One of the sailboat events tied to the America’s Cup is projected to bring about 1.2 billion euros in Catalonia’s economy. The forecast comes from the Barcelona Capital Maritime Foundation (FBCN), which brings together government bodies and key players in the region’s economic and social fabric. The organizers of the next summer’s competition, the America’s Cup Event (ACE), have traditionally avoided publishing early estimates, but a study from Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) indicates the event could generate around 19,000 jobs in the area.
The 1.2 billion influence is cited by Trade and Labor Minister Roger Torrent as representing roughly 0.5% of 2022 GDP and as the kind of new economic activity that would not have emerged without the Copa América, he stated at the launch ceremony held this Thursday. The BCN Foundation activity hub sits at Moll de Llevant, a location central to many stakeholders connected to this global sports spectacle.
The report later
The FBCN report is supported by representatives from the Generalitat, Barcelona City Council, the Ministry of Culture, and Diputació de Barcelona. It also involves the Port of Barcelona, the Chamber of Commerce, the Barcelona Tourism Consortium, and related organizations such as the Barcelona Global initiative and local hotel groups. The second of ACE’s architects has chosen the Catalan capital as its base for the event, with a clear aim to extend the competition’s legacy across multiple competitive sectors beyond sport. The CEO, Ignasi Armengol, explains that the plan includes long-term benefits across sea-related industries, tourism, and urban regeneration.
Torrent also noted that these figures are just the opening estimates; within weeks, UPF will publish further analyses detailing how the event’s multiplier effect translates into euros earned for every euro invested, and how those returns ripple through the regional economy.
blue economy
Laia Bonet, vice president of the BCN Foundation and deputy mayor, highlights the blue economy as a growing driver for local prosperity. In parallel, youth initiatives linked to the sector are expanding, and the blue economy now accounts for about 15,000 jobs and a turnover near 3.75 billion euros for Barcelona alone. This aligns with regional goals to harness maritime sectors for sustainable growth and job creation, a theme frequently echoed by government representatives during public briefings.
The representative from the Government of Catalonia, Carlos Prieto, took office in a public demonstration this Thursday, stepping in to replace a former official. The city’s history with the Olympic-era experience in 1992 is cited as evidence of its capacity to host world-class events and to extract lasting economic and cultural gains from them.
Also outside the capital
The Generalitat emphasizes that the impact of the sporting event should be felt beyond Barcelona itself. In collaboration with ACE organizers and executive director Grant Dalton, organizers have planned races to take place in Vilanova i la Geltrú this September. The strategy aims to spread the economic and social benefits across multiple communities, ensuring a broader regional footprint and heightened visibility for Catalonia as a premier maritime and event destination.