USA defended the Cup against the world for 160+ years, so keeping it was taken for granted. Now that other countries have taken it from us, the game is getting a bit more interesting. Sailing is a huge sport almost everywhere but in the US (ironic, since we were the best in the world for nearly 2 centuries). To put it in perspective, San Francisco plans to get a brand new waterfront from hosting the Cup. The economic impact will be well over 1 billion – roughly equal to hosting 6 Superbowls.
Also, in the past, this was not a media-friendly sport. In the past, it was a lot like watching a chess match being held 10 miles out at sea. #1 unless you understand sailing and racing tactics, the complexity of the sport goes right over the heads of 99.9% of the people watching it. #2 in the past they didn't have a good way of capturing race footage (they didn't have the tech to do onboard cameras), nor was there a compelling was to show graphically who was ahead.
Because, back in the day this was the sport of kings and queens (the America's Cup was originally given by Queen Victoria of England and was called the 100 Guineas Cup) and then barons of industry (i.e. folks named Vanderbilt, Lipton (as in the tea) and Ted Turner).
USA defended the Cup against the world for 160+ years, so keeping it was taken for granted. Now that other countries have taken it from us, the game is getting a bit more interesting. Sailing is a huge sport almost everywhere but in the US (ironic, since we were the best in the world for nearly 2 centuries). To put it in perspective, San Francisco plans to get a brand new waterfront from hosting the Cup. The economic impact will be well over 1 billion – roughly equal to hosting 6 Superbowls.
PONYFANSdotCOM 6 months ago
Also, in the past, this was not a media-friendly sport. In the past, it was a lot like watching a chess match being held 10 miles out at sea. #1 unless you understand sailing and racing tactics, the complexity of the sport goes right over the heads of 99.9% of the people watching it. #2 in the past they didn't have a good way of capturing race footage (they didn't have the tech to do onboard cameras), nor was there a compelling was to show graphically who was ahead.
PONYFANSdotCOM 6 months ago
Because, back in the day this was the sport of kings and queens (the America's Cup was originally given by Queen Victoria of England and was called the 100 Guineas Cup) and then barons of industry (i.e. folks named Vanderbilt, Lipton (as in the tea) and Ted Turner).
PONYFANSdotCOM 6 months ago
@pimpjuice8921573 cause only gay men play this sport
Bacsilove 6 months ago
subscribe me!
please???
thefunnyzebra99 6 months ago
subscribe me!
thefunnyzebra99 6 months ago
@pimpjuice8921573 Because media covers football....
JorgenPlayerSpecial 6 months ago
This is the "Oldest cup in international sport"? How come I've never fucking heard of it?
pimpjuice8921573 6 months ago