ACWS Portsmouth - the summer's 'golden ticket'

Tickets now available - for sale and free - to watch this summer's top event in the Solent

Tickets have gone on sale this week for The America's Cup World Series, Portsmouth taking place over Thursday 23rd - Sunday 26th July.

Fans and spectators are encouraged to book their place now to avoid disappointment with event organisers already receiving a large number of ticket and hospitality enquires.

Up to 500,000 visitors are expected to attend the four day sporting and entertainment spectacular that will provide opportunities to watch the world's best sailors battling it out on the newly foiling AC45 catamarans.

The paid tickets, costing £48.50, will provide access to the official event Fanzone Arena, allowing up to 5,000 fans per day to immerse themselves in the world of the America's Cup while enjoying prime views of the racing and access to exclusive event entertainment. The free-to-view area will be located on Southsea Common, to be named 'The Waterfront Festival Arena' where only pre-registered ticket holders will gain access.

Tickets - both paid-for (for the Fonzone Arena) and free (for the Waterfront Festival Area) are only available through Ticketmaster - here

Hospitality packages have also gone on sale via the event's Official Hospitality Provider, Sportsworld. Offering premium experience packages in the prime site 'Waterfront Pavilion' – the only site that will have direct views overlooking the racing (a mere 100m away).

Details of the hospitality package are available here on and by email.

ACWS Por​tsmouth ​Golden T​icket

The America's Cup World Series Portsmouth event Chairman Sir Keith Mills, GBE, has been central to the delivery of some of the UK's greatest sporting events, most recently as Deputy Chairman of London 2012 and Chairman of 'Invictus Games'.

Sir Keith outlines the expectations: "This event is set to take centre stage in the UK in July – this is a historical moment : the first time a British America's Cup team will race in an official America's Cup event in UK waters since 1851. We believe the ticket and hospitality packages and event schedule cater for all requirements – our aim is to provide 'something for everyone' –- and to ensure this is both a sporting and an entertainment experience. Thursday is the first day of the event and will feature an all team parade of sail and public opening ceremony. Friday is the practice/race preview day and the first opportunity for fans to watch the sailing teams test themselves on Portsmouth's waters. Saturday and Sunday are official race days with a full day's entertainment on both the Southsea Common "Waterfront Festival' arena and inside the official event Fanzone Arena."

Ticket holders can celebrate securing this summer's 'must have' tickets by entering the #goldenticketACWSUK social media competition here.

Sir Keith added: "We have received huge amounts of pre-sale demand for tickets and we encourage fans to book their place early, this is the summer's golden ticket. The America's Cup World Series, Portsmouth is a fantastic opportunity for the British public to enjoy a unique festival atmosphere and watch these incredible boats racing, you don't want to miss it."

British supporters will be able to get behind home team Ben Ainslie Racing, which will be competing on home waters for the first time. The new BAR base is currently under construction in Portsmouth and the team are due to move in two months before the July event.

BAR Team Principal Sir Ben Ainslie commented: "Our goal to bring the America's Cup home to Great Britain starts this summer and it will be fantastic to compete on our home waters in Portsmouth at the start of that journey. The America's Cup World Series event will provide a fantastic spectator experience with the teams battling it out literally meters away from the shore. I've experienced the close-to-shore British crowd during the London 2012 Olympics and it pushed me that little bit harder. In July, we will be competing against the world's best America's Cup teams and to have that home crowd supporting us will drive the team on."