Why is the World Chess Championship at New York's South Street Seaport?

Does anyone know why the South Street Seaport in New York was selected for the World Chess Championship? The Seaport has been known as a place for ethnic festivals and the like. Unless the championship was supported by tremendous media coverage, it would seem that the venue would draw few chess fans and be a difficult place for the players to engage in serious chess. The Saint Louis Chess Club seems like a lot better better option.

For the sake of chess, I hope it turns out well.

Because in AGON's infinite wisdom the key to growing the sport of chess is not to strike where the iron is hot, and to hide it behind a paywall.

Although, to be fair, there is a certain logic in New York City, given it's chess history. But also it's such a cosmopolitan city, with people from practically every inch of the globe living there, that no matter who was playing in the world championship you're bound to have some ethnic/cultural interest.

Still, it's no secret that, as far as America goes, the eyes of the chess world are on St. Louis, not New York, these days.

It's a good thing they did not select Trump Towers as the venue. Now a days St Louis is probably a better venue but I will be at South Street Seaport on Friday to witness Game 6.I trust all is well with you Sandy.

 Someone who gets it. I've said it before after witnessing their handling of events at other venues, thyat they are doing tangible harm to the game of chess. By all observations they are actually fearful of new media and internet coverage of the WCC match because they fear it somehow damages their ability to monetize it.

Sad they don't realize they will make far less money with restricting access than they would have with marketing the hell out of the event in order to maximize their ad revenues. Makes me wonder just who is running that company.

"Makes me wonder just who is running that company."

Someone who doesn't comprehend that age old business maxim - "know your market".

I dont believe CCSC STL is big enough of a venue.

 for those that are unfamiliar with the location, its the size of a large house with 3 floors. Bottom basement floor is where broadcast production takes place, first floor is front desk, office, bathrooms, and the general audience area. With the sinquefield tournament, this gets pretty packed at times, so id imagine that it would not be able to handle an event where even more press and audience will be. Then the top floor is playing area.....which isnt really designed to accommodate spectators. (The venue in NYC has soundproof area for players with one way mirror). Perhaps a convention center in downtown STL would work, but the CCSC STL really wouldnt work.

The St. Louis Chess Club itself may not be a big enough venue, but you can bet Rex Sinquefield would have had no difficulty in securing a suitable venue in the city of St. Louis to host it.

I can only imagine that AGON/FIDE were so hung up on New York or perhaps Los Angeles as the host city that they did not ever give consideration to any other US cities. Had they picked St. Louis to host and the CCSCSL crew to handle the details this really could have been an unqualified success. They're well established, experienced and with Sinquefield's ties in the business world they likely would have had no problems finding sponsorship from American companies. Hell, old Rex may well have funded the entire thing out of his own pocket. You just know he would have loved to have this particular feather in his cap.

doesnt the Chess federation that is placing the bid to host pick the city.....

Hence why I typed "AGON/FIDE". I'm not really sure there's much difference these days.

And why is it always scheduled to give Carlsen a birthday present of the world championship on the final day ?

Right, but it was the USCF that proposed the bid no? they were the ones that selected NYC not FIDE

No. The USCF has no say so over the World Championship. That's FIDE's domain.