2017 Americ'a Cup in Chicago?

J

JohnShannon

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Jan 4, 2010
1,037
Farr 30 San Francisco
Sure why not, SF has already given Larry a bunch of valuable real-estate so not much more to mine there. He should take the series elsewhere and see what else he can grab.
 
Gunni

Gunni

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Mar 16, 2010
5,937
Beneteau 411 Oceanis Annapolis
Chicago wouldn't get THE AC, it would get one of the "qualifier" events. The whole concept is terrible, and hopefully will be scuttled. They took an expensive sporting event and added tons more mob and travel. Dumb.
 
J

jeepsailor

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Apr 30, 2013
36
Hunter 35 Michigan
Not sure why you don't think would get the AC? Chicago has a great sailing heritage, with good winds and a very suitable body of water, and the infrastructure in place to support the crowds. Personally, I think it's a great concept. The only hang up I could see is our shortened sailing season. And assuming that the Cup and the qualifiers are all held in Chicago, not sure where you get tons more travel. Any more than the trips to Newport, Auckland, San Diego, or Valencia? The battle for the Cup has always been a rich man's game, I'm just happy for the things that trickle down to us lowly serfs.

To each his own, I guess.


Gunni said:
Chicago wouldn't get THE AC, it would get one of the "qualifier" events. The whole concept is terrible, and hopefully will be scuttled. They took an expensive sporting event and added tons more mob and travel. Dumb.
Click to expand
 
Gunni

Gunni

.
Mar 16, 2010
5,937
Beneteau 411 Oceanis Annapolis
jeepsailor said:
And assuming that the Cup and the qualifiers are all held in Chicago, not sure where you get tons more travel. Any more than the trips to Newport, Auckland, San Diego, or Valencia?
To each his own, I guess.
Click to expand
The concept being floated is to have AC qualifying events scattered all over the globe, one in Chicago. Nothing is final. The Kiwi's are already in a bunch over this, threatening to boycott. That would be a disaster. I suspect that this is all San Francisco/California politics - letting SF know that GGYC has dating options. There was a ton of carping and sniping by local know-it-alls during AC 34 - the greatest sporting event in California history.
 
Scott T-Bird

Scott T-Bird

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Oct 26, 2008
6,432
Catalina 320 Barnegat, NJ
jeepsailor said:
Not sure why you don't think would get the AC? Chicago has a great sailing heritage, with good winds and a very suitable body of water, and the infrastructure in place to support the crowds. Personally, I think it's a great concept. The only hang up I could see is our shortened sailing season. And assuming that the Cup and the qualifiers are all held in Chicago, not sure where you get tons more travel. Any more than the trips to Newport, Auckland, San Diego, or Valencia? The battle for the Cup has always been a rich man's game, I'm just happy for the things that trickle down to us lowly serfs.

To each his own, I guess.
Click to expand
Yeah, I don't get the travel issue ... what difference would it make? How do the hulls and spars arrive .. by boat or plane? The arena would be about as good as it gets, as well as spectator access.

I'm not sure about the winds, though. For that matter, with this format of boats, it seems that most of the traditional sites wouldn't be suitable, particularly Newport or anyplace on the east coast where it is impossible to count on the necessary breezes. It seems like it is such a tight window now with these boats. If the wind is typically light, days upon days of racing would be a lost cause as the boats would fail to reach the finish line at the prescribed limit (didn't New Zealand basically lose the cup over this issue when a race was aborted while they were reaching for the finish line ahead of Oracle?).

It seems like light winds would be the problem, more so than the occasional high wind days in SF. You can't count on day after day of 12 knot to 20 knot days during the heat of summer, even in the Windy City (not nick-named for the actual wind). Less than 12 knots and the races probably won't be finished. I would guess that the best chance for the requisite winds would be September and October.

But if I'm wrong about the wind, the venue would be amazing!
 
Scott T-Bird

Scott T-Bird

.
Oct 26, 2008
6,432
Catalina 320 Barnegat, NJ
Gunni said:
The concept being floated is to have AC qualifying events scattered all over the globe, one in Chicago. Nothing is final. The Kiwi's are already in a bunch over this, threatening to boycott. That would be a disaster. I suspect that this is all San Francisco/California politics - letting SF know that GGYC has dating options. There was a ton of carping and sniping by local know-it-alls during AC 34 - the greatest sporting event in California history.
Click to expand
Whatever happened to the victor selecting the site? I thought that winning the Cup wins the privilege. Why should New Zealand have any say? Is it now just a selection process, like the Super Bowl ?
 
RECESS

RECESS

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Dec 20, 2003
1,509
Catalina 27 . St. Mary's Georgia
I hope Chicago gets it. The main event that is. I think it would be a great host city.
 
W

waternwaves

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Feb 6, 2009
257
Hunter 40 Camano Island
Bad Idea

on so many levels.

Ugly water, too much crime, bad attitude, IF you were going to hold it on a lake, you could find a better one. I would love to see it back in the Northeast. (no I am not an easterner) I am currently contracting in Chicago, and to be honest, The nicer area of the lake, north of the City could not handle the logistics of a well attended AC cup. Parking is already 50 to 100 in those areas tentatively useable for that purpose.

nope, not a good idea.
 
B

Benny17441

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May 24, 2004
7,213
CC 30 South Florida
We have finally managed to turn a competition full of tradition into an event looking for the highest bidder host. Time to turn the attention back to club races.
 
P

Pat

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Jun 7, 2004
1,250
Oday 272LE Ninnescah Yacht Club, Wichita, Ks.
I vote for a return to Newport. A great spot....
 
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