Volvo Ocean Race Move to Alicante Part of Growing Sports Tourism Trend.
Sports Tourism is going to be big. You might think that sports tourism is quite big now, but in fact, despite the number of room nights and the value of resturant bills that can be attributed to fans visiting a destination to watch their favourite team or partake in the atmosphere of a major event, the sector hasn’t really been taken very seriously.
While some governments around the world realise the importance of attracting major events to their destinations, there is a disconnect between the marketing and the delivery via tourism businesses. Some governments though are more savvy than others. This site has many examples of major sailing events being used to drive the tourism economies of places like Oman, Andalucia or the Vendee Region of France.
The stakes are high and the destinations that are willing to invest heavily over long periods of time will win out. Take the relocation of the Volvo Ocean Race to Alicante for example… the following is an article from the Volvo Ocean Race website:
‘La Volvo’ had arrived before it even set up its new permanent home on the Mediterranean coast of Spain in Alicante.
In what turned out to be a kid of trial marriage, the start of the 2008-09 race proved to be an instant success with the locals who immediately gave a name to the teams, the boats and the race management.
They called it simply ‘La Volvo’ and the name stuck even when the race was not there, or other events ranging from regattas like the TP52 circuit, or pop concerts, or even horse shows.
After over a decade being housed in Whiteley, just off the M27 motorway running between Southampton and Portsmouth on England’s south coast, what was always a global race is changing culture, and location.
The migration south has been a highly-complex plan involving the race organisation, the city of Alicante and the regional government of Valencia.
Put simply, the race not only has a third consecutive start port in Spain, the whole management of the race, including the all-important operations room, which maintains 24-hour contact with the fleet when it is at sea, is moving home.
The development means a permanent new facet to the waterfront heart of the city, and that has to fit into the plan for the region of Valencia.
The third constituent of the complex is the development of a museum and interactive exhibition centre, which should be a major new tourist attraction in its own right.
In addition, the side of the marina, which was the pre-start pit lane in 2008, will now be available as permanent homes for the teams pre- 2011.
Co-ordinating the move for what will also change from Volvo Event Management UK to Volvo Ocean Race, S.L.U. meant ensuring continuity of all race operations up until 28 November when the previous HQ was returned to the landlords.
One of the advantages for the race has been the close links with the logistical knowledge bank of Volvo’s world base in Sweden and the long-standing presence and business knowledge of Volvo Cars and the truck and bus businesses in Spain.
The big emergency generator on the Whiteley site is unlikely to be put on the back of a removal lorry. And the number of people has gone from a race-on-tour high of up to 80 down to a tickover – even if that tickover rate is still about 10,000 revs a minute – before building back up.
But the four rigid inflatables will travel with the team along with the former Pirates of the Caribbean Volvo Open 70, which, for the time being, will be on permanent display. There will also be the move of the three television edit suites and the radio production room.
What will change will be the whole style in which a safety-based, technology-driven race management organisation draws in the general public.
One of the features of the 2008-09 race start was the number of people who extended their evening and weekend strolls, el paseo, down to the village, the family occasion it became, the school party destination that was so popular.
AYRE Challenge Presents Its Volvo Ocean Race Project
AYRE Challenge has presented its project to take part in the next three editions of the Volvo Ocean Race, all of which will start in the Spanish port of Alicante.
The presentation of this 10-year-long project and milestone in Spanish yacht racing took place in Denia, a city that has strong ties with AYRE Challenge. Two years ago, the Spanish team presented its challenge for the 33rd America’s Cup representing the Real Club Náutico de Denia (Royal Yacht Club of Denia).
The city of Denia also belongs to the province of Alicante, starting point of the next three editions of the Volvo Ocean Race, highlighting AYRE’s firm commitment to participate in all of them.
Knut Frostad, Volvo Ocean Race CEO, expressed his satisfaction with the firm intention of AYRE Challenge:
“We are very happy that teams such as AYRE present their firm intention to take part in our competition, proving the sport and commercial appeal of the Volvo Ocean Race as a platform with international reach and impact” and pointed out that “AYRE Challenge is a project with a long-term commitment that will guarantee its participation in at least 2 editions”.
