The next edition of the America’s Cup in 2024, which will mark the return of Alinghi, will take place off Barcelona and not in New Zealand.
The title holder, Team New Zealand, gives up organizing it at home, report the Spanish media and the Efe press agency.
It is the first time in the 170-year-old history of the competition that the holder has given up his right in this way. This is the consequence of the failure of negotiations with the New Zealand authorities. In 2007, Ernesto Bertarelli’s Alinghi had certainly organized the event in Valencia, but Switzerland, without a maritime outlet, had no other choice but to relocate.
For 2024 and the 37th edition of the prestigious meeting, a financial agreement has been reached with the Catalan government. Barcelona were preferred to Malaga, Cork and Jeddah, who were also candidates.
The 2024 America’s Cup, which benefits from the support of local public funds and the Catalan business community, will require an investment of more than 70 million euros (some 73 million frs). The promoters estimate that the preliminary regattas and the event itself will generate an impact on the Catalan economy of more than one billion euros.
To date, the fleet for this 37th edition is made up of five teams: the Italian Luna Rossa Prada, the English Ineos Britannia, the American American Magic, Alinghi, associated with Red Bull and Team New Zealand.
/ ATS