SAN FRANCISCO--The 2013 America’s Cup, which has faced considerable media scrutiny of its hosting plans, has called in Singer Associates to provide PR counsel.

Singer began working on the brief earlier this month, amid concerns that the yacht race would be too expensive for San Francisco to host. A pared-down approach, which dropped a $111m waterfront redevelopment proposal, was eventually approved by the city yesterday.

Singer will retain its AOR status on the assignment, providing communications services for both the America’s Cup and the America’s Cup World Series, which is now underway in Italy, and includes upcoming races in Italy and Rhode Island. The brief also covers the Louis Vuitton Cup challenger race in 2013.

It is understood that Singer clinched the six-figure international account following a competitive review.

The America’s Cup Event Authority, the business arm of the organizing group, originally planned to repair San Francisco’s piers in return for long-term waterfront redevelopment rights. However, that idea was nixed when only four yachting teams committed to the race.

Instead, the city of San Francisco has been forced to put up more money, spending $22m to make the necessary upgrades.

San Francisco was originally chosen as the host city by Oracle CEO Larry Ellison in 2010, after his BMW Oracle team won the last edition of the regatta. 

Stephen Barclay, interim CEO of the America's Cup, said in a statement: "We have worked very hard to bring this historic race to San Francisco and we're very happy to have finally reached an agreement."