Please select your home edition
Edition
Henri-Lloyd Dynamic Range

America's Cup in Barcelona generates a positive economic impact of over €1 billion

by America's Cup Media 4 Mar 06:45 PST
Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup - October 2024 - Barcelona © Ian Roman / America's Cup

The University of Barcelona and the Barcelona Capital Nàutica Foundation (FBCN) have released the outcome of their exhaustive post event economic impact study which revealed over €1 billion positive economic GDP return that the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup created for the host venue Barcelona, Catalonia.

The study reported a €1.034 billion (NZD $1.9billion) positive economic benefit for host venue of the 37th America's Cup Barcelona, Catalonia. [S-W: The Event Fee paid to America's Cup Event Ltd is believed to have been €70million - covered by a mix of governmental and private funding.]

1.8 million visitors were counted over the 59 days across all free to attend event sites on and off the water including 460,819 unique attendees to Barcelona that came specifically to be part of the 37th America's Cup event.

The 37th America's Cup created the equivalent of 12,872 jobs in Barcelona and generated €208.5 million in tax revenue.

€1.367 billion total gross media brand value associated with all events on the 37th America's Cup with a total TV audience of 954 million.

The Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup held in Barcelona, Catalonia (Spain) in 2024 has added another iconic chapter to the 173-year history of the oldest trophy in international sport and the pinnacle of world sailing.

The event, which ran from August 22nd through to October 19th 2024, continued the positive upward trend of setting new standards of innovation, performance, attendance, audience and viewership growth and led the way with unprecedented global impact in women's sailing.

America's Cup Event CEO Grant Dalton highlighted just how significant the economic benefit has been for Barcelona, Catalonia and the America's Cup:

"It is hugely satisfying to see that the America's Cup has made such a significantly positive economic contribution to the GDP of Barcelona and Catalonia.

The €1.034 billion economic uplift is a reflection of the collaborative and positive approach the numerous host entities within Barcelona, Catalonia, and Spain all brought to facilitate the best event possible for the Host Venue.

It is also recognition of all the event staff and teams that made Barcelona their home and worked so tirelessly on the event, and of course all of the international media, the volunteers, fans and supporters that showed up in their many thousands from around the world."

The overall global exposure, all presented the host city of Barcelona in 11,182 hours of global broadcast spotlight which created 43,186 hours of global broadcast brand exposure which based on Nielsen data equated to a total gross brand exposure value of €1.367 billion for all of the brands, sponsors and host venue associated with the 37th America's Cup.

A total audience of 954 million viewers and a 37% growth in the dedicated audience as well as a 235% increase in overall social media views including 9.6 million hours of watch time on YouTube, making the 37th edition the most watched America's Cup ever.

"The 37th edition of the America's Cup will always be remembered as one of the best yet and one that continued to build the commercial strength and audience of the widely recognised pinnacle event in sailing," said Dalton.

Barcelona, Catalonia now joins the illustrious and exclusive list of global cities to host the America's Cup, and can proudly be remembered for delivering one of the best America's Cup experiences ever in the 173-year history, and where for the summer of 2024, the city and people of Barcelona turned to the sea to witness sailing history which will leave an enduring legacy for many decades to come.

Key Findings:

  • A €1.034 billion positive economic benefit for the host venue of the 37th America's Cup
  • 1.8 million visitors were counted over the 59 days across all event sites on and off the water including 460,819 unique attendees to Barcelona that came specifically to be part of the event.
  • The 37th America's Cup created the equivalent of 12,872 jobs in Barcelona.
  • 90% of the 380 different event suppliers and providers were locally based businesses.
  • Three free event sites totalling 32,000sqm provided free viewing
  • The 37th America's Cup gaining an 8.8 out of 10 satisfaction score from the nearly 4,000 attendees surveyed across the event sites.
  • 244 superyachts attended the event injecting a spend of €35 million into the local economy.
  • There were 11,182 hours of global broadcast coverage.
  • Total gross brand exposure value of €1.367 billion for all of the brands, sponsors and host venue associated with the 37th America's Cup
  • Total TV audience of 954 million
  • There was 9.6 million hours of watch time on YouTube.
  • Social media viewership increased by 235%
  • 37% growth in the Dedicated Audience of the 37th America's Cup
  • There were a total 1,068 team members in Barcelona across six America's Cup teams, 12 Puig Women's, and 12 UniCredit Youth America's Cup teams.
  • 11 AC40 foiling yachts were built for the Preliminary Regattas in Vilanova i la Geltrú and Jeddah, the UniCredit Youth America's Cup and the Puig Women's America's Cup and it was named "Boat of the Year" by World Sailing.
  • The official America's Cup E-Sports game was downloaded over 100,000 times. There were eight Grand Finalists invited to Barcelona from seven different countries and the 'Gamer to Sailor' initiative took the winning two gamers racing in the AC40s.
  • Sustainability and contributing to the Barcelona Blue Economy was a priority, and nine hydrogen powered foiling chase boats were constructed and used across team and event operations, which eliminated 78,000 litres of fuel from on water operations which reduced 181,531kgs of CO2 emissions.
  • There were 1,512 media articles written consisting of 1.886 million words, and over 250,000 photo images downloaded by media from the America's Cup photo library.
  • There were 20,677 young people reached through the 37th America's Cup via the various educational programs such as the FBCN's "Programa Educatiu La Navegació al Segle XXI, Un Repte Tecnològic", the city council's "VIU LA VELA" program and the America's Cup Trophy Tour regattas.
  • The volunteer program called "Team B" quickly became the beating heart of the event, with 2,300 volunteers, 78% being local residents.
  • The AC75s regularly clocked speeds of more than 54 knots or 100km/h with the fastest recorded by the British team with a speed of 55.6 knots or 102.97km/h.
  • Emirates Team New Zealand were victors of the 37th America's Cup winning for the 3rd time in a row.

