Emirates Team New Zealand and the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron have announced Barcelona as the host venue for the 37th America’s Cup, scheduled to be held in September and October of 2024. Emirates Team New Zealand will defend the title they won last year in Auckland, beating Italy’s Luna Rossa 7-3 in the final.
Barcelona will become the second Spanish city to host the event, following Valencia in 2007 and 2010, and the first venue in the world to host both an Olympic Games and an America’s Cup. The 2024 event will include the Youth America’s Cup and, for the first time, a Women’s America’s Cup.
Roger Torrent, Catalonia Minister of Business & Labour, Grant Dalton and Damiá Calvet, President of the Port of Barcelona
Grant Dalton, CEO of Emirates Team New Zealand, said: “Barcelona really is one of the most recognised cities in the world so to host the most recognised sailing event in the world is hugely exciting. 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.
“Having the event in a significant city such as Barcelona will allow us to propel the growth trajectory on the global sporting stage. The 37th America’s Cup will be nothing less than spectacular with the AC75s racing within a few hundred metres of the Barcelona beach, waterfront and race village fan-engagement zones.”
Barcelona hosted the 1992 Olympics
Barcelona, which hosted the Olympics in 1992, has existing facilities for racing, team bases, technical infrastructure and superyachts, as well as areas for the America’s Cup event village to host fans, hospitality and media. It also has an average wind range of 9-15 knots during the September and October race window.
The city’s bid involved 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.
The 2024 America’s Cup will feature Youth and Women’s competitions
Pere Aragonés, President of the Generalitat de Catalunya, said: “It is an historic sporting event, which has a great projection worldwide at an international level, economically and for tourism. The America’s Cup will generate a return across many platforms over years and will leave a very important legacy for Catalonia.”
Aaron Young, Commodore of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, added: “Barcelona holds a very special place in New Zealand’s sailing history, and we remember with pride the success of our 1992 Olympic Games sailing team and four medals.
“Barcelona will be a stunning venue for the America’s Cup racing and the Women’s and Youth regattas, and we look forward to defending the America’s Cup there in 2024 as we work to promote and grow the sport of sailing around the world.”