Porto Commits to Hosting The Ocean Race Until 2040, at a Cost to the City of More Than 22 Million Euros

Porto will host The Ocean Race, the round-the-world sailing race, until 2040, after its municipal assembly approved the partnership on Tuesday night. The deal puts the race's global headquarters in the empty Kasa da Praia building on the seafront, creates an Ocean Museum, and commits the city to costs that its own proposal puts above 22 million euros, Lusa reported.

Under the calendar set out by the council, the race events in Porto will take place in 2031, 2035 and 2039. The council says the bid has been prepared together with Turismo de Portugal, and that preparations could have an effect on the city well before the first race.

What the city pays

The strategic partnership agreement sets a minimum direct contribution from the city of 12,025,000 euros, spread across the events held in Porto until 2040, according to the proposal seen by Lusa. On top of that come the cost of refurbishing and maintaining the headquarters building, building the museum, free municipal services, licences and ad hoc exemptions from fees for the use of public space. Together those take the city's commitments above 22 million euros.

The Kasa da Praia, between the Castelo do Queijo and the Praia Internacional, has been empty since 2021 and was transferred from the State to the council in July. The council plans to charge the race organisation a symbolic rent of 50 euros for 12 years, while keeping responsibility for conservation, repairs, insurance, property charges and a technology upgrade every five years. Adapting the building is estimated at 3 million euros, with conservation costs of up to 3.25 million. From 1 September 2027 the city must also provide temporary offices until the building is ready.

How the assembly split

The proposal passed with votes against from the CDU, Livre and the Left Bloc, and abstentions from the Socialists and the independent Fernando Cardoso. Hugo Beirão, the councillor for the economy, called it a "transformative" project that would leave "a unique legacy" and bring new infrastructure and regular activities to the city.

The PSD, CDS, Chega and Liberal Initiative (IL) all spoke in favour; IL's Pedro Schuller called the event "the face of Porto". The Socialists' João Coelho said a commitment of this size had to be monitored and "produce concrete results". Livre's Diamantino Raposinho said the list of obligations meant "the municipality pays for everything and the benefits go to the private company", and the CDU said the benefit to the city had not been shown.

The Left Bloc's Susana Constante Pereira raised a planning question: the coastal management programme for the stretch from Caminha to Espinho provides for the Kasa da Praia to be demolished, and she said she could not see how the race plan fits with that.

Why it matters

The council, led by Pedro Duarte (PSD/CDS-PP/IL), is betting that a long tie-up with a global sailing event will raise Porto's profile and give the western seafront a permanent maritime attraction. Critics will be watching whether costs of more than 22 million euros, to be written into the city's budgets as each event comes round, are matched by visitors and spending. The decision follows other moves to manage the city's visitor load, such as moving tuk-tuk stops out of the Ribeira.