Sails are about to be trimmed, teams are about to clash, and the world is about to take notice – SailGP is gunning for a spot on the British summer sporting throne. With a whopping $100m-per-team price tag, this high-stakes sailing league has its sights firmly set on global domination.
The 14th team, based in the Middle East, will be joining the fray next year, with further expansion planned for season eight in 2028. And it's clear that SailGP is intent on becoming a major player – not just in Britain, but around the globe. Private investors are already circling, including MSP Sports Capital, which has snapped up the New Zealand team.
Managing director Andrew Thompson has revealed plans to make SailGP one of the top sports properties in the world by 2030, with a valuation comparable to that of a Formula 1 team. And he's got his sights firmly set on making it a staple of the British summer calendar – alongside Wimbledon, The Open, and the British Grand Prix.
The franchise price for new teams is set at a whopping $75m-$100m – significantly higher than the previous valuation of teams in the Premier Jumping League. But Thompson is confident that SailGP's popularity will continue to soar – especially with stars like Kylian Mbappe, Anne Hathaway, and Hugh Jackman already on board as investors.
The British leg of SailGP has been held in Portsmouth since its inception, but this year's event promises to be the biggest yet. With good weather forecast for July, it's set to become a must-see spectacle – two days of high-octane racing that will leave fans on the edge of their seats.