Artemis and ORACLE racing AC45s. Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com
by America's Cup media
The competitive bid process for cities to become 2012 and 2013 America’s Cup World Series (AC World Series) host venues is now open. All bids must be sent to the America’s Cup Event Authority (ACEA) via email on or before June 30, 2011.
A new professional sports series that brings America’s Cup-level racing to top global venues, each AC World Series is an eight-race circuit that visits an elite group of international port-cities.
“Having the world’s top sailors compete head-to-head on the world’s most extreme boats is a recipe for a great sporting event. And then to have it happen right into front of your eyes - that is a can’t-miss event,” said Richard Worth, Chairman, ACEA. “The AC World Series is going to transform not just the way we watch sailing, but also our expectations about what constitutes superior sporting event.”
The 2011-2012 AC World Series begins with stops in Cascais, Portugal; Plymouth, UK and San Diego, California this year – all cities known for their rich maritime history and a setting that allows public viewing of on-the-water racing. The circuit then concludes with five more stops in 2012, for which cities can now bid.
The 2012-2013 AC World Series bid process is also open. The first two stops have already been determined – San Francisco in July and August 2012 – leaving six opportunities for prospective host cities.
ACEA is focused on securing sites that enable spectators to have the full America’s Cup experience on and off the water. In addition to infrastructure and support, criteria include superior sailing conditions, first-class amenities, and most importantly, the ability to see the on-the-water action from land. Tens of thousands of spectators are expected to watch live in each port.
According to an independent report by Deloitte, the total economic impact of hosting an event could be as high as €55m, providing a significant and tangible boost to the host economy. Among other benefits, a host port is predicted to receive up to 140 hours of cumulative global broadcast coverage to an estimated TV audience in the hundreds of millions over the course of the event.
The AC World Series will be sailed in the AC45, the next generation of America’s Cup boats. Focused on creating more on-the-water excitement for both the teams and the fans, the AC45 wing-sailed catamaran was designed for both speed and close racing. While capable of closing speeds of up to 30 knots, the AC45 remains nimble enough to handle the tight, tactical race courses planned by America’s Cup Race Management (ACRM). The boat has received international acclaim since its launch in January earlier this year.
To receive the tender document outlining the bid process for AC World Series host city, interested cities should contact Tom Huston at tom.huston@americascup.com. Interested parties can also schedule meetings by appointment to answer any questions from bidders.
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