Louis Vuitton pulls out of America's Cup game

by nzeditor@sail-world.com on 14 Jul 2007 It is being reported that longtime America's Cup Challenger Series sponsor, Louis Vuitton, has decided to cease its sponsorship.

Middle East sources report:

'Louis Vuitton announced yesterday it was ending its lengthy sponsorship association with the America's Cup.

'The French luxury design house has backed the America's Cup qualifying competition which bears its name and was won this year by Emirates team New Zealand since 1983.

'But it is unhappy over new rules in place for the 33rd edition, likely to be held in Valencia in 2009, which it believes changes the nature of sport's oldest trophy.

'A statement issued by the company said: 'Louis Vuitton has decided not to give its name this time to the challengers qualifying competition but will watch with interest the evolition of the event in the future.'

'Yesterday's decision comes afer a souring of relations between Louis Vuitton and ACM, the America's Cup organising committee established by Swiss defender Alinghi.

'It comes just weeks after Alinghi successfully defending its title against Emirates New Zealand, winner of this year's Louis Vuitton Cup.

'The French company meanwhile has not ruled going it alone and organising its own event.'

And in another report the International Herald Tribune says:

French luxury goods giant Louis Vuitton is ending its sponsorship of the America's Cup, citing concerns that the sailing event has become too commercial.

Vuitton has been a main sponsor of the America's Cup — international sport's oldest competition — since 1983, when the challengers' series became known as the Louis Vuitton Cup.

'The new America's Cup rules define a more commercial approach, and the signed protocol has already been questioned by some of those concerned. Indeed, there is a risk of a significant reduction in the number of participating teams,' the company said in a statement Friday.

'In these conditions, Louis Vuitton has decided not to lend its name to the next Challenger selection series,' it added.

America's Cup Management chief operating officer Michel Hodara called these claims an 'exaggeration.'

'It's unfortunate that Louis Vuitton could not appreciate the success won over from the 32nd America's Cup and its great gains in the public,' Hodra told The Associated Press by telephone from Valencia.

'Now, we will simply have to find a partner that shares the same values of the Cup and this sport. It changes nothing in terms of organizing the 33rd America's Cup.'

Though Louis Vuitton held out the possibility that it could return to the cup 'in another form,' Hodra was disappointed that the longtime sponsors could not appreciate the last edition.

'Their sentiments belong to them. All I can say is that we've received visits from international organizations who have all admired the quality of the venue and the organization of this event,' Hodra said. 'And we want to continue to grow this sport so that it does not fall just under a roof that is limited to sailing.'

Hodra said that AC Management would not ask Emirates Team New Zealand — winner of the Louis Vuitton Cup — to hand the trophy back.

'It can remain there's for all of eternity,' he said.

On Thursday, the Golden Gate Yacht Club — home of American yacht BMW Oracle Racing — challenged defending winner Alinghi and questioned the manner in which the Swiss team was setting up the rules for the next edition.

The U.S. club said the challengers were united in a belief that Alinghi was gaining an unfair advantage by withholding specifics concerning the new class of yachts, rules and schedule of the 33rd edition.

'In my mind, these two things are completely independent,' said Hodra about the American's concerns and Louis Vuitton's exit.

At Sail-World.com we would like to say a very big thank you to Louis Vuitton and all who have been associated with them and their America's Cup/Louis Vuitton Cup coverage over the years. It has never ceased to amaze this scribe, just how much they have put into the sport and event, all with a big smile with perfect timing and exceptional generosity. Certainly they make their events very easy to cover, and they have been a pleasure to work with over the Cups we have been associated with since 1987. You couldn't get a better sponsor, and they leave a very big pair of shoes to be filled - if indeed they can be filled at all.

Fot TV3's and Bob Fisher's comments see: www.tv3.co.nz/VideoBrowseAll/SportsVideo/tabid/317/articleID/30731/Default.aspx#video