Preliminary regatta draws record crowds, outpacing Barcelona's final day
The Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup Preliminary Regatta in Napoli welcomed 252,520 visitors to its Race Village over four days, with 278,893 total attendees watching from land and sea combined — a figure that establishes the city as a serious contender to host sailing's most prestigious event. The September event, backed by the Italian Government, was designed as a test run for the main America's Cup Match scheduled for July 2027.
The numbers from the preliminary event stand out when compared to the 37th America's Cup hosted by Barcelona in 2024. According to an analysis by Sport e Salute, the Italian state sports agency, Napoli drew 7.5 times more Race Village visitors than Barcelona did during its own preliminary regatta, where attendance reached approximately 33,000. The final day in Napoli alone saw over 120,000 attendees, surpassing the 104,000 spectators recorded on the final race day in Barcelona.
Beyond the shore, spectator boats averaged 623 vessels per day in the Golfo di Napoli, including 22 superyachts daily — nearly five times the 131 boats that typically followed racing in Barcelona. Accredited media totaled 225 journalists from 14 countries, while social media content generated more than 20 million views.
Tourism surge and local spending
The regatta's timing in September 2026 helped lift overall tourism in the city to roughly 2.2 million visitors for the month, compared with 1.8 million in September 2025. The preliminary event alone produced a 10% increase above projected visitor numbers.
Organizers estimate total direct spending in the event area at €3.8 million, with an average of €15 per visitor — roughly the cost of a pizza and a drink in central Napoli, or about one-third of a day's pay at Italy's minimum wage. The operation required 700 organizational staff and 1,025 stewards, security personnel and volunteers.
Looking ahead to 2027: scale multiplies twelvefold
While the preliminary regatta occupied three race days, a 70,000-square-metre Race Village and team bases on Nisida covering 8,900 square metres, the main event next year will require a far larger footprint.
We want Napoli to become the home of the America's Cup and the world capital of sailing. We are already working to make this goal a reality at least through 2029.
Diego Nepi Molineris, chief executive of Sport e Salute, said the city had demonstrated its ability to stage an international event. The 2027 edition will feature:
• Team bases in Bagnoli covering 37,000 square metres
• Race and Fan Village expanding to 100,000 square metres
• 62 event days, including 40 race days
• Teams stationed in the city for approximately one year
• Projected attendance of 3 to 3.5 million visitors
The jump in scale represents a 12- to 14-fold increase over the preliminary event, which cost approximately €10 million to organize.
Economic impact projected at €1.4–€1.7 billion
When the 38th America's Cup Match arrives in Napoli in July 2027, the expected economic impact — combining direct, indirect and induced effects — ranges between €1.4 billion and €1.7 billion. For context, the 37th America's Cup in Barcellona generated an estimated €1.034 billion in economic impact over 59 days, drawing roughly 1.8 million visitors.
Confesercenti Campania, the regional retailers' association, estimated the September 2026 preliminary regatta alone delivered approximately €230 million in economic benefit, with 900,000 tourists and visitors recorded in the city during the event period.
Infrastructure reshapes Bagnoli waterfront
The 2027 event is driving urban regeneration in Bagnoli, the former industrial district on Napoli's western edge. Team bases, a marina for superyachts, public viewing areas, media centres and an AC Tech Fan Village with large screens and food vendors are under construction along the waterfront. New roads and utilities are being installed to support the technical demands of modern racing teams.
The work accelerates a long-planned transformation of the area, turning disused industrial land into a modern tourism and recreation hub protected by an extended breakwater.
Italy acting as 'the eighth team'
Marco Mezzaroma, president of Sport e Salute, credited the government and local institutions for working as "a single team" to deliver the event's success.
Italy demonstrated, once again, that it can organize and enhance a major international event. Napoli confirmed its extraordinary capacity to host, involve and excite. In 2027 there will be seven teams competing and Italy will be alongside them as the eighth team.
Nepi Molineris added that organizers now intend to present a proposal teams "cannot refuse" to keep the America's Cup in Napoli beyond 2027, potentially through 2029, leveraging the infrastructure investments and the natural advantages of the Golfo di Napoli — reliable thermal winds and a racecourse visible from shore.
Six challengers have been confirmed for the 2027 event: Emirates Team New Zealand, GB1 (Athena Racing) from Britain, Italy's Luna Rossa, Tudor Team Alinghi from Switzerland, K-Challenge from France, and American Racing Challenger Team USA.
