The end of Race Report, released today, confirms that the 2014-15 Volvo Ocean Race was the most successful ever (full story below).<\/p>\n
– Over three times more corporate guests than ever before<\/p>\n
– 2.4 million visitors to the Race Village – the highest footfall in race history<\/p>\n
– Race Report released to stakeholders today<\/p>\n
ALICANTE, Spain, November 2 – The 2014-15 edition of the Volvo Ocean Race was the most successful ever, figures show in the official Race Report released today.<\/p>\n
The curtain fell on the 12th edition of the 42-year-old event in Gothenburg on June 27, and today\u2019s report confirms it was the best yet.<\/p>\n
Headlines from the report include:<\/p>\n
A record number (70,471) of corporate guests receiving unique Volvo Ocean Race experiences \u2013 more than three times the previous highest number, achieved in 2011-12, which confirms the Race\u2019s position as a key business platform for its sponsors.<\/p>\n
The highest footfall (2.4 million) in the event’s history, with a 16 percent increase on the daily average number of visitors compared to 2011-12.<\/p>\n
An increase of 140 percent in online news audience across 113 countries and 27 percent in TV publicity value (\u20ac293 million) thanks to improved content from the Onboard Reporters and better quality media covering the Race.<\/p>\n
7,663 hours of global TV coverage achieved \u2013 a 59 percent rise on 2011-12.<\/p>\n
The participating teams achieved an average media value of \u20ac47.5 million.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Volvo Ocean Race offers world-class and unique hospitality opportunities both on and off the water \u2013 and the number of guests to experience our programme has tripled on last edition,\u201d said Race CEO, Knut Frostad.<\/p>\n
The comprehensive programme provides guests with a range of premium experiences such as the chance to join the sailors on board for Leg Starts and In-Port Races and be the first to welcome the boats \u2013 heading out to greet the fleet as it arrives into each new port.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have hosted a record number of corporate visitors in eight of our 10 stopovers around the world \u2013 a hugely positive global trend,\u201d added Frostad.<\/p>\n
One of the most popular aspects of the programme was the Guest Onboard experience, which offered 2,451 guests the opportunity to race in one of the seven Volvo Ocean 65s. That\u2019s a 58% increase on the 2011-12 edition.<\/p>\n
Frostad continued: \u201cWe are giving more people than ever before the chance to taste just what it\u2019s like to race, alongside our elite athletes, out on the water. It\u2019s truly a money-can\u2019t-buy experience.\u201d<\/p>\n
In addition to the on-water activities, the Race also provided a premium shore experience, including a glitzy Awards Nights ceremony in each stopover, guided tours of the boats, and tailored business programmes such as conferences and product launches.<\/p>\n
In terms of the racing, the decision to switch to a one-design class at the end of the 2011-12 edition paid dividends \u2013 with boats often separated by minutes and sometimes seconds, right up to the finish line.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe saw six out of seven boats win both an offshore leg and an In-Port Race,\u201d said Frostad. \u201cThere were also seven different points ties between two boats or more over the course of the Race, and seven finishes of less than five minutes between teams, which is unprecedented in offshore racing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sailors from 19 different nations took part in the event, with overall winners Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing consisting of the most – an average of 6.9 nationalities on board throughout the Race.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Race\u2019s status as a truly global spectacle is a key value \u2013 and, in addition to visiting 11 countries around the world, the teams are becoming more international, too,\u201d added Frostad.<\/p>\n
The official Volvo Ocean Race website features content in four different languages, and a team of dedicated media managers produced updates and news in a further five.<\/p>\n
With over 2.4 million visitors from all corners of the planet, the Race Villages saw record footfall \u2013 with a daily average of 16,326 people coming through the gates. That\u2019s a 16% increase on the previous edition.<\/p>\n
The stopovers were shorter and featured interactive activities focused around the Race, such as the \u2018Another Day At The Office\u2019 dome and the Volvo Ocean 65 cross section, which illustrated the cramped conditions the sailors endured, and welcomed 497,500 fans on board.<\/p>\n
In addition to these attractions, the busy stopover programmes included live concerts, community activities and action displays from Red Bull athletes.<\/p>\n
The Onboard Reporters embedded into each boat delivered consistently compelling, high definition content from the most remote corners of the world.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe main objective this edition was to increase and focus on quality rather than quantity \u2013 and we saw a huge improvement in online and print coverage,\u201d said Frostad.<\/p>\n
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