America’s Cup Venue Dispute: Defenders Vs Challengers
The America’s Cup has been no stranger to controversy since its first race in 1850 and that tradition looks set to continue after defenders, Emirates Team New Zealand, settled on Naples in Italy as the venue to mount their defence of the ‘Auld Mug’.
The event, scheduled to be held in 2027, would usually be hosted by the country of the previous winner but on this occasion the New Zealanders were unable to convince the authorities in Auckland, the natural host city for the event, that it was a good idea, with the New Zealanders pointing to the ‘tough economic climate’ as a reason for their reticence despite the fact that previous host city Barcelona apparently enjoyed a significant economic windfall as a result of the America’s Cup.
Athena Racing Responds to Choice of Naples
The choice of Naples as the host city has raised the ire of Ben Ainslie’s Athena Racing, the Challenger of Record who released a statement saying: “The ongoing lack of transparency surrounding the recent announcement of the Host City for the America’s Cup in 2027 and the impact this is having on negotiating a fair sporting protocol are yet to be addressed by the Defender, Team New Zealand, who without consultation with Athena Racing, the Challenger of Record, yesterday announced in Naples: “In two years from now the Louis Vuitton Cup will have been sailed in the Gulf of Naples.”.
“Athena Racing has been negotiating in good faith for the past seven months and still has serious concerns regarding several key clauses proposed within the protocol, which is far from being ‘final’ as the Defender suggests.”
Athena Racing is committed to finding a resolution and mutual consent on behalf of all Challengers for the 38th America’s Cup. We will respond imminently with a protocol and partnership framework to the Defender which we hope will allow for a successful event for all stakeholders in 2027 and beyond.
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