In a June 15 email to SCM from Barrett-Jackson spokesman Robbie Sherwood, B-J has responded to Russo and Steele's list of facts (posted to the SCM web site on June 13) regarding the 12-acre parcel currently under dispute by the two Scottsdale-based auction companies. The unedited text is as follows:
* Due to its increasing popularity and growth, Barrett-Jackson has maxed out its current space for parking at Westworld in Scottsdale. * The more land that can be freed up near Westworld for auxiliary parking, particularly for big-rig trucks and trailers, the better the experience will be for bidders, guests and consignors. * Trucks and trailers currently take up 40 acres at Westworld during the auction. Ironically, many of the trucks and trailers parked at Barrett-Jackson's designated parking areas at Westworld have been used to supply other concurrent auctions that actively try to poach Barrett-Jackson bidders. * The 12 acres in question were being used by a competing auction, Russo and Steele, without permission. Using another landowner's property (whether that owner is the state or a private individual or company) without permission, is trespassing. * Barrett-Jackson needs more parking in this area to free up space at Westworld. This land makes the most sense for us to use because it would mean that Barrett-Jackson would not tear up properties used by the nearby FBR Open golf tournament for parking. * It has been plainly obvious that Russo and Steele's business plan has been to get as close to Barrett-Jackson as possible to poach business, even holding its auction on the same days. It's ironic that they are now complaining about Barrett-Jackson being potentially too close to them. * Barrett-Jackson did not apply for the seven acres that Russo and Steele currently has the lease to use. They are free to hold their event on those seven acres, or at any one of thousands of other potential sites in the Phoenix/Scottsdale metropolitan area that they could choose. * In the state of Arizona, state land is leased and sold to the highest bidder. Those proceeds benefit Arizona schools. If there ends up being an auction on this land, so be it. For Russo and Steele to complain about this process is akin to a home developer like Toll Brothers getting upset that Kauffman & Broad is being allowed to bid for the same property.
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