America's Cup Finally Begins, But Excitement For Event Questioned

The America's Cup yesterday featured its "first real race" of the event, which "in recent days looked like it might never come off" (REUTERS, 7/13). The "promised crowds of tourists" were not "in abundance" yesterday as there "simply weren't that many of them" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 7/14). Longtime S.F. resident Raymond Larrette was asked if people in the city are excited about the competition and responded, "Not even remotely" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 7/14).

Meanwhile, Louis Vuitton is paying the America's Cup $3M "less than originally agreed to sponsor the challenger trials ... because only three teams are entered." America's Cup CEO Stephen Barclay on Friday said that Louis Vuitton's contract "was amended in April when it became clear how few teams would make it to the starting line" (AP, 7/12).