NEWSOBSERVER: The Atlantic City Alliance was formed in 2011. It promoted AC to other parts of the country. It’s best known for creating the “Do AC” tourism slogan, and holding free beach concerts with country music stars Blake Shelton and Lady Antebellum, both of which drew tens of thousands of tourists to the beachfront and generated what the alliance said was $23 million in visitor spending.
The alliance was funded by cash the casinos used to have to pay to the horse racing industry as a subsidy in return for keeping slot machines out of the racetracks. Gov. Chris Christie ended those payments and ordered that the money go to promote Atlantic City.
Jeff Guaracino, who took over as head of the alliance this month, said the group did the best it could to polish Atlantic City’s image, and get people to visit.
“It is widely acknowledged that the ACA has improved the image of Atlantic City and driven visitation and defended Atlantic City through crises.