In one of his last acts as mayor of San Francisco, Gavin Newsom announced with a flourish (“This is big!”) that the City will be home to the 2013 America’s Cup finals.
Mayor Gavin Newsom held a press conference in the Rotunda at City Hall to announce that the 34th America’s Cup will be held in San Francisco in September of 2013. It was one of his last actions as the Mayor of San Francisco. Photo by Joel Williams
America’s Cup Coming to San Francisco
The announcement caps a period of anticipation and feverish lobbying to bring the cup back to the United States, with the event itself expected to pump over $1.4 billion into the local economy.
“Today is one of great celebration, with San Francisco winning the right to host the America’s Cup, and all of the economic benefit, jobs and excitement that comes with it,” said Newsom. “San Francisco is the best place on Earth to host an event of this stature, and we could not be more proud to be the city that brings the America’s Cup back home to the United States.”
Nearly 160 years old, the America’s Cup is the oldest trophy in sports. Initially a one-on-one competition between teams representing international yacht clubs, the America’s Cup has evolved into one of the world’s leading sporting competitions—featuring the best sailors on the world’s fastest wing-sailed catamarans. Independent studies show that the America’s Cup delivers the third-largest economic impact in sport to host countries, behind the Olympic Games and soccer’s World Cup.
Prior to the America’s Cup finals, San Francisco will also host the Challenger Selection Series for the Louis Vuitton Cup as well as an America’s Cup World Series event in 2012.
Since 1983, the Louis Vuitton Cup— the America’s Cup Challenger Series—has been held when more than one challenger is vying for the right to race the defender for the America’s Cup, as is the case for the 34th America’s Cup. The role of the Louis Vuitton Cup is twofold—not only to select the best challenger, but also to help prepare that team to race successfully against the defender in the America’s Cup Match.
The winner of the Louis Vuitton Cup will race the Golden Gate Yacht Club’s defending team in the finals, a first-to-win-five (best of nine) race series known as the America’s Cup Match. The Louis Vuitton Cup will be held from July 13 through September 1, 2013 and the America’s Cup finals will take place between September 7 and September 22, 2013.
“San Francisco couldn’t be prouder to host the 34th America’s Cup. With our natural stadium at the footsteps of the City and our consistent, heavy winds, San Francisco Bay will be an arena for some of the most spectacular racing the world has ever seen,” said Newsom. “Paired with the plans of the America’s Cup Event Authority to stage the ultimate fan experience on shore, the 34th edition of the America’s Cup will fast forward the sport of sailing globally.”
“We sought a venue that fulfills our promise—to showcase the best sailors in the world competing on the fastest boats,” said Richard Worth, Chairman of the America’s Cup Event Authority. “And hosting the America’s Cup in San Francisco will realize that promise.”
San Francisco will play host to a very different, enhanced America’s Cup finals geared at bringing the event to a mainstream audience. With a focus on enhancing the overall event experience, substantial changes are being added to both on- and off-the-water elements.
“Our goal is to create a sustainable sports event that gives teams the opportunity to become long-term sports franchises,” said Worth. “We’re focused on creating a new era for the America’s Cup, one that both honors its history as well as grabs the attention of new audiences.”
New elements of this emerging era will include:
• Groundbreaking new boats capable of close to 40 knots to enable unparalleled racing competition and on-the-water excitement.
• New course formats to create tight, tactical racing that showcases the speed of the boats and the skill of the sailors.
• Enhanced online broadcasting to deliver a personalized viewer experience.
• New broadcast formats including magazine programs, reality formats and racing packaged for live television.
• A comprehensive sustainability program focused on the world’s oceans.
• New race formats in new race venues through the America’s Cup World Series.
• A clear path for young athletes through the Youth America’s Cup.
“The addition of these elements gives us the ability to respond to the needs of sponsors and broadcasters,” said Craig Thompson, CEO of the America’s Cup Event Authority. “For example, the new World Series will provide access to more markets and more audiences. We’ll be able to showcase tighter, more tactical races on cutting-edge boats, which is more attractive to both broadcasters and fans worldwide.”
“As a native San Franciscan, I grew up sailing in front of the City. Racing for the America’s Cup in San Francisco is something I have dreamt of my whole life,” said Paul Cayard, CEO of Sweden’s Artemis Racing, a challenger for the 34th America’s Cup. “By hosting sailing’s most important event in the Bay, the world will see sailing as it never has before. As a team, Artemis Racing is particularly looking forward to competing in San Francisco.”
Plans call for Piers 30/32 for the team bases, the public Race Village to be staged at Piers 27/29, regatta operations on Pier 23, and the media center at Pier 19. As part of the plan, the America’s Cup Event Authority will redevelop these piers as well as the surrounding infrastructure to support the racing, while rehabilitating the piers for the enjoyment of the public in the future.
Racing will be held on the iconic San Francisco waterfront and will be visible from world-renowned tourist destinations such as the Golden Gate Bridge, the Marin Headlands, Crissy Field, the Embarcadero and Fisherman’s Wharf. Millions of tourists are expected both for the Challenger Series for the Louis Vuitton Cup and the America’s Cup finals.
“My support for San Francisco hosting the America’s Cup goes beyond the opportunity to see our team competing on home waters,” said Russell Coutts, CEO of ORACLE Racing, the current America’s Cup defending team. “We are excited to sail for our sport’s greatest trophy, on a stretch of water legendary among sailors worldwide.”
With an event of this magnitude literally at our doorstep, Bay Crossings will be your source for America’s Cup news over the coming years. We plan on covering all aspects of the upcoming race as well as how an event of this size affects our City and its people. Be sure to check back often!
