Auckland Mayor Phil Goff says the decision not to hold the next America’s Cup in Auckland had been signalled for some time.
Emirates Team New Zealand (ETNZ) and the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron today announced Barcelona is to host the 37th America’s Cup in September and October of 2024.
“While it is not a surprise, I have encountered strong views from many Aucklanders and New Zealanders about the decision by ETNZ not to defend the America’s Cup in this country,” Goff said.
“This will be the first time that—having won the Cup—New Zealand will not get the benefits of defending it here.
“Team New Zealand received huge support from New Zealanders. This included a significant investment in the infrastructure that Auckland Council put in place and financial support from the government for hosting the event.
“The government and council pulled out all the stops to ensure the infrastructure was delivered to standard and on time. That infrastructure is long-term asset for Aucklanders that is ready to be used for future events.
“The event itself was a success, and every team competing here expressed their satisfaction with how it was organised and expressed a desire to come back to Auckland for AC37.
“The only disappointment with the AC36 event was that the international Covid-19 pandemic stopped Auckland and New Zealand realising the economic benefits that would have come with international tourists and the refitting of superyachts in normal circumstances. These benefits would have been realised by hosting AC37 in 2024.
“Aucklanders in particular will be disappointed that the Cup defence will not be held here in 2024.
“However, it is what it is and it’s a reflection of the fact that the America’s Cup is not simply an international sporting event but a business venture—and the later consideration has prevailed.”
America’s Cup Defender Emirates Team New Zealand CEO Grant Dalton said in a media release this morning he is delighted to announce Barcelona as the host venue after a long and competitive venue selection process.
He said Barcelona’s bid saw an unprecedented alliance across public and private entities working together to attract the America’s Cup to Barcelona which included the Government of Catalonia, Barcelona City Council, City Hall of Barcelona, Port of Barcelona, Barcelona Global’s investment agency and Barcelona & Partners, a non-profit initiative composed of more than 200 of the city’s leading institutions aiming to make Barcelona one of the world’s best cities for talent and economic activity.
“A mixture of history and modernity, Barcelona is one of the most iconic and attractive cities in the world and will become the first venue in the world to host both an Olympic Games and an America’s Cup event,” the media release says.
“Barcelona really is one of the most recognised cities in the world so to have the ability to host the most recognised sailing event in the world is hugely exciting,” Dalton said.
“As Defender of the America’s Cup, we have always felt the responsibility to grow the event, the audience, and the sport of sailing on a global scale and certainly having the event hosted in a significant city such as Barcelona will allow us to propel the growth trajectory on the global sporting stage.
“When thinking ahead to the 37th America’s Cup and the AC75’s racing within a few hundred metres of the Barcelona beach, waterfront, and race village fan engagement zones, it will be nothing less than spectacular.”
Dalton said Barcelona is a leading city in terms of sustainability and social impact with ambitions to become Europe’s digital and tech capital, so the alignment with the America’s Cup is clear.
“Its existing world class facilities for racing, team bases, technical infrastructure, superyachts, and areas for the America’s Cup event village to host fans, hospitality and media as well as an average wind range of 9-15 knots during the September and October race window, made the city completely fit for purpose.”
