BARCELONA, Spain — Barcelona is not interested in repeating as host of the America´s Cup.
“It doesn´t make sense to try to build on the success” of the two-month regatta, city hall official Jordi Valls said.
Barcelona won’t bid for the 38th America’s Cup after Emirates Team New Zealand won its third straight cup Saturday. That meant New Zealand will again organize the next cup, including picking a venue.
When asked by The Associated Press if New Zealand already has offers from other cities, the team replied, “There absolutely are other bids but we wish to keep these confidential.”
Valencia, south of Barcelona on Spain´s Mediterranean coast, has said it would like to get the cup back after staging it in 2007 and 2010.
Saudi Arabia may also be a possible candidate after Jeddah hosted a preliminary regatta in 2023 on the Red Sea.
Valls called it an “amicable parting” between the city and the world´s oldest international sporting event that started in 1851.
Valls insisted the 2024 cup was a success for the city. But he said it was always considered a “one-off event and that at no moment was it planned for Barcelona to repeat as a venue.”
He pointed to other international events it will focus on promoting such as hosting the opening stage of the 2026 Tour de France.
New Zealand also cast doubt on Barcelona´s suitability after meeting with city hall. It argued the port infrastructure could not accommodate more than the six teams it hosted. The cup organizers hope more teams will enter the next regatta.
“We are keeping an open mind on how best to achieve this with a venue, or different venues, that can supercharge the 38th America´s Cup with an increased global footprint, more teams and increased overall expansion opportunities,” New Zealand team chief executive Grant Dalton said in a statement.
“It would be difficult to expand the number of teams based on the available infrastructure space in Barcelona.”
Dalton´s decision to not race the cup in Auckland was criticized in New Zealand. He said he could take it back home only if Auckland could match the financial offers of other bidders.
Some 2.5 million spectators turned out for the Barcelona race which started in late August with yachts from Britain, Italy, the United States, Switzerland and France challenging the Kiwis.
The decision by Barcelona´s city hall came amid growing public concern about “overtourism” and rising rents. While some 60,000 people turned out for the opening ceremony of the America´s Cup, there was a public protest of a few thousand who rallied against it.
New Zealand retained the America’s Cup by beating Great Britain in the 37th edition of the event.
Ben Ainslie’s Ineos Britannia team were 6-2 behind going into Saturday’s racing and needed to win race nine to stay in the best-of-13 series in Barcelona.
However, despite some pressure from the British boat, Emirates Team New Zealand secured victory by 37 seconds to take an unassailable 7-2 lead.
New Zealand, who won the competition in 2017 and 2021, has become the first team to lift the Auld Mug on three consecutive occasions since the USA (1987-1992).
Great Britain, who has never won the trophy in the competition’s 173-year history, were appearing in their first final since 1964.
“Firstly, I’ve got to say a huge well done to Team New Zealand,” said British captain Ainslie.
“What an amazing campaign and team. In my view, they are the best team ever in the America’s Cup.
“To our team, I just can’t say enough thanks to everyone for all the effort they’ve put in over the years to get us this far.
“We had our moments in the finals but, at the end of the day, the better team won.”
Discussion about this post