San Francisco out as America’s Cup host; San Diego, Bermuda, Chicago remain alive

Team New Zealand leading Oracle Racing at the first mark in the first race of the 2013 America’s Cup. Photo by Donan.raven / Wikimedia Commons.

SAN DIEGO—America’s Cup officials have confirmed that San Francisco is out of the running to host the 2017 regatta, with the field narrowed to San Diego, Bermuda and Chicago.

Russell Coutts, CEO of two-time defending champion Oracle Team USA, tells The Associated Press the offers from the three remaining ports are “more compelling” than what San Francisco offered to have the races return.

Coutts says by the end of the month he’ll chose two finalists to host the challenger semifinals and finals, and the 35th America’s Cup match.

San Francisco Bay provided a spectacular backdrop in September when Oracle Team USA staged one of the greatest comeback in sports to beat Emirates Team New Zealand and retain the cup.

Mayor Ed Lee says San Francisco had a “strong proposal.”