The America’s Cup has found a new home in Naples, Italy, for the 38th edition starting in the spring and summer of 2027. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni made the announcement that Naples would be hosting the event after it was determined that Barcelona, where the Cup happened last time, didn’t have the resources to hold it again. Cup defender Emirates Team New Zealand also eliminated the team’s homeport of Auckland, which hosted both the 2000 and 2021 America’s Cup.
This will be the first time Italy has ever hosted the America’s Cup, despite Italian syndicate Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli fielding strong teams in multiple events. The Italians won the Youth and Women’s America’s Cups at the most recent events in Barcelona.
Italy will host the America’s Cup for the first time ever.
America’s Cup/Ricardo Pinto
“Choosing Italy fills us with pride—it honors the very identity of our nation, underscoring the sea’s vital role for Italy,” said Prime Minister Meloni as she made the announcement yesterday. “The sea is history, identity, and culture, but also an indispensable pillar of our economy.”
One of the government’s main goals is to use the America’s Cup to build up the tourist infrastructure in Naples. A study by government agency Unimpresa forecasts the event could generate over $700 million in economic benefits for Naples and the surrounding area.
“There is a raw spirit and absolute pride in Italy that seems so appropriate to have the next America’s Cup here,” said Grant Dalton, CEO of Team New Zealand, adding that Italians are the “most passionate and engaged” America’s Cup audience.
Dalton also noted that his Kiwis would be “entering the lion’s den” against home-country favorites Luna Rossa, which has been consistently backed by Prada CEO Patrizio Bertelli. Staging a competitive campaign over a three-year period is estimated to cost about $100 million.
The move to Italy puts competitors on the home turf of Luna Rossa, who has been backed by Prada.
America’s Cup/Ian Roman
Yesterday’s announcement also gave much-needed grounding to the America’s Cup, which has been under media scrutiny for all the wrong reasons. One of the six challengers from the last Cup, Alinghi Red Bull Racing, announced it would not participate in the next event, and it’s still not clear if American Magic or France’s Orient Express Racing Team would take part in the 38th Cup. Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who financed INEOS Britannia, announced last month that he would not back an America’s Cup team. The announcement followed an acrimonious public breakup with Sir Ben Ainslie, INEOS’s former team captain.
Ainslie afterwards formed Athena Racing, which is now the Challenger of Record and had input into crowning Naples the next America’s Cup locations. “Italy’s huge sailing fanbase will create a spectacular atmosphere for the millions of visiting fans,” said Ainslie, adding it would be an “exceptional platform for commercial partnerships.”
Credit: robbreport.com
