ATLANTIC CITY TOURISM DISTRICT ADVISORY COMMISSION September 2013 Miss America’s Successful Homecoming A packed Boardwalk Hall on the final evening of competition, more than 200,000 spectators along the world‐famous Boardwalk for the “Show Us Your Shoes” parade and national television exposure ensured that the return of the Miss America Pageant to Atlantic City was a huge success. Atlantic City and many of its famous landmarks, such as Steel Pier, His‐ toric Gardner’s Basin, Absecon Lighthouse, White House Subs and the beach and Boardwalk, sparkled in front of a national audience on ABC Bass Pro Shops Groundbreaking Set television. The pageant generated a 2.0 rating with adults aged 18‐49 The official groundbreaking ceremony for between 9‐11 pm while the final hour of the competition saw an average the Bass Pro Shops is scheduled for Tues‐ of 10 million viewers tune in. The broadcast produced its highest ratings day, October 1st, 10:30 am rain or shine, since 2004 and an increase of 19% over last year’s event. at Atlantic Avenue and Christopher Co‐ The Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) invested heav‐ lumbus Boulevard. ily in Miss America’s return along with the support of its partners, the Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno will City of Atlantic City and the State of New Jersey. Since 2011, the CRDA be joined by Blake Cordish of the Cordish has spent more $200 million throughout the city in order to get it ready Company for the event. for the national spotlight, and to give it a brighter, safer and cleaner fu‐ Miss America 2014 Nina Davuluri ture. Get Out the Vote for Park Place! USA Today is holding a contest to find Miss America 2013 Mallory Hagan shoes off her shoes CRDA Executive Director John Palmieri speaks during the during the “Show Us Your Shoes” parade on the Boardwalk. Miss America welcome ceremony on the Boardwalk. America’s Most Iconic Street and Atlantic City’s Park Place is among the finalists. Voting is open until Monday, October 7 at Complimenting the return of the Miss America Pageant, 11:59 am EST. the 3rd Annual Atlantic City International Triathlon and the The URL for this contest is http:// 2nd Annual Atlantic City Seafood Festival made for an excit‐ www.10best.com/awards/travel/iconic‐american‐ ing and fun‐filled weekend in September. streets/. Nearly 1,200 athletes competed in various races, such as the international race (1 mile swim, a 20 mile bike, and 10 K run), Sprint distance race (1/4 mile swim, 10 mile bike, and 5k run), and Aquabike (1 mile swim and 20 mile bike). Thousands of hungry visitors descended upon Bader Field for two days of food, fun and live entertainment at the annual Seafood Festival. Along with plenty of traditional seafood like scallops, lob‐ ster, fish tacos, sushi rolls, shrimp and steamed clams, the Accolades for Atlantic City Golf! event also featured a wide variety of programs including wines and beers, amusements, cooking demonstrations Blogger Jason Scott Deegan opined on his and chowder cook off. memorable trip that featured great golf, a Thanks to a $25,000 grant from the CRDA, the Seafood great steak dinner and meeting a former Festival was able to make entry to the event free of charge. Miss America in person. http:// www.travelgolf.com/blogs/jason.scott/2013/09/17/ miss‐america‐atlantic‐city‐and ATLANTIC CITY TOURISM DISTRICT ADVISORY COMMISSION Professional Beach Volleyball 3D Chalk Art Festival Amazes Serves Up Fun in Atlantic City Fourteen world‐renowned chalk artists brought their incredible designs to the streets of Atlantic City the week of September 17‐22. This rare event, that saw many international artists gather in one location in order to display their tal‐ ents, took place on South Indiana Avenue just off of the Boardwalk adjacent to Brighton Park. The Atlantic City Alliance partnered with Tracy Lee Stum, an internationally‐known street artist from Ventura, California to bring this free event to Atlantic City. Visitors were able to log into Facebook in order to select their favorite design and choose the winner of the People’s Choice Award. Players are introduced prior to the start of a match. The inaugural $100,000 Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) DO AC Pro Beach Volleyball Invi‐ Challenge Atlantic City Set For 2014 tational brought the nation’s best professional vol‐ leyball athletes to Atlantic City the weekend of Sep‐ Challenge, Europe’s tember 6‐8. leading triathlon series, is coming to The tournament was held on the newly‐created pro‐ the United States fessional courts at the Boardwalk on New Jersey and Atlantic City for Avenue between Revel Casino Hotel and Showboat. the first time ever on Fans filled the bleachers over the course of the three June 29, 2014 and ‐day tournament, which began with eight men’s and will feature the world’s top athletes who will test their endurance over a 140.6 mile course. women’s teams competing for a chance to advance to the finals, win the title and their share of the cash Challenge Atlantic City will embrace the “Challenge Yourself, Race for a Cause” theme. Chal‐ prize. lenge Atlantic City joins Challenge Family’s other North American races, Challenge Penticton and Challenge St Andrews in Canada, taking the series to 22 full and half distance races April Ross and Jennifer Kessy defeated the tandem around the world, including the world’s largest long distance triathlon – Challenge Roth in of Summer Ross and Emily Day 23‐25, 21‐16, and 15‐ Germany. 