The 32nd America's Cup in concept and figures

The 32nd America's Cup in concept and figures

Valencia, 5 July, 2007 - The 32nd America's Cup has been the largest, most open and widely accessible America's Cup in 156 y ears of history. Over 6-million people have visited its venues, and its television footage has reached 4-billion viewers.

"I think all of us can be proud of what has been achieved here in Valencia over the last four years," said Michel Bonnefous, the CEO of AC Management, the event organiser. "This first America's Cup in Europe has been a big step forward for the oldest and most prestigious sporting prize. When Alinghi won the America's Cup in 2003, we had a vision for what the next event should be like. To achieve that, we have worked collectively with the teams, sponsors, host city and the media to evolve the America's Cup so that it reflects the times we live in, while remaining true to its heritage."

The success of the first America's Cup in Europe has been based around four main axis' of evolution:

The four years of sailing in the Louis Vuitton Acts represented one of the largest changes. For the first time, the teams and the public could enjoy meaningful America's Cup racing during each year between the two America's Cup Matches. The result was the closest America's Cup in recent history, where all 12 teams were quite evenly matched. The best example was the America's Cup Match itself, with the closest scoreline since the advent of the America's Cup Class, numerous lead changes, and a final race decided by just one second.

Due to the Louis Vuitton Acts, and the purpose built venue in Valencia - Port America's Cup - the public has had a closer relationship with the America's Cup than ever before. In addition to the four sailing venues of Valencia, Marseille, Malmö-Skåne and Trapani, the America's Cup trophy trave lled to 18 other cities around the world. With this higher profile - over 100 000 press articles have been written about this edition of the Cup, for example - this America's Cup has attracted top tier, international sponsors, both to the event and to the teams.

The host city selection process which saw Valencia selected as the best venue for the first America's Cup in Europe guaranteed the creation of Port America's Cup - the biggest and most modern sailing venue in the world. With room for 12 team bases around a central basin, Superyacht facilities, a Marina for over 600 boats, an award-winning landmark building in the Veles e Vents facility and the AC Park (23 restaurants, bars and cafés, over 30 interactive ar eas, three historical exhibitions, three 'giant screen' areas to watch the racing, and a concert facility).

Finally, the funding of the event and the return of surplus revenue, projected to be more than 30 million euros, to the teams is a significant step forward in allowing Cup teams from this cycle to be on a solid financial footing for the 33rd America's Cup.

With the end of the 32nd America's Cup on Tuesday afternoon, attention now shifts to the next cycle. The Protocol for the 33rd America's Cup, agreed between the Defending yacht club, the Société Nautique de Genève and its Challenger of Record, the Club Náutico Español de Vela, will lay out a blueprint for the next event, which inevitably, will move the Cup forward once again.

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