Forecasting significant economic impact

The value of hosting the America’s Cup often seems to be about who does the counting. Since the venue the 2007 edition when the venue became an asset put out to bid, the anticipated value and final accounting don’t often line up. Valencia was the “winning bidder” for 2007, and it “only” took until 2022 for the debt to be settled.

After Barcelona hosted in 2024, they said no to 2027, with that opportunity now bestowed on Naples, Italy. Unsurprisingly, the local government is all butterflies and rainbows about the economic impact, with new analysis estimating that next year’s event could generate an overall economic impact of between €1.4 billion and €1.7 billion ($1.6-1.9 billion).

The same analysis found 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. And to that they said no? Hmm…