We can see clearly now, the Cup is gone

When San Francisco was selected to host the 34th America’s Cup, it felt like the event had found a home to fulfill all its fantasies. Epic winds, accessible viewing, iconic backdrops, corporate culture. Seemingly, a match made it heaven.

But during its tenure, event updates spent more time in the Front page of local news than in the Sports page. For sure, a rocky match.

And if it was a relationship that needed more time to blossom, that ship officially sailed on June 10 when America’s Cup organizers officially broke off the bond. Here’s an update from the San Francisco Chronicle…

Truth be told, San Francisco officials knew the city was out of the running for the 2017 America’s Cup months ago.

“The minute they opened the competition to other cities, they pretty much stopped talking to us,” said one City Hall insider close to the talks.

And while the race organizers complained about the lack of love they were getting from the city, money was the real issue. Not only did the America’s Cup crew want $30 million in corporate pledges, sources tell us, but they also wanted the city to pick up the costs of staging the races again.

Neither was going happen.

At Mayor Ed Lee’s urging, the San Francisco travel bureau and the Giants held a last-minute breakfast sit-down with organizers. But by then, it was clear the race was sailing into the sunset.

“They didn’t want the hassle, and neither did we,” said one city official.