Naples has offered a spectacular preview of what lies ahead for the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup in 2027.
New analysis from Sport e Salute, the government department overseeing the second America’s Cup Preliminary Regatta staged in Naples, estimated that next year’s event could generate an overall economic impact of between €1.4 billion and €1.7 billion.
The figures follow the hugely successful second Preliminary Regatta staged in Naples, where the combination of world-class racing, an enthusiastic public and one of sailing’s most spectacular natural amphitheatres delivered extraordinary attendance figures both on land and all around the Bay of Naples.
Over the event:
- Some 252,520 people visited the Race Village
- Another 26,373 spectators watched from the water
- An average of 623 spectator boats per day took to the Bay of Naples
- 2,490 boats participated across the event, including 22 superyachts each day.
- More than 120,000 spectators attend on the final day
The comparison with the Preliminary Regatta held in Barcelona during the previous America’s Cup cycle is striking.
- 33,000 people attended the Barcelona Race Village compared with 252,520 in Naples, some 7.5 times as many.
- Average daily attendance rose from around 8,000 in Barcelona to approximately 63,000 in Naples
- Peak-day attendance increased from 15,000 to more than 120,000.
- Barcelona recorded average of 131 spectator boats per day, Naples attracted 623 per day
Across land and sea, 278,893 people attended the Naples Preliminary Regatta, demonstrating the extraordinary enthusiasm that already exists for the America’s Cup in southern Italy.
Arguably the most significant aspect of the Preliminary Regatta is what it tells us about what is coming next. Naples 2026 was a preview. Naples 2027 will operate on an entirely different scale.
The Preliminary Regatta featured a Race Village of approximately 70,000 square metres, team bases at Nisida covering around 8,900 square metres, and teams based in Naples for approximately two weeks. This investment was approximately €10 million, with more than a quarter of a million people attending.
The event itself is expected to span 62 days, including 40 days of racing, while teams are anticipated to establish themselves in Naples for approximately a year.
Most significantly, overall attendance is projected at between three million and 3.5 million visitors.
In attendance terms alone, that represents an increase of around 12 to 14 times over the Preliminary Regatta and illustrates the extraordinary leap in scale expected when the America’s Cup returns to Naples in 2027.
Furthermore, Sport e Salute’s analysis, considering direct expenditure, indirect economic activity and the induced effects generated by staging the competition, estimates an overall economic impact of between €1.4 billion and €1.7 billion.
In contrast, the 2024 America’s Cup in Barcelona generated an estimated €1.034 billion in economic impact and attracted approximately 1.8 million visitors during 59 days of competition and activity.
Naples is now preparing for an event projected to attract almost twice that number of visitors with potential benefits extending across hotels, restaurants, transport, retail, marine services, tourism and the wider regional economy, alongside the enormous international exposure generated by hosting one of world sport’s most historic trophies.
The actual 38th America’s Cup Match begins over the weekend of the 10-11 July 2027, but other Preliminary events are planned: the 2027 Final Preliminary event 22 and 23 May, sailed in AC75s, and the Louis Vuitton Challenger’s Selection Series (CSS) for the Louis Vuitton Cup) that precede the actual America’s Cup.
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