Council President George Tibbitt said representatives from the Miss America Organization contacted the city about a potential return in 2021. Tibbitt made the unexpected announcement during City Council's public meeting Wednesday night.
ATLANTIC CITY — As the 100th anniversary of the Miss America Competition draws near, the organization is reportedly looking to return to its roots.
Council President George Tibbitt said representatives from the Miss America Organization contacted the city about a potential return in 2021. Tibbitt made the unexpected announcement during City Council’s public meeting Wednesday night.
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A spokesperson for the Miss America Organization did not respond to a request for comment Thursday.
The Casino Reinvestment Development Authority had subsidized the competition for several years after it returned to Atlantic City in 2013. But in 2019, the CRDA declined to renew an agreement with MAO and the 2020 competition was held at Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut.
“There’s been no formal request from any representative of the Miss America Organization to CRDA,” Executive Director Matt Doherty said.
Between 2013 and 2019, MAO received more than $20 million from CRDA, as well as several thousand free and discounted rooms and suites, meals and transportation for the organization.
In a state audit of the CRDA, the state agency was criticized for failing to “develop and institute monitoring controls” to gauge performance measures when it came to its agreement with MAO.
The Miss America Organization announced Tuesday night that President and CEO Regina Hopper —…
“Performance should be measured, when applicable, and reviewed to determine whether funds were spent in an efficient and effective manner and used as a basis for future contracts,” the audit states.
The Miss America pageant started in Atlantic City in 1921. Besides an eight-year absence between 2006 and 2013 when the competition moved to Las Vegas and last year’s pageant in Connecticut, Atlantic City and Miss America have been nearly synonymous.
Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall had been the host facility for the pageant since 1940. Boardwalk Hall is owned by the CRDA.
MISS AMERICA REHEARSAL
Miss America contestants form a kick line during the afternoon rehearsals on the main stage at Boardwalk Hall (Convention Hall) in Atlantic City.
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Miss America 2019 Final
Nia Imani Franklin is crowned Miss America 2019 at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City in September 2018.
Sam Haskell
Miss America Organization CEO, Sam Haskell, on the stage during rehearsal at Boardwalk Hall in 2015. Haskell was intregal with bringing the pageant back to Atlantic City and Boardwalk Hall in 2013.
Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2015.
Miss America Organization opens office headquarter in Boardwalk Hall
Miss America 2017 Savvy Shields poses with an antique Miss America Organization office sign which hangs in the new national staff headquarters inside Boardwalk Hall.
Miss America 1949
Miss America contestants line the stage in Boardwalk Hall September 1949.
Miss America Pageant 1967
Miss America pageant 1967. Winner Jane Anne Jayroe points toward a mosaic of the Atlantic City Convention Hall where she received her title.
Miss America high flyin' at Boardwalk Hall
During the Miss America 1969 talent competition, Miss Illinois, Judith Ford, literally reaches for top honors as she soars through the air in a high flying trampoline jump inside Boardwalk Hall, which won her first place in the competition.
Miss A 1979
Miss America 1979 Kylene Barker from Virginia. Barker performed a gymnastic routine as her pageant talent on the stage at Convention Hall.
Miss A 1977
Miss America 1977 Dorothy Benham walks the Miss America runway in Convention Hall.
Miss A 1973
Miss America 1973 Terry Anne Meeuwsen outside Convention Hall
Pageant reps tour Convention Hall renovations
Tour members view current hall renovation progress. The New Jersey Sports Authority takes clients (reps from Miss America pageant) through the old Convention Hall for a sneak preview of the renovations now taking place. 6/27/00
Miss America 2000
The inside of the Boardwalk Convention Hall during the Miss America Pageant.9/18/99
Miss America 2000
Samuel Viruet, of Atlantic City, sweeps up at the Atlantic City Boardwalk Convention Hall the remnants of the Miss America Pageant Monday morning. 10/16/00.
Miss America 2001 stage being built
Workers assemble the stage in the newly renovated Atlantic City Boardwalk Convention Hall in preparation for the Miss America Pageant. 9/13/01.
