RESIDENTS PERCEPTIONS ON IMPACT OF THE AMERICA CUP

The America's Cup Defense Series was held in Fremantle, Australia, from October 1986 to February 1987. It was the largest such event ever held in the city. This article reports the results of a longitudinal study of residents' perceptions of the Cup series and its impact. Surveys of residents were carried out prior to, during, and following the completion of the event. This enabled an analysis of the way expectations changed over the period. The results indicate that initial expectations werc overstatements of the actual impact and that overall the actual event was perceived as having resulted in a significant improvement in the quality of life.