America’s Cup Enters New Era with Historic Team Partnership
By David Robinson
The newly launched America’s Cup Partnership unites competing teams under shared governance and commercial management for the first time in the event’s 174-year history.
A new pivotal America’s Cup Partnership (ACP), signaling a new era for the iconic sailing event, has been launched and will come into effect on November 1, 2025. The America’s Cup has always evolved to meet the demands of its time, and today’s sporting landscape presents fresh opportunities to enhance the competition’s global relevance and commercial strength.
Shared Vision and Structure
The partnership is built on a mutual agreement that unites competing teams under a shared governance and commercial structure. The ACP will focus on commercial growth, long-term investment in the event and its teams, ensuring the America’s Cup remains at the forefront of design, technical development, and innovation, all while respecting the Deed of Gift.
This historic agreement marks the first time in the event’s 174-year history that competing teams have joined forces under a shared governance and commercial framework, allowing them to jointly manage the competition, share revenues, and maximise engagement with fans worldwide.
Grant Dalton, CEO of Emirates Team New Zealand, commented: “As other highly successful sports over the past decade have demonstrated, we believe that by partnering with our fellow teams to establish a more permanent governance and commercial organisation, we will collectively realise the incredible global growth and popularity that the America’s Cup and its fans deserve.”
New Governance Model
A new governance board will oversee the ACP, with each team holding a seat. The board will appoint an independent management team focused on the ACP’s core objectives. This shifts control from the traditional Defender-centric model to a balanced, multi-team authority where all participants share decision-making power.
This represents a fundamental change in the Cup’s 174-year history: all teams now have equal representation and voting rights, creating a level playing field and replacing the historic Defender-led structure.
The America’s Cup and associated regattas will move to a more stable race schedule, with the America’s Cup Match contested every two years. This predefined cycle will enhance planning for teams, venues, and sponsors.
The ACP will manage all aspects of the event, including ownership, administration, rights, contracts, revenues, assets, personnel, and operations, in alignment with both the governance documents – the Deed of Gift – and the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup Protocol.
Athena Racing CEO and Team Principal Sir Ben Ainslie said: “The formation of ACP is a truly historic mo.ment for the America’s Cup. For the first time, teams are uniting not just as rivals on the water, but as shared stakeholders in its future. This collective approach enables us to realise the Cup’s global commercial potential while protecting its unique heritage.
“It marks the start of an exciting new era, not just for the teams, but for fans, partners and the sport of sailing.”