Casinos stepped in to save bike race
The city's two casino companies - SugarHouse and Foxwoods - are the unnamed sponsors that have stepped forward to save Philadelphia's annual professional bike race, according to sources involved in the sponsorship discussions.
The city's two casino companies - SugarHouse and Foxwoods - are the unnamed sponsors that have stepped forward to save Philadelphia's annual professional bike race, according to sources involved in the sponsorship discussions.
The casinos have committed about $100,000 each in funding, according to the sources.
Gov. Rendell is being credited with encouraging Foxwoods Development Co. L.L.C.'s participation. U.S. Rep. Robert Brady (D., Pa.) is said to have been critical in persuading SugarHouse to become a sponsor.
Dave Chauner, cofounder of the TD Bank Philadelphia International Cycling Championship, would not confirm that the casinos were providing money. A news conference to identify the sponsors is scheduled for today.
Leigh Whitaker, a spokeswoman for SugarHouse, declined comment. Maureen Garrity, a spokeswoman for Foxwoods, said she was unaware of any sponsorship commitment and declined further comment.
Two sources, however, confirmed the casinos' participation and outlined how they came to save the event, which has been held annually since 1985 and is considered the premier professional bicycle race in the United States.
According to the sources' account, race organizers got in touch with Brady on Monday, the day they had set as the deadline for determining if the race would go forward.
The race, scheduled for June 7, was in jeopardy because of a $500,000 budget gap caused when several key sponsors were lost and the city, facing its own fiscal problems, announced it would require organizers to cover police and sanitation costs.
According to one source familiar with the sponsorship negotiations, the race organizers initially sought Brady's help in persuading a local firm, unrelated to the casinos, to be a sponsor.
Unhappy with the direction of those negotiations, Brady called Rendell and suggested that the casino companies might be willing to provide funding. The two companies are planning casinos in the city - Foxwoods at Eighth and Market Streets in Center City and SugarHouse on Delaware Avenue straddling Fishtown and Northern Liberties. Both sites are in Brady's district.
It was agreed that Rendell would contact Foxwoods while Brady would lobby SugarHouse, the sources said.
Both casinos agreed to provide money, leading to Wednesday's announcement that the race was on.
Reached by phone yesterday, Brady would not comment on his role in the negotiations or identify the sponsors. Chuck Ardo, a spokesman for Rendell, said he did not know the details of the governor's role.
Throughout the process, Chauner praised Brady and Rendell for their help. He did so again yesterday.
"These guys have really worked hard to help us," he said. "They have been terrific."