Miss America 2001
The new Miss America Miss Hawaii Angela Baraquio at Boardwalk Convention Hall. Oct 14, 2000
Miss America 2002 parade moves indoors
Angela Perez Baraquio, Miss America 2001, rolls through the ballroom of the Atlantic City Boardwalk Convention Hall on a rolling chair during the inside parade. 9/21/01.
Miss America 2002
Miss America contestants roll through the ballroom of the Atlantic City Boardwalk Convention Hall on a rolling chair during the inside parade. 9/21/01
Miss America 2005
Miss America 2005, Deidre Downs, strolls in the waters in front of the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, where only hours ago she was crowned the new Miss America. 9/19/04
Waiting for Miss America 1999 to start
Miss America Pageant broadcasts live from Convention Hall in Atlantic City. Mike Guerriri of Egg Harbor City hawks programs. This is his first year selling programs. 9/19/98
Miss America 1998
The top ten Miss America Pageant contestant on stage at Convention Hall in AC. Sunday, Sept. 13, 1997
Miss America 1998
The Miss America contestants parade down the runway at the Atlantic City Convention Hall. Sept. 13, 1997.
Miss America 2001
Swimsuit production number. Final night of Miss America competition at Boardwalk Convention Hall, Atlantic City. Sat. 10/14/00
Miss America 2001
Robert M. Renneisen Jr. President , right looks over a program with some of Miss America contestants during a break from rehearsals for Miss America Pageant at Atlantic City Boardwalk Convention Hall Saturday, Oct 7, 2000.
Miss America 1988
Contestants perform the opening number of the Miss America 1988 pageant on stage at Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall. (Sept 1987)
Miss America 1988 (copy)
Miss America 1988 stage inside Boardwalk Hall. (Sept 1987)
Miss America 1985
Suzette Charles during her final walk as Miss America 1984 inside Boardwalk Hall. (Sept 1984)
Miss America 1988
Donald and Ivana Trump at the Miss America 1988 Pageant held at Boardwalk Hall. (Sept 19, 1987)
Miss America 2003
The Boardwalk Hall, in Atlantic City, is prepared for the Miss America Pageant telecast as risers and seating is moved into place, along with the stage decorations Thursday 9/12/02.
Miss America 2003
Miss America 2003 Miss Illinios Erika Harold walks the runway after her crowning. Miss America 2002 Katie Harmon. Miss America Pageant final night telecast from Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City Sat. 9/21/02
Miss America 2003
Top Five. Miss America 2002 Katie Harmon. Miss America Pageant final night telecast from Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City Sat. 9/21/02
Miss America 2003
Crowd waves banners during introductions. Miss America Pageant final night telecast from Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. Sat. 9/21/02
Miss America 2003
Crowd waves banners during introductions. Miss America Pageant final night telecast from Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. Sat. 9/21/02
Miss America 2003
Contestants walk down the runway before their introductions at the Miss America Pageant final night telecast from Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, Sat. 21, 2002.
Miss America 2003
Scarlotte Dupree, Miss Alabama, walks onstage during rehearsals for the Miss America telecast inside Boardwalk Hall, in Atlantic City, Monday 9/16/02.
Miss America 2003
Miss America contestants get off the escalator into the lobby of the Boardwalk Hall, in Atlantic City, to the cheers of spectators, Sunday, 9/15/02, for the taping of the "Academy Awards" style, red-carpet arrival to be shown during the Saturday night telecast. The contestants were originally scheduled to arrive from the Boardwalk but were forced inside because of the rain.
Miss America 2005
A cameraman shoots former Miss America Lee Meriwether as she sits along the runway watching the show rehearsal inside Boardwalk Hall. 9/15/2004.
Miss America 2019
Spectators taking photos of the final night of the Miss America 2019 competition held at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. Sept 9, 2018.
Miss America 2019
A pageant goer hold up signs super Miss Arizona on the final night of the Miss America 2019 competition held at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. Sept 9 2018.
Forever Miss America autograph session 2017
Former winners of the competition sign autographs at the Forever Miss Americas autograph session in Boardwalk Hall. Sept. 9 2017.
