'Sucker Born Every Minute:' Maryland On Newport Sailing HOF Bid

NEWPORT, RI — While Newport city councilors met in closed door session to discuss selling The Armory to the U.S. Sailing Hall of Fame, Maryland's governor withdrew $1.25 million that his state had promised to the sailing group, according to a story in Friday's Capital Gazette. Conversations with Newport about moving the Hall of Fame to Rhode Island were cited as part of the reason, the report stated. But a spokeswoman for Gov. Larry Hogan also said the Hall of Fame had not met its fundraising requirements. The Hall of Fame has been leasing a building in Annapolis on the City Dock but with an agreement it would raise $9.5 million to renovate the area as a museum and operations center. That hasn't happened in three years.

“The National Sailing Hall Fame has consistently failed to meet their obligations under the Memorandum of Understanding with the state,” according to Shareese N. Churchill, speaking on Gov. Hogan's behalf.

The report went on to say the loss of the $1.25 million (and the loss of another $2 million that Maryland had decided to withhold) left the organization with $2 million in its bank account, plus an anonymous donor's $1 million. It wasn't clear from the report, if any of the money was contingent on the Hall of Fame's remaining in Maryland.

Asked about the Newport angle, Maryland official Herb McMillan was quoted as saying, "There's a sucker born every minute."

Newport has been considering selling The Armory building for $2 million but with an agreement the Sailing Hall of Fame would make improvements to the property. The total obligation would come to $3.5 million.

The Newport Daily News reported Friday that Mayor Harry Winthrop expects the council to vote on the sale sometime in February and anticipates the sale will be approved. The Armory sale is among three real estate deals the City is considering, according to the newspaper report.