SailGP Team Expansion Costs Surpass $60 Million Mark

The world of competitive sailing is changing fast. SailGP, the global sailing championship, keeps pushing boundaries as it grows at a wild pace.

They’re planning to jump from 12 to 14 teams for the 2026 season. The price to buy a team? It’s shot up, showing just how much buzz and value the sport has now.

This whole scene has a lot going on: the money, the global reach, and some pretty big names getting interested. There’s a lot to unpack about where SailGP could be headed next.

Unprecedented Growth in SailGP

SailGP’s journey since day one has been wild, honestly. The championship kicked off in 2019, and since then, the team count has doubled.

Now, with new expansion plans, the cost to buy a team has blown up to over $60 million. Just six years ago, it was only $5 million.

Deloitte is running the tender process for this expansion. There are over 35 people or groups who’ve shown interest, and it sounds like the bidding’s going to get heated.

Financial Dynamics of Team Acquisition

The money side of SailGP feels like a whole new world compared to just a few years ago. Andrew Thompson, SailGP’s managing director, says the minimum price to get in is $60 million, but some bids might even top $70 million.

That’s a huge leap, and it pretty much proves the sport is catching on with investors and celebrities. Big money is flowing in, and people are clearly willing to pay for a piece of the action.

• High-profile investments: Folks like Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, and Kylian Mbappe have bought in, which is honestly pretty cool for the sport’s image.
• Increased spectator interest: Events like June’s New York Grand Prix pulled in over 10,000 ticketed fans. The crowds are definitely growing.
• Global reach: Europe, Asia, and the Middle East are all getting in on the action. SailGP’s got eyes on it from just about everywhere.

Geographical Expansion and Interest

SailGP isn’t just growing in dollars—it’s all over the map, too. Teams from Europe are bidding strong, but there’s chatter about Argentina, Mexico, and Sweden possibly joining in.

China and Saudi Arabia don’t have teams yet, but they’re definitely on the radar. The global spread is starting to look pretty real.

Focus on the Middle East and Asia

Thompson says they really want to expand in the Middle East. Even though the United Arab Emirates hosts races, they don’t have a team competing yet.

That feels like a big opportunity sitting there. Asia’s also showing a lot of interest, and SailGP wants to plant a bigger flag in that region, too.

Innovative Racing Formats

SailGP isn’t just about adding more teams—they’re also playing with new ways to keep things interesting. Thompson floated the idea of a playoff format, since 12 teams is the max they can have on the starting line right now.

They’re clearly looking for ways to make the sport more exciting and easier for new fans to follow. It’s all about keeping things fresh.

Future Prospects

Thompson tossed out a pretty bold vision: a 20-team championship in the next five years. That’s a big jump, but with all this momentum, who knows?

If they keep up this pace, SailGP could end up being one of the most talked-about racing series anywhere. It’ll be interesting to see if they can pull it off.

Conclusion

SailGP’s growth lately? It’s honestly impressive. The sport’s popularity keeps climbing, and you can feel the momentum.

Big money is flowing in, and you see celebrities getting on board. That kind of attention doesn’t just happen by accident.

The championship keeps reaching new corners of the world. They’re not afraid to try out fresh formats either, which keeps things interesting.