Please select your home edition
Edition
Zhik 2024 December

America's Cup- Emirates signs on as naming rights sponsor with Team NZ

by Richard Gladwell/Sail-World.com NZL on 12 May 2015
Emirates Team New Zealand, Race Day 13 - 34th America's Cup. The airline has signed on for their third America's Cup with Team New Zealand ACEA - Photo Gilles Martin-Raget http://photo.americascup.com/
Emirates Team New Zealand have announced the most significant commercial sponsorship yet in the 35th America's Cup with the confirmation today that the Emirati international airline has signed on again with the 30-year-old America's Cup team.

The announcement is the first major team sponsorship announced for the America's Cup, even though the New Zealand team is yet to sail a boat in the current Cup cycle.

Team CEO Grant Dalton told Sail-World that while one swallow didn't make a summer, this would be the first in a series of sponsorship announcement that the would make in coming weeks. 'This is a renewal of our biggest sponsor. It demonstrates the strength of the ten-year-old relationship and how they value our brand, in the good times and bad. They are also our naming rights sponsor.'

'It is a big factor that Emirates have been with us for the long haul, and it gives confidence to other sponsors to see them back on board.

'As the weeks roll by you see us rolling out some more. We still have a ways to go, but we will roll out more in the next few weeks,' he said.



Although Dalton conceded that not currently having the backing of the New Zealand Government left a big hole to be filled, and the current sponsorship market was 'very, very, very difficult'.

'There have been a lot of things that could have knocked us off our perch, but we are still on it,' Dalton told Sail-World.

He conceded that had the team not re-signed Emirates it could have been a lethal blow for the team. 'This is a major step for us with the renewal of our major sponsor.'

'It is only in the last couple of weeks, and with the lack of stability, I think all the teams have been finding it difficult to raise money.'

'But this is the most significant announcement in commercial terms that the Cup has had.'

Even though Emirates do not fly into Bermuda, Dalton says that the airline view Emirates Team New Zealand as their major sporting property 'in this hemisphere'.

'They are a relationship sponsor with whom we are good friends and talk with regularly. They understand who we are and what we do, and what we stand for. Emirates are long term players and are now in their third edition of the America's Cup with Team New Zealand.'


Referring to the three television deals that have been signed by the America's Cup Events Authority, Dalton said that Emirates Airline, who are probably the worlds biggest global sponsor, expect TV deals. 'They don't sign up with AC Milan or the Cricket World Cup and not expect to have fantastic TV deals. In a major event, a prestigious sponsor should expect good TV deals, and so do we. We both expect to have major TV deals in place.

First seats on the renewed sponsorship will be warmed tonight, when three Emirates Team New Zealand members fly out of Auckland bound for Portsmouth, England, to test the new foiling AC45 one design, along with members of other America's Cup teams.

Allen Dynamic 40 FooterSelden 2020 - FOOTERHyde Sails 2024 - One Design

Related Articles

2025 Santa Maria Cup in Annapolis, USA Day 2
Final four skippers emerge from a competitive qualifying double-round robin stage A thrilling second day of racing at the 2025 Santa Maria Cup saw the final four skippers emerge from a competitive qualifying double-round robin stage.
Posted today at 4:47 am
SailGP to Kick Off Summer in New York
With this Weekend's Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix An unforgettable weekend of high-speed, close-to-shore racing and world-class entertainment will take place this weekend when the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix takes place in front of the most famous skyline in the world.
Posted on 5 Jun
Scandinavian Gold Cup at Sopot, Poland Day 1
A slow start with very little wind The Scandinavian Gold Cup opened Thursday in Sopot, Poland, with seven 5.5 Metres competing for this historic and iconic trophy that dates back to 1922. Unfortunately, there was not enough wind to even complete one race.
Posted on 5 Jun
Brooklyn kids launch 7 ft boats they built by hand
Join us in celebrating the accomplishments of our boat-building students Brooklyn Boatworks, a local nonprofit that teaches NYC public school students—mostly from underserved communities—to build and launch their own wooden sailboats from 3 sheets of plywood, a set of plans, and tools.
Posted on 5 Jun
49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 Europeans Day 3
A six-hour bake on the water Veteran and multi-Olympic race officer Sulis was clear at the morning briefing, "Our priority is to get three races for the 49er so they can progress to the gold fleet."
Posted on 5 Jun
Galicia 52 Super Series Royal Cup Day 3
Platoon Aviation turn up the heat but don't dent American Magic Quantum Racing's lead After a disappointing first regatta of the season when they finished in an uncharacteristic last position in Saint-Tropez, the fortunes of the German flagged 2023 52 SUPER SERIES overall champions Platoon Aviation seem to have turned for the better.
Posted on 5 Jun
Diverse international fleet for 5th AEGEAN 600
The race start is a little over 1 month away In a sign that this newest of the world's 600-mile classic offshore races has reached maturity, organizers from the Hellenic Offshore Racing Club are pleased to announce yet another large international fleet will be assembled for the 2025 AEGEAN 600.
Posted on 5 Jun
Newport International Boat Show joins Sail Newport
Premier northeast boat show donates $5,000 to community efforts The Newport International Boat Show, presented by BankNewport announced today its continued involvement in supporting Sail Newport to aid in a shared dedication to attract new boaters to a lifetime of making memories on the water.
Posted on 5 Jun
Sinclair Championship Preview
Noroton Yacht Club (NYC) at the center of thriving Women's Sailing Program Up to a dozen of the country's top women sailing teams will come to the Noroton Yacht Club (NYC) again to compete in the 2025 Susan Widmann Sinclair Women's Championship June 13th-15th.
Posted on 5 Jun
America's Cup: Another sponsor signs for Italians
Luna Rossa has announced that Unipol has renewed its trust in the team Luna Rossa has announced that Unipol has renewed its trust in the team and will accompany it as an official sponsor for the duration of the 38th America's Cup.
Posted on 5 Jun