I appreciate that negotiations take time, but you wonder if they're leaving it far too late? If it isn't announced in the next few days, then it'll be little over a month until it's *provisionally* scheduled. It doesn't leave an awful lot of time to get preservationists and enthusiasts rounded up, in order to make the event a big success.
I can't help but think it'd be a better idea for them to just focus the time and attention into a plan for a 2018 event there and beyond. It gives them plenty of time to get organised, and get interest from entries further afield. Something we've had little of in recent times.