Ilyumzhinov's plan of acquisitions of land near "Ground Zero", a mere publicity stunt?

A Chess Center near Ground Zero? Really? A grand scheme indeed. But Ilyumzhinov's "plan" of buying the site near where the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City used to stand can be another one of those strategical moves to get more public support in Ilyumzhinov's candidacy for re-election as FIDE president. Dylan Loeb McClain of New York Times Chess blog, Gambit, hints that Ilyumzhinov might be only playing a mind setting strategy to the chess community rather than being serious about his intentions of acquiring the place as Ilyumzhinov didn't clearly specify if the financing of the proposal will come from his own purse or from FIDE treasury. Mr McClain wrote:

It is possible that Mr. Ilyumzhinov is hoping that by offering more money he will get the center’s owners to sell. Or, it may just be a publicity stunt to insert himself into the international debate and thereby raise his profile. He is involved in a bitter campaign for re-election to FIDE against Anatoly Karpov, the former world champion.

If this is really the reason behind the plans, expect a fall out of negotiation to acquire the land anytime soon. But mission accomplished for Ilyumzhinov just the same. Ilyumzhinov has already voiced out his intention to the public that he is dead serious of bringing chess into wide audience, with or without a chess center in New York.