The 2027 Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup in Naples could generate an economic impact of between €1.4 billion and €1.7 billion, according to analysis from Sport e Salute, the government body overseeing the event.
The forecast covers direct spending, indirect activity and induced effects. It compares with an estimated €1.034 billion generated by the 2024 America’s Cup in Barcelona, which attracted about 1.8 million visitors over 59 days.
Naples is expected to receive between three million and 3.5 million visitors during a 62-day programme that includes 40 racing days. Teams are anticipated to operate from the city for about a year.
The estimate follows a preliminary regatta that drew 252,520 visitors to the Race Village and 26,373 spectators on the water. Organisers recorded 2,490 spectator boats across the event, including 22 superyachts each day, while final-day attendance exceeded 120,000.
€10 million investment
Total attendance reached 278,893, compared with about 33,000 visitors to the Barcelona preliminary regatta in the previous cycle. Average daily attendance in Naples was about 63,000, against 8,000 in Barcelona, while the average spectator fleet rose from 131 to 623 boats a day.
The Naples regatta attracted 225 accredited media organisations from 14 countries and generated more than 20 million social media views.
Infrastructure for 2027 will be substantially larger. Team bases at Bagnoli are planned to cover about 37,000 square metres, while the Race and Fan Village will occupy about 100,000 square metres.
The preliminary event used an approximately 70,000-square-metre Race Village and 8,900 square metres of team facilities at Nisida, supported by investment of about €10 million.
The projected visitor increase for the 2027 Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup is expected to affect hotels, restaurants, transport, retail, marine services and the wider regional economy.
