The History of Clearwater’s Super Boat Festival - A town with a tourism driven economy is given an economic boost thanks a creative idea from two driven businessmen in the private sector.
The Clearwater Super Boat National Championship and Festival will return to Clearwater Beach for its second year October 1st – 3rd. This type of sporting event, which is the longest running offshore power boat racing in the United States, again hopes to bring in tourists and pump up a local economy during a crucial time for the Gulf Coast of Florida.
The St. Petersburg Times said that last year’s Super Boat showed “Creative ideas from the business community can help beat back the impacts of a slow economy on Clearwater's tourism industry.”
The “creative idea” to bring in Super Boat was led by Frank Chivas of the Bay Star Restaurant Group, and Former Clearwater Mayor Brian Aungst of Bright House Networks. Understanding the private sector has the responsibility to play a key role in the community, Chivas and Aungst took the initiative to make Super Boat happen.
When Chivas was approached by Super Boat International (SBI) founder John Carbonell, Chivas seized the opportunity. Clearwater Beach could be called the perfect location to hold the festival, since the race sight lines on Clearwater Beach are not blocked by cruise ships, the way they are in Key West, allowing an undistorted, beautiful view for spectators and fans.
“Clearwater in just one year has become known as the place to be for the professional race teams” said Frank Chivas. “The word is out. We are creating a buzz in the community and in the boating world”.
Already, the Clearwater 1st Annual Super Boat National Championship Festival is being cited as an economic success in other communities seeking inspiration.
“Clearwater Beach will never be the same after the National Championship Super Power boat races last October!” says Joanna Patterson-Rizkallah the Director of Sales and Marketing of the Hilton Clearwater Beach. The Beach, and anywhere within ear shot, were filled with the exhilarating sounds and visuals of world-class boats, marine crews and lots of festivities and celebrating! And we, at The Hilton Clearwater Beach, were fortunate enough to be part of it and in the center of it all! Thanks to all for a successful, memorable and hopefully annual event!”
Clearwater’s 2nd Annual Super Boat National Championship Festival will return again October 1st through 3rd. As the boats speed through the Gulf at 200 mph, they plan on leaving badly-needed tourism dollars in their wake again.
About Super Boat:
When Super Boat International (SBI) founder and 30-year veteran, John Carbonell, wanted to produce Clearwater’s 2nd Annual Super Boat National Championship Festival two local area businessmen made it happen: Restaurateur Frank Chivas and Former Mayor of Clearwater Brian Aungst Sr.
Carbonell has been producing the World Championship Races in Key West every year for 3 decades as well as the races in Sarasota held every 4th of July. Now Clearwater, the next “new great location” will have something Key West doesn’t have…the absence of cruise ships obstructing the race sight lines. “It’s a great time of year to support the tourism industry,” says Aungst. “[SBI] needed another spot and Clearwater Beach is one of the prettiest beaches in the world.”
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