The French challenge for the America’s Cup, the 37th edition of which will be held in Barcelona from August 22, 2024, has decided to set up its base camp in Lorient. The city of six ports also intends to host the Péristyle, on land located a few steps from the Lorient Agglomération headquarters, the technical base of K Challenge, the company which supports the three France Challenger teams participating in this 37th edition. “We will welcome them from the end of 2024 on the ground. The boats will first be installed on the left bank, while a new pontoon is installed and dredging operations are carried out, before their final installation on the right bank,” comments Fabrice Loher, president of Lorient Agglomération, ahead of the community council, Tuesday June 25, 2024. The announcement was made a few weeks ago by Stéphane Kandler, founder and co-general manager of L’Orient Express Racing Team.
Economic consequences
This arrival is accompanied by a six-year sponsorship agreement, the outlines of which were presented this Tuesday to the elected officials of Lorient Agglomération and adopted by a majority. The community sees it as a way to “promote the territory” by being, from 2024, support “as official supplier” of the three French teams (including women’s and youth) and the opportunity to strengthen “the boating ecosystem and of the Lorient composite valley”.
An operation worth two million euros (excluding taxes) for the status of official supplier and the installation of the technical base. “It’s a strong commitment,” says Pascal Le Liboux, vice-president in charge of the economy. According to him, the consequences for the territory, in addition to the repercussions in terms of image, are far from being negligible, particularly from an economic point of view. In direct employment with the arrival of “around fifty employees” but also in terms of “indirect economic dynamism” with, in particular, “the creation of a very high-level digital and embedded electronics center”.
The doubtful opposition on “the real cost”
Elected officials from the left-wing and environmental groups nevertheless remain doubtful. “€2.4 million is not nothing,” notes Gilles Carréric, mayor of Lanester. Above all, he wonders “about the counterparties of Lorient Agglomération” and, ultimately, “about the real balance” of this sponsorship contract. Which, according to the reading that is made, could, according to him, result in Lorient not being able to accommodate the challenge in the event of its victory under current conditions. “If there were a victory in the 37th edition, the impact would be enormous since we would be supposed to be the organizing territory of the 38th,” underlines Fabrice Loher, the president of Lorient Agglomération. The matter would then take on a whole new dimension. “This would lead to other consequences that we cannot bear alone… We need a guarantee from the State, we need intervention at a level that is beyond us.”
