Atlantic City, N.J. — Officials who run the venue where the Miss America pageant has been held since 1940 voted unanimously Thursday to allow the contest to go elsewhere, paving the way for the pageant to leave Atlantic City altogether.
The vote came after a surprise announcement earlier in the day from the organizers of the Miss America pageant, who told Atlantic City officials they want to move the contest. The pageant is in dire financial condition and last year lost its broadcast network TV contract with ABC.
The board voted 7-0 to release Miss America from the contract to hold the pageant at Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall. Officials said they did not see the point in prolonging what Miss America officials said were financial troubles affecting the contest in New Jersey.
"It's a sad day," said James Whelan, a board member and former mayor. "We felt we really didn't have any choice but to grant their request."
Miss America CEO Art McMaster said he had no destination in mind for the pageant, but said the high cost of operating in Atlantic City created a drain on the organization that would put it out of operation.
Miss America officials did not comment immediately after the vote, but scheduled an afternoon news conference.
Jeffrey Vasser, executive director of the authority, said legal reasons prevented the pageant from negotiating with a potential new host while the organization was still bound by its contract for two more years in Boardwalk Hall.
Acting Gov. Richard J. Codey was "sorry to see the Miss America pageant move on," said spokesman Sean Darcy.
"While it was a great event for New Jersey, the organization asked to be released from their contract, and we respect their wishes," Darcy said.
McMaster, who took over the ailing nonprofit group that runs Miss America in 2004, said the loss of millions of dollars in revenue after being dumped by ABC for low ratings last October had forced the organization's hand.
Under a TV deal with country music channel CMT that was announced in June, this year's Miss America pageant was moved from its typical autumn slot to January.
But neither the pageant nor the network said where the next pageant will be held, fueling worries that Atlantic City's signature event would head for Nashville, Tenn., where CMT is headquartered.
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