13 to win capture the women’s championship. On the men’s side, Jake Gibb and Casey Patterson de‐ The birthplace of the Challenge Family, Challenge Roth now features over 5,500 athletes and feated Phil Dalhausser and Sean Rosenthal 21‐19 220,000 spectators and is home to both world records held by Andreas Raelert (GER) and and 21‐15 to win the men’s title. Chrissie Wellington (GBR). Since 2002, races throughout Europe, UK, Australasia and North American have joined Roth. Each of the aforementioned winners received $13,000. General entries for the inaugural Challenge Atlantic City on June 29, 2014 open at 9 am EST on Friday, September 20 at www.challengeatlanticcity.com. For more information visit www.challenge‐family.com. Boardwalk Rodeo Returns/BBQ Competition Debuts Barnes PRCA Rodeo Company once again brings the 3rd Annual Atlantic City Boardwalk Rodeo to Boardwalk Hall October 5‐6. Show times start Saturday at 7:30 pm and Sunday at 1 pm. Famous pit masters and barbecue cook teams will gather in Atlantic City October 5‐6, 12‐7 pm daily for the DO AC Smokin’ Hot BBQ Champion‐ ship. This event will be held in the parking lot at Pacific Avenue between Delaware and Maryland Men’s tournament action as a return is readied. avenues. Tickets are $10 for adults, free for kids 12 and under. ATLANTIC CITY TOURISM DISTRICT ADVISORY COMMISSION Farmers Market Enjoys Boardwalk Art Show Exhibits Local Flavor Another Successful Summer The Atlantic City Boardwalk Art Show displayed the talents of local artisans all along the city’s wooden thoroughfare on September 7. Pa‐ trons had the opportunity to pur‐ chase works of art that encom‐ passed all sorts of creative mediums including jewelry, glass, pottery, photography, fiber arts, sculpture and more. Show winners were as follows: Best in Show, Albert Horner, photogra‐ pher, Medford Lakes, NJ; People’s Choice Award, Michael DelFiondra, metal sculptor, Galloway, NJ; DO ART Residents and visitors alike once again enjoyed the AC Award, William Clark, recyclable fresh vegetables and fruits from New Jersey’s farm‐ sculptor, Atlantic County; Mayor’s ers, as well as jewelry, sweets and crafts, this sum‐ Award, Shelley Wentz, mixed media mer at the annual Atlantic City Farmers Market in collage, Atlantic County; Arts District Center City Park. Live musical entertainment from Award, Ellen Gavin, Plein air artist, local artists brought about a festive atmosphere as Millville, NJ; Best in Show, Albert the crowd shopped and gathered in the park for a Horner, photographer, Medford relaxing afternoon lunch. Lakes, NJ. CRDA & ACPD Collaborate to Address Unsafe Properties During an inspection of several city properties last week, the CRDA in a partnership with the At‐ lantic City Police Department (ACPD), discovered various buildings that are being habited illegally by squatters and homeless individuals. An abandoned duplex along the beach block of South Texas Avenue and an adjacent property on Stanley Place were found to be in violation and were inspected by CRDA Special Improvement Division workers. CRDA SID employees cleaned up the immediate surrounding areas around the duplex due in part to glass that has been falling out of broken window panes. This glass and debris was a hazard to neighboring residents and children. The CRDA recently approved another $1.5 million in funding in order to continue demolishing unsafe and unsightly buildings. To date, $4.5 million has been allocated towards eliminating these structures. In 2012, the City of Atlantic City knocked down 23 structures that were deemed unsafe throughout the city. http://www.nbc40.net/video?clipId=9325783&topVideoCatNo=244343&autoStart=true ATLANTIC CITY TOURISM DISTRICT ADVISORY COMMISSION Atlantic City Tourism District Advisory Commission 2013‐14 Annual Meeting Schedule Tuesday, September 24, 2013 Tuesday, October 22, 2013 Tuesday, November 26, 2013 Tuesday, January 28, 2014 Tuesday, February 25, 2014 Tuesday, March 25, 2014 Tuesday, April 22, 2014 Tuesday, May 27, 2014 Tuesday, June 24, 2014 Tuesday, July 22, 2014 All meetings are held at 5 pm at the offices of: Casino Reinvestment Development Authority 15 South Pennsylvania Avenue Atlantic City, NJ 08401 Daryl Bulthius, Vice Chair/Committee Chair, Marketing & Promotion Derek Cason, Chair John Exadaktilos, Committee Chair, Clean & Safe Joseph Kelly, Committee Chair, Economic Development Joseph Maher Keith Mills Ali Reynolds Vladislav “Sly” Stankovic Rev.