Additional Images:

Related Articles

America's Cup fillibustered by Challengers
A Cup in turmoil - Protocol is unsigned - with entries due to open on Sunday. Updated story: America's Cup got underway in Rome on Monday, with Round 2 of the official welcoming ceremonies on Wednesday in Naples. However three teams are working in collusion and have again issued statements within minutes of each other. Posted today at 6:08 pm
America's Cup enthusiastically received in Naples
The Castel dell'Ovo, was the venue for the arrival of the America's Cup in Napes The Castel dell'Ovo, set on the tuft peninsula of Megaride was the outstanding setting for the Official Host Venue Presentation of the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup. Posted on 28 May
Italian PM welcomes America's Cup in Rome
Prime Minister Meloni set out a bold vision for the regeneration planned around AC38 The magnificent setting of the Casino del Bel Respiro, commissioned by Pope Innocent X in 1644, in the grounds of Villa Pamphilj, was the outstanding and historic setting for the formal presentation of the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup. Posted on 26 May
America's Cup: Big changes in crew line-up
Women and Youth crews to sail in AC75 in the next Cup - Final Draft of AC38 Protocol Historic changes are proposed in the Final Draft of the Protocol released by the America's Cup Defender. For the first time a Female and Youth crew members will be part of the six-crew lineup on board the all-electric AC75s. Posted on 23 May
America's Cup: The Blitz of Statements
Various parties associated with the America's Cup released statements calling for more transparency Various parties associated with the America's Cup released statements calling for more transparency in the America's Cup. Emirates Team New Zealand responded by releasing what is tagged as the Final Draft of the Protocol. Posted on 23 May
America's Cup: Emirates Team NZ respond
Emirates Team New Zealand has responded to the statements sent overnight (NZT) Emirates Team New Zealand has responded to the statements sent overnight by two Challenger teams calling for more transparency in the negotiations over the Protocol and venue for the 38th Match. Posted on 22 May
NYYC American Magic team statement
Concerns over transparency and cooperation necessary to secure a fair Protocol Over the past seven years, we've competed with pride, purpose, and perseverance in two editions of the America's Cup. It has been an honor to represent the New York Yacht Club and the United States on the global stage. Posted on 22 May
Athena Racing concerned over 38th AC transparency
Around the recent announcement of a Host City for the Cup in 2027 Athena Racing, representing Royal Yacht Squadron Ltd. as Challenger of Record for the 38th America's Cup, is concerned by the ongoing lack of transparency around the recent announcement of a Host City for the Cup in 2027. Posted on 22 May
America's Cup: Part 2 - No Excuse to Lose
The last race of the (63+254i) America's Cup has begun where tension deepens and strategy sharpens The last race of the (63+254i)th America's Cup has begun. Earth's syndicate, led by the New York Yacht Club, faces off against the Thalassocratic League of Deniau in a final match — winner takes all. Posted on 18 May
Dalton claims Alinghi are still recruiting
Emirates Team NZ CEO claims the Swiss America's Cup team Alinghi are still actively recruiting. In the course of a TV interview following the announcement of the venue for the 38th America's Cup, Emirates Team New Zealand CEO claimed that the Swiss America's Cup team Alinghi, were still actively recruiting, despite being in an "orderly wind-down". Posted on 17 May
Doyle_SailWorld_728X90px_SY BOTTOMC-Tech 2021 (Spars-QFX Racer) 728x90 BOTTOMCyclops Marine 2023 November - FOOTER