manufacturer.
SFMade: Hands-on in the Bay Area Manufacturing. In the Bay Area. Talking about its demise has been a favorite topic in a Web 2.0, design-ithere-make-it-there era. But really what we do here is innovate, so it’s natural that innovative manufacturing should flourish here – despite real estate costs and other challenges. Enter SFMade. GOAL: Build and support a vibrant manufacturing sector in San Francisco. Of course, the buzzwords are familiar: sustainable, locally-made, entrepreneurship, innovation, diverse employment MEMBERS: 243 headquartered & manufacturing in San Francisco OFFERS: Industry-specific education, networking opportunities, local resources, workforce issues and job training, public awareness, infrastructure and policy engagement EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Kate Sofis CUP VISION: Drive spending to local manufacturers MORE INFO: sfmade.org
The America’s Cup AC Business connect web site provides an online registration form to let businesses sign on to the Cup’s listing of merchants and service suppliers
Accommodation Boating Catering Entertainment Events Hospitality Professional Services
Real Estate Restaurants Retail Sailing Tourism Transportation
Sign up at sf.americascup.com/business
Be on board when AC Business Connect goes live!
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