The Copa del América opens the debate on the convenience of major events

The victory (7-2) of Emirates Team New Zealand, once again defenders of the America’s Cup, opens the door for Barcelona to repeat as host of the oldest regatta in the world. Although there is still no date set for the next edition (it depends on the proposal made by the future challenging club), the possibility of repeating it once again opens the debate on the convenience of major events, their impact, their legacy and their cost. In March 2022, Mayor Ada Colau led the City Council’s unanimous commitment in favor of the event, together with the Generalitat, the port and, with her endorsement, significant Barcelona companies. Sailing fans and economic agents applaud the possibility of repeating an event that has not had the predicted impact on the streets.

The head of the event, Grant Dalton, has reiterated that “the city has been a great venue, the sailors are delighted and we have felt the support of the people”, while thanking “the work of the Generalitat, the City Council and above all everything from the port.” The promotion of pending projects on the seafront, the acceleration and reopening of the Port Olímpic and the commitment to the blue economy have been postulated as a legacy of a more applauded event on an international scale.

JOSEP SANTACREU

Chamber of Commerce

“The investment is amortized, the next one will cost less”

“It is a very prestigious event on an international scale, with a high economic impact and that contributes to diversifying the tourist offer, in this case, in the field of sports tourism,” maintains Josep Santacreu, who adds that “it has been a unique opportunity for modernize the seafront and port, demonstrating to the world that Barcelona is, has been and will always be a city open to the sea. We are now positioned to host and choose among the events that can best benefit the city, which already has the necessary infrastructure and an investment already amortized that would allow us to take advantage of the current facilities. A new edition would have a much lower cost.”

JOSEP SÁNCHEZ LLIBRE

Promotion

“It is one more part of a very powerful mosaic of Barcelona”

“It is important to be aware of how the Copa del América grows the Barcelona brand, and in a field as important as sport: the Soccer World Cup, the Olympic Games and the Copa del América. The economic return cannot yet be known exactly, it will be positive, but it is undeniable that at the image level it is a value for the future. We must continue to be able to attract investment, events and ideas; and the Copa del América is one more part of a very powerful mosaic of our capital. It is becoming clear that the city is in a renaissance, an awakening in favor of activity and new adventures.”

RAMON AGENJO

Barcelona Global

“The winner must decide the form and place of the new challenge”

“The balance is very positive. Barcelona has demonstrated once again its ability to organize large events of prestige and global reach, and has done so with its own personality, projecting our creativity, culture and sport to the world. In addition, it has united the city even more with the sea and has highlighted our extensive coastline and nautical sports, where new vocations will surely be generated and talent like that of the teams that have competed will emerge. Barcelona is a safe bet, we have shown what we are capable of doing. Now it must be the winning team that is responsible for deciding the form and place when a new challenge is presented to them.”

GABRIEL JENÉ

Barcelona Open

“If we have to host again? Radically, yes”

“The Copa América has given prestige to the Barcelona brand throughout the world with the positioning of a European Mediterranean city of reference for its architecture, innovation, culture, music… and all these attributes favor the arrival of quality visitors in the medium and long term. . From the commercial sector we would be delighted if it were held again in our house. If we have to host again? Radically, yes.”

LUIS SANS

Passeig de Gracia

“The screening has been great and we would love to repeat it”

“The balance is very positive because it has brought visitors with high purchasing power, it has linked Barcelona with high-performance sport, with technological innovation and with female inclusion. Therefore, the projection of Barcelona in the world has been very good, and we would love for it to be held here again.”

PAU BOSCH

Friends of the Rambla

“If it helps the projects move forward, go ahead”

“The balance has been very positive because it has served to accelerate projects, such as the Moll de Drassanes, removing the Balearia terminal that saturated the Rambla, or launching the nautical bus, or restarting the works on the Portal de la Pau… As always, Barcelona shows that it transforms with great events. The administrations agree and accelerate processes. “We are in favor of a new edition if it serves to finish the pending projects.”

MANOLO MARTINEZ

AA.VV. Barcelona

“Did we need the Copa del América for this legacy?

“We have never positioned ourselves either for or against the Copa del América. Whether or not to do it is not up to us either. We have tried to get the most out of it. The impact has not been negative and we are very much in favor of the Viu la Vela program and much more should be done. Did we need this regatta for the legacy they explain to us? In any case, another edition requires in-depth analysis and consensus.”