Miss America 2014
Miss America 2014 Nina Davuluri poses on the Atlantic City beach outside of Boardwalk Hall, Monday Sept. 16, 2013. (Staff Photo by Michael Ein/The Press of Atlantic City)
Miss America 2014
From left, Laura Hancock, of Somerset, KY, Alyssa Sullivan, of Cape May Court House, NJ, and Krysta Prehoda, of Sarasota, NY, before the start of the Miss America Competition final night at Boardwalk Hall, in Atlantic City, NJ. (Sept 2014)
Miss America planners map out parade
Miss America Parade planners look over a seating chart, Thursday July 18, 2013, on the parade route on the Boardwalk in Atlantic City. (The Press of Atlantic City/Staff Photo by Michael Ein)
Planning Miss America
A meeting of Miss America Organization personal and the production crew as they prepare for the Miss America Pageant inside Boardwalk hall in Atlantic City. June 14, 2013.
Planning Miss America
Dan Cassidy, production rigger, takes ,measurements during a meeting of Miss America Organization personal and the production crew as they prepare for the Miss America Pageant inside Boardwalk hall in Atlantic City, Friday, June 14, 2013.
Miss America returns to A.C.
Lindsey Petrosh, Miss New Jersey 2013 from Egg Harbor City, poses at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City after a press conference there to announce that the Miss America Pageant will return to Atlantic City. Feb, 14 , 2013.
Miss America 2004
Top 10 during the final night of the Miss America Pageant at Boardwalk Hall, in Atlantic City, Saturday 9/20/03
Miss America 2004
Allison Williams, Miss West Virginia, reads during rehearsal for the Miss America Pageant at Boardwalk Hall, in Atlantic City, Wednesday 9/10/03.
Miss America 2004
Jennifer Farrell, Miss New Jersey, left, goes over production with ,Sara Schelkoph, Miss North Dakota, and Jessica Lynch,, Miss New York, during rehearsal for the Miss America Pageant at Boardwalk Hall, in Atlantic City. 9/10/03.
Miss America 2004
Crowd waves banners during introductions. Sat. 9/21/02 Miss America Pageant final night telecast from Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.
Miss America 2002
l-r Iris Harrington-Woodard 15 of Northfield, Mass, Lindsey Kelly, 16 of Exeter NH and Allison Wright, 16 of Rowley Mass, all grandchildren of Miss America 1948, Bebe Shopp Waring, cheer at the Boardwalk Hall during the Miss America Pageant. 9/22/01
Miss America 2002
Miss America contestants on runway during opening production. First evening preliminary competition at Miss America Pageant, Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City. 9/18/01
Miss America 2001
Miss Maine Renee Belanger relax her eyes during a brake from rehearsal for Miss America Pageant at Atlantic City Boardwalk Convention Hall. Oct 7, 2000.
Miss America 2013
Linda Karp and Jerry Marks, of Linwood, in front in black, before enter the Miss America Competition final night at Boardwalk Hall, in Atlantic City, NJ. (Sept 2013)
Miss America 2017
The audience stands for the singing of the National Anthem at the opening of the pageant. Miss America finals, Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall. Sept. 11, 2016. (Ben Fogletto/Press of City)
Miss America 2018
members of the Chain Gang, a bicycling club whose members are from Absecon Island, wanted to greet Miss America 2018, Cara Mund, of North Dakota, during the traditional ocean dip in front of Boardwalk Hall, in Atlantic City, Monday, Sept. 11, 2018.
Miss America 2018
Mund poses under the Miss America statue in front of Boardwalk Hall, which has become a part of the traditional ocean dip in Atlantic City.
Miss America 2018
Miss America 2018, Cara Mund, of North Dakota, hits the beach and ocean for the traditional ocean dip in front of Boardwalk Hall, in Atlantic City, Monday, Sept. 11, 2017.
David Danzis
Staff Writer
I cover Atlantic City government and the casino industry since joining The Press in early 2018. I formerly worked as a politics & government reporter for NJ Herald and received the First Amendment: Art Weissman Memorial NJPA Award two years in a row.
