Nevada Commission on Tourism to provide $600,000 for Reno Air Races

Marilyn Newton / AP

Vic McMann, left, of Point Roberts, Wash., and Jim Thomas of Livermore, Calif., vie for position in the first T-6 race of the day Wednesday Sept. 10, 2008, at the Reno National Championship Air Races.

By Scott Sonner, Associated Press

Thursday, July 26, 2012 | 10 a.m.

RENO, Nev. — Nevada’s state tourism commission has agreed to a $600,000 sponsorship of the National Championship Air Races to make sure the 49th annual competition goes forward in Reno in September.

Commissioners voted unanimously Thursday in support of the money that air race organizers said they needed to make a final insurance payment. The insurance premium jumped from $300,000 to $2 million after last year’s tragic crash killed 11 and injured more than 70.

Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki, who chairs the tourism commission, says they will negotiate details of the sponsorship in the coming weeks.

Krolicki says the air races are important not only to northern Nevada but the entire state. He says they create a significant economic impact and generate worldwide exposure of the region.

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By 777s

July 26, 2012

1:50 p.m.

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Scandalous! The State cannot use $600,000 of the taxpayers' money to pay a private operator's enormous liability insurance so that he can again risk the publics' health and welfare. And this is not what State tourism funds were designated to be used for, the funds are for marketing and tourists attraction. This operator killed 12 people last year, and should never operate again. The state should not be spending our money on the risk of hurting anyone again. If the operator cannot pay his own insurance, cancel the show. Sandoval is wrong again, wasting our State money in the North instead of creating jobs in the South!
By smartone618

July 26, 2012

6:20 p.m.

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I'm pretty sure the money that Tourism spends are revenues generated by room taxes, so while they technically are "public" funds, you needn't get all worked-up unless you spend a lot of time sleeping in hotels/motels... you didn't pay for it!

Also, room tax monies are collected with the intent of being spent on generating more tourism... not creating jobs in Southern Nevada.
By truthiness

July 27, 2012

11:15 a.m.

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Here's what Lt. Governor Krolicki also said. From this morning's Reno Gazette Journal: "The only thing that could be more tragic than what occurred last year at the air races would be the tragedy of losing the air races itself."

What an ugly, insensitive statement.