why has no one here in the states tried to get the world cup ? Should we have the world chess cup here in the states or should we not? I would like to hear some ideas and comments on this subject matter.
$$$$$$$. That’s why.
The World Chess Cup is run by FIDE. How much money can the USCF make by promoting the World Cup? If the organizers would match 20% of the total prize fund for the USCF perhaps this would stimulate some interest. I’m sure the USCF’s financial situation has improved but sponsoring an event like the World Cup would be like the gift of the white elephant. I’m surprised the FIDE president has not thought of punishing us with such a magnanimous gesture.
Where would we hold the event? When, and how would we generate advertising revenue? Ticket sales would not defray the costs for sure. At any rate 2015 is taken so there is time to scheme this all out. The bottom line is that the USCF should get some of the pot of gold that accompanies the World Cup instead of ladling it in.
USCF’s imprimatur is not needed for a US sponsor to bid on and host a World Cup event.
As Mr. Priest so succinctly put it, the problem is money.
The standard prize fund works out to $1.6M. The arbiters and other tournament-related FIDE reps cost another $100,000. These are regulation-mandated costs. This is before you get into travel/lodging costs, venue costs, press accommodations, side events, the physical/technical infrastructure required to support all this, and the like.
Bottom line: a potential sponsor would spend in the neighborhood of $2.5M or more - with no ROI other than the warm and fuzzy feeling of supporting top-level chess. That’s a hard sell in a country where chess isn’t high on the food chain.
The sponsor with deep pockets could have a “warm and fuzzy feeling” by supporting a World Cup event with 20% of the 2.5M going to the USCF to support chess for all. Maybe they could even get a tax deduction because of the tax status of the federation? Yes “$$$$$$$” was succinct but I hate to think of the feedback I would have gotten for such an answer.
When the hypothetical sponsor finds out about the mandatory 20% FIDE tax, that warm and fuzzy feeling might quickly vanish.
That $2.5M figure is what the event will cost to hold, roughly. The sponsor would not get to stipulate where that money goes - every cent of it is needed to put the event on in compliance with FIDE regulations.
Now, the sponsor could perhaps donate an amount equal to 20% of that figure (so, $500,000) to USCF. This would then have the sponsor out $3M. If anyone knows of a person or entity willing to sponsor chess at that level, please have them contact the USCF Executive Director, stat.
Since the answer was succinct, not impolite, and accurate, I struggle to understand what sort of rational, negative feedback any user who gave the same answer would have received.
In the US, there are multiple sports that get attention from the fans and the media. Add to that the mass advertising and playing of videogames and phone apps that play various games that entertain and you find very little room for chess except to a relatively small but avid following. On ESPN they can find room for the late stages of professional pool tournaments, bass fishing, and poker; chess is too small of a niche, besides being difficult to follow. Chess in the American consciousness is a very small blip on the edge of the radar. The media market is glutted with entertainment choices. This explains why there is so little money or media attention given to chess.
Probably the only country to have the wherewithal and interest to sponsor a World Cup is China. China recently surpassed the US in GDP. To showcase their increasing economic world dominance, it would probably be easier to find corporate sponsors in that country than in the US. The recent success of Chinese players and teams would be a good wedge to interest Chinese corporations to get on board to develop the game further. FIDE would be hard pressed to find a bigger market.