SailGP publishes long-term growth strategy and reveals plans for more events
SailGP has revealed ambitious plans to transform the championship over the next five years, setting out a roadmap that will see the league grow with more teams and more events.
The SailGP 2030 strategy marks the next chapter for the championship as it targets becoming one of the world’s leading sports and entertainment properties by the end of the decade.
Currently featuring 13 national teams racing across 13 events, the league plans to expand both the number of teams on the start line and the number of annual events in repeat host cities by 2030.
SailGP CEO and co-founder Sir Russell Coutts said the league is now entering a new era after spending its first five years building the foundations of the championship.
He said: “When Larry Ellison and I founded SailGP in 2018, our goal was to redefine the way the sport of sailing is viewed, perceived and experienced: inspiring the next generation through a first-of-its kind championship for the top professional athletes in the sport, competing on equal terms, in the world’s most iconic destinations.
“Our first five years were about building strong foundations, creating an exceptional, fan-centric sporting product, testing what works and learning.
“Now we move into a different phase, one that’s defined by audience growth, consistency and scale. We have a product that can stand shoulder to shoulder with the world’s leading sports championships in terms of its appeal as a sports and entertainment property, and the next five years are about making sure the world’s sports fans, cities and brands know it.”
The sporting series is now attracting younger audiences around the world, with the 2025 season watched by a cumulative 215 million dedicated broadcast viewers. By 2030, SailGP is aiming to reach more than 30 million dedicated viewers per event, supported by increased awareness in established markets and expansion into new territories including China, Japan, India, Mexico and South Korea.
Andrew Thompson, managing director of SailGP, said the strategy builds on the qualities that have defined the championship since day one.
“SailGP 2030 builds on the principles that have defined SailGP from the outset: close-to-shore stadium racing in iconic global destinations, world-leading technology and a commitment to pushing the boundaries of sport and entertainment.
“None of our growth to date would have been possible without the belief and commitment of all of our stakeholders: our partners, teams, host cities and the athletes. This strategy is as much theirs as it is ours and together, we will drive the league and the sport’s next chapter into 2030 and beyond.”
The strategy underlines SailGP’s ambition to continue growing on and off the water, creating more opportunities for fans to experience the sport while taking the championship to new audiences across the globe.