Pedro Perelló, founder and CEO of AYRE Challenge, outlined the main lines of action of the team:
“AYRE Challenge was born as a new reference in yacht racing on a national and international level, based on 3 fundamental foundations. It will be a winning project, spanning various yacht classes and various aspects (sport, cultural and social).” Perelló wanted to highlight that the team opted for the VOR as the first important sailing event in which to kick off the AYRE project mainly because of “its international reach, its international values and positioning, its prestige, and the solidity it provides to our sponsors”. Regarding AYRE Challenge’s participation, “the key of the project is the ability to have continuity in time in order to break away from the usual cycles in yacht racing and for that reason the team commits to participate in the next 3 VOR editions that will start in Alicante in 2011, 2014 and 2017″.
Augusto Sanguinetti, gave a first brief overview of the project’s main technical and sports aspects:
“Our latest-generation VO70 boat will be built in the Region of Valencia in 2010 and according to our initial schedule the boatbuilder will be Richard Gillies”.
As far as boat design is concerned, the team is currently studying proposals from 2 designers of the highest international caliber and a decision will be taken before the end of 2009.
Team AYRE Challenge will rely on 2 active bases during the preparation and actual competition of the next VOR: The base in the Valencia Region will be the Team’s permanent one, housing its headquarters and used for both logistics and maintenance operations as well as for the organization of various events by the Team. The sports base, on the Atlantic Ocean coast, will be where the most important tests for the new boat development will take place.
The aim is to have 3 key persons in the sailing crew: the skipper and 2 watch captains. They will be the ones to decide and ultimately select the sailing crew that will compete in the next Volvo Ocean Race and in addition they will actively take part in the buildup and evolution of the Team.
Sanguinetti concluded that,
“we have 24 months ahead of us from today before the start of the next VOR and our objective is to make the most of our time in order to build a great team with the best preparation possible.”
The countdown towards the 2011-12 Volvo Ocean Race has just started for Team AYRE Challenge.
More Economic Impact Numbers from the Volvo Ocean Race.
The Volvo Ocean Race has released more figures from the most recent edition of the race. The latest report was undertaken by the Sports Business Group at Deloitte and focussed on the economic impact on host ports.
The report shows why regional governments and tourist boards are so keen to host a stopover of the race and the link between sport and tourism.
The study was carried out into the 2008-09 start in Alicante, in the Valenciana region, and the stopover ports of Singapore, Galway and Stockholm. The methodology involved research with key stakeholders including teams, organisers, partners, and the media, and extensive spectator research and economic impact modelling.
The highlights of the Deloitte report show a Euros 89.2 million (US $131 million) total economic impact for Alicante – a 46% increase on the 2005-06 start port in the Galicia region.
Galway generated Euros 55.8 million total impact – 30% above initial projections. There were 40,500 international visitors and 46,000 visitors from elsewhere in Ireland went to Galway.
Singapore produced a total economic impact of Euros 33 million, with a direct impact of Euros 20 million, more than what was generated by the UEFA Cup Final in Scotland in 2007 (Euros 18 million).
In Singapore there were 1,400 corporate hospitality visitors and 74,000 visitor nights.
The race delivered almost Euros 32 million in direct economic benefits to Stockholm, the largest element being spectator spending with Euros 1,000 expenditure per head for international visitors.
When indirect impact is included this rises to Euros 43 million. 16,000 visitors were involved in corporate activities in the race village, at least 2,300 of them were enjoying structured corporate hospitality programmes.
Additionally there was Euros 23 million of spending by race spectators and media from outside the local region.
The report also illustrates the fact that the race is reaching out beyond traditional sailing enthusiasts. Almost two thirds (63%) of the 1,256 spectators that were interviewed by Deloitte had no previous active interest in sailing.
“This means the Volvo Ocean Race has successfully attracted a large proportion of spectators not previously associated with the sport and thus is successfully broadening its fan base.”
An overwhelming 98.44% of the 321 local spectators that were interviewed thought that hosting the Volvo Ocean Race was a good thing for their cities, and over 85% agreed that hosting the Volvo Ocean Race made them feel more positively about their cities.
Hosting the race has had a positive influence towards future tourism, since 76% of the 455 international spectators interviewed said they were more likely to return to the hosting cities after their visit.