JORDI PUIG

RCNB

“It has exceeded expectations, we have to commit to repeating it”

“The celebration of the Copa del América has exceeded expectations. Quality tourism has come from many nationalities attracted by the regattas since it began. Barcelona has to commit to repeating as a venue because this event has an exhibition effect for the city and helps to enhance its value.”

LUIS CONDE

Boat Show

“The impact has been brutal, the important thing is that it is maintained”

“False expectations of two million visitors were generated, and this is not a mass business, it is an audience event. But the Copa del América has put Barcelona in the spotlight, the impact has been very positive. In the United States, for example, the impact is brutal and it is the tourist who comes to us with the most purchasing power. It is true that the city has experienced it little, but we have
“It has been proven that we Spaniards know how to do it well, the important thing is that it is maintained and that the next edition is held here again.”

IGNASI ARMENGOL

Barcelona Nautical Capital Foundation

“We are prepared, hosting again is a political decision”

“Our balance is very positive for three factors. The administrations have functioned in a coordinated manner for three years, with weekly and biweekly meetings so that the organization was correct, and it has been. We have had a unified position towards the organizer to be more agile, and the tone and atmosphere has gone to a crescendo, both in the fan zones as in the village and public and private spaces to follow the regattas. “We are prepared to repeat, whether to do it or not responds to a political decision.”

JORDI VALLS

Deputy Mayor

“When we have closed everything, we will talk about repeating”

“When they gave us the America’s Cup there was a certain decline in the city, and at that time, the contest served to prove to ourselves that we could hold an international event and we have managed it well. The collaboration between administrations has been a success, the investments had to be made. It will be a turning point in the relationship with the port, the sea, with the Viu la Vela program and the blue economy with the promotion of several projects. The Copa del América has had a purpose. When we have closed everything, we will talk about whether it is convenient to repeat or not.”

JORDI CORONAS

ERC municipal group

“We question whether another edition makes sense”

“Events have to leave a legacy. This is how we have always defended it. The question is not only whether an event fits with what we want to convey about the city but also how the costs and benefits are redistributed. From ERC we rolled up our sleeves and made it possible for the event to have a legacy in the Barceloneta neighborhood and a return this year of 10 million euros that will have to be used to improve public space and mobility. In the absence of the final closure, we question whether this is an event that could have been held by a large majority of citizens and that it makes sense to hold a new edition.

JORDI MARTÍ GALBIS

Junts-TriasxBCN municipal group

“Repeat depends on the audit and the hosts’ proposal”

“We have always been in favor of hosting major international sporting events that project Barcelona to the world and give us a very positive global image of excellence. Not all cities can host the Copa del América. When it was achieved, thanks to public-private collaboration, it was an injection of collective morale; and it is fair to say that it has helped accelerate investments in Port Vell and Port Olímpic. He will also leave us a good legacy in the blue economy sector and in promoting women’s sports. The next edition will depend on the proposal they make to us. We will define ourselves based on the balance, the results of the audit and evaluations that we have requested and the conditions set by the winner.”

JANET SANZ

BComú municipal group

“Expectations have not been met, we want an audit”

“Barcelona cannot host the Copa del América again. Beyond not having met the expectations of the public, audience or economic and cultural impact on the city, Barcelona cannot bet on an opaque event suspected of fraud that would only damage our prestige as an international benchmark. From BComú we are forceful: we want an audit and, if the accusations are proven, we want public money to return to the citizens.”

DANIEL SIRERA

municipal group of the PP

“We must aspire to become a permanent headquarters”

“Hosting this important event in our city has reopened and attracted citizens to the Port Olímpic, the Rambla, the breakwater or the Maremagnum area, which had been forgotten by the people of Barcelona, ​​and has provided quality, long-lasting tourism. , which arrives outside the usual tourist season. “We are in favor of hosting this sporting event again and even aspiring to a permanent venue.” Sirera denounces the lack of ambition of the municipal government “by not committing to work to maintain the organization of this event.”

GOLDEN GONZALO

Vox municipal group

“Repeating will be an opportunity to do better”

“Barcelona must have great events like the Copa del América. The attendance and promotion of the event could have been done much better, with greater involvement of the State at the level of promotion as a major event held in Spain. Repeating would be a good opportunity, since with the current experience it will surely be possible to improve in organization, promotion and financing.”