The America’s Cup will remain in Europe for its 38th edition, with Naples to take the sailing showpiece to Italy for the first time in what is being heralded as the biggest sporting event to be held in the city.
The Government of Italy, in conjunction with defending champion Emirates Team New Zealand (ETNZ) and the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS), today (Thursday) announced Italy as the host country and Naples as the host city for the Louis Vuitton Cup and Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Match to be held in the spring and summer of 2027.
The capital of the Campania region is said to have held off a rival Italian bid from Cagliari, as well as interest from the Greek capital Athens, to land events which will also comprise the youth and women’s regattas.
Naples has previously played host to America’s Cup action in 2012 and 2013, in the lead-up to the 34th America’s Cup in San Francisco, hosting two World Series events which local event officials estimated saw attendance of more than one million people on the city’s waterfront.
Andrea Abodi, Italy’s minister for sport and youth, played a key role in the bid process. He said today: “The choice of Italy, and Naples in particular, as venue of the 38th edition of the America’s Cup represents a tremendous opportunity for the entire country to enhance the value of its territory, to boost tourism, and to promote sports. Our commitment will be also to promote initiatives, projects and measures for sea education and economy.
“The major investment, organisational capabilities, and fulfilment of all necessary requirements testify to the preparation, expertise, and professionalism of a team that – working in concert with the Government, and led by Sport e Salute as the implementing body – has shown it has everything it takes to meet the expectations of all stakeholders, the rights holder of the competition, Team New Zealand, the winner of the last edition.
“Hosting the America’s Cup in Naples also represents a strategic opportunity to accelerate the environmental rehabilitation and urban regeneration program of Bagnoli, the area that will host the teams’ bases.
“All this will unfold in a unique and captivating setting… a first time for our nation, one that will make all Italians proud and surely leave the rest of the world breathless. And, once again thanks to sport, Italy is the centre of the world.”
Gaetano Manfredi, mayor of Naples and government special commissioner for Bagnoli, added: “We have worked diligently on this bid over the recent months in close collaboration with the Government, successfully prevailing over other competing cities.
“This achievement will generate a substantial economic impact on our territory, as experienced by previous host cities such as Barcelona and Valencia. The event is set to be the most significant sporting occasion ever hosted by Naples, transforming the city’s iconic Gulf into a stage for spectacular races among the world’s elite sailing teams. An opportunity to show the world not only the beauty of our landscape, but also the city’s ability to competently address the great challenges of the present.
“The races will take place in the waters between Castel dell’Ovo and Posillipo, while the team bases will be established in Bagnoli – a strategic area where the Government has decided to invest decisively, with the goal of finally returning it to the city and its citizens.
“The complex work of environmental remediation and redevelopment in Bagnoli is already underway and progressing according to plan. The America’s Cup will serve as a powerful accelerator for tourism, the maritime economy, local entrepreneurship, and the development of new skills, providing a tangible preview of what this area can become upon completion of its urban regeneration.”
The 37th America’s Cup held last year in Barcelona delivered a €1.03bn ($1.15bn) positive economic benefit for the Spanish city, according to a report issued in March that was carried out by the University of Barcelona.
The event attracted 1.8 million visitors, with 460,819 people travelling to Barcelona specifically to watch the America’s Cup, which took place from August 22 to October 19. The report also found that the event generated €208.5m in tax revenue for Barcelona and created the equivalent of 12,872 jobs.
Barcelona secured the hosting rights in March 2022, seeing off rival bids from fellow Spanish city Malaga, Cork in Ireland and Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah.
The RNZYS and ETNZ, as defending champions of the America’s Cup, held the right and responsibility to organise the next edition, but last month conceded defeat in their efforts to return the event to New Zealand.
Since winning the 37th America’s Cup, the two organisations had been working with Tātaki Auckland Unlimited to secure hosting rights for the city which has previously staged the event in 2000, 2003 and 2021.
While stating they “had comfort” in the level of private support for the bid, RNZYS and ETNZ understood that it would also require local and central government backing, which they confirmed would not be forthcoming amid the “tough economic climate”.
The 37th America’s Cup was covered in Italy by pay-TV broadcaster Sky Italia and commercial broadcaster Mediaset. Following what was described as a “very efficient” venue selection process, ETNZ CEO Grant Dalton said today: “By bringing the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup to this country, it feels like we are bringing it to the people, in our ambition to continually grow the audience of the America’s Cup and sport of sailing.
“Italians are the most passionate and engaged America’s Cup audience and obviously it is the home of Luna Rossa who are such an amazing team and strong competitor. So, from the defender’s position it certainly feels like we are entering the lion’s den competitively, but from an event perspective it feels like the perfect venue to host the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup.”