KEY FINDINGS
Economic impact
Alicante
- Euros 89.2 million (US$131m) – total economic impact, an increase of 46% over the previous start port in the Galician region
- 5,000 corporate visitors from teams and sponsors
- 85% hotel occupancy rates
Singapore
- Euros 20 million direct impact in Singapore (total economic impact Euros 33m) – more than the UEFA Cup Final in Scotland in 2007 (Euros 18m)
- 1,650 corporate guests
Galway
- Euros 55.8 million total impact – 30% above initial projections
- Euros 36.5 million of spending by race spectators from outside the local region
- 99% of international visitors would recommend Galway as a holiday destination
Stockholm
- Euros 32 million in direct economic benefits. Rises to Euros 42 million with indirect impact
- 16,000 visitors involved in corporate activities
- Euros 23 million of spending by race spectators and media from outside the local region
- Euros 1,000 expenditure per head for international visitors in Stockholm
Spanish Armada Regrouping. English Lose Volvo Ocean Race HQ.
The Volvo Ocean Race is to move its headquarters from the south coast of England to Alicante, Spain. Perhaps bigger news is that the deal spans the next three editions of the race, giving teams and sponsors a real roadmap for the event going into the future.
The news underlines the difference between the way different cities and governments view top level sport and the changing demographics of global sailing. While the UK focusses on the 2012 Olympics and it’s crazy obsession with football (soccer), it is losing big events to countries that understand the economic benefits.
Knut Frostad, CEO of the race said:
“This is a great moment for the Volvo Ocean Race. One of our goals, as we’ve looked ahead to the next race, has been to establish long-term relationships with our stopover ports, and, for economic reasons, to base our headquarters in one of the stopover ports. But this only makes sense when both parties can make a long-term commitment. And that’s the partnership we are announcing today with Alicante.
Spain has played a significant part in recent editions of the race. Spanish sailors outnumber all other nations in the current competition and Spain has shown consistently that it understands event culture, and how to organise sporting competition.
Francisco Camps, President of the Region of Valencia said:
“The impact of hosting the start of the Volvo Ocean Race in Alicante last October was very positive for the city, the region and all of Spain. Today’s agreement means Spain will build on its status as a centre of excellence for sailing for years to come.”
The Volvo Ocean Race headquarters has been in Hampshire, England since 1998, a hangover from when the race was called the Whitbread. The UK’s sailing industry and local governments are struggling to get support for the country’s biggest sailing event – Cowes Week, so it is unsurprising that they lack the imagination and vision to invest in keeping the Volvo Ocean Race.
It is hard to imagine the UK putting together a package that included a race museum and providing assistance to teams who want to relocate to the city.
The race museum and interactive exhibition will celebrate the 36-year history and heritage of the race. The first phase is scheduled for completion in 2010.
“The museum and interactive exhibition is very important for us,” Frostad added. “This race has a long and storied history. The museum and interactive exhibition will celebrate that heritage and provide a link between our future in Alicante and our past racing around the world.”
The UK had better hope that the OC Group continue to call the Solent home. The company is a shining light that along with the well funded Vendee Globe teams and Team Origin prove that there is the expertise to keep the UK in the limelight. But without government support at all levels the country will continue to lose big sporting events, jobs and investment.
Audi Med Cup Confirms 2009 Event Schedule
The Audi MedCup Circuit, has confirmed the calendar dates and venues for the 2009 competition season. For 2009, the Audi MedCup Circuit, now in its fifth year, will travel to five different venues from May through to September.
- May 12th to 17th Alicante, Spain
- June 9th to 14th Marseille, France
- July 20th to 25th Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy
- August 18th to 23rd, Portimão, Portugal
- September 14th to 19th, Carthagena, Spain
“We return to five known venues, each which we know and which have proven themselves. They boast excellent racing waters and favourable geographical location. The Circuit dates are set in order to try and benefit from the best weather conditions on the race areas at each of the venues, whilst also forming a geographical circuit that is easiest for the team logistics,” explains Circuit Director Ignacio Triay.
The Audi MedCup Circuit organisers have worked closely with the venues and sponsors to decide on setting the regatta dates that best showcase the host venues and attractions for the visitors whilst taking into account teams and sponsor needs.
For the second time in five years, the Circuit will conclude in Spain.
“There are no surprise events as we return to venues we know. The dates have been set with careful consideration of the international racing calendar,” concludes Triay.
