After the victory at the 37th America’s Cup, another important result for Emirates Team New Zealand. STA Group, an English agency that supports the best sports technology globally, placed ETNZL in 5th place in its Sports Technology Annual Review 2024. The report, which includes 100 of the main sports organizations, teams, clothing companies, sports leagues , the world’s broadcasters and technology companies, annually examines the influence and impact of technology in sport.
Innovation as the driving force of ETNZ
In the STA Group rankings, Emirates Team New Zealand is preceded by the NBA, National Basketball Association, the US professional basketball league which occupies first place, followed by the McLaren Formula 1 team, the IT giant Apple and AWS (Amazon Web Service) in fourth place. “It brings the team great pride to be recognised so significantly in the Sports Technology Power List specifically for the technological and innovative aspect of what the team does. On one perspective we are a sailing team, but to be successful in that regard we are ultimately a technology company. Furthermore, in our role as current Defender of the America’s Cup and driver of the technology at the pinnacle event of our sport, it is through the innovation that we have a significant influence across sailing which also extends to a number of industries like marine, sustainability, broadcast and e-sports” said Grant Dalton, CEO of Emirates Team Zealand together with team principal Matteo de Nora is leading the team.
Never anyone like ETNZ
The result at the Sports Technology Annual Review 2024 comes to reward a series of sporting and design goals that Emirates Team New Zealand has achieved over the last few years, crowned by the victory for the third consecutive time in the America’s Cup, something that has never happened in the history of oldest sports trophy in the world. A victory achieved with the AC75 Taihoro which beat the English challenger Ineos Britannia 7 to 2 in the 37th edition which concluded last October 19th in Barcelona.
The AC40 for the future of women and youth in the Cup
Another element of Emirates Team New Zealand which earned fifth place in the Sports Technology Annual Review 2024 was the design and development of the AC40 class which won the World Sailing Boat of the Year award and was used for the Women’s and Youth America’s Cup in Barcelona.
Technologies and record for the Kiwi team
Two other elements were the hydrogen-powered boats used as chase boats at the 37th Americas’ Cup in Barcelona and the wind-powered world land speed record of 225.58 km/h set on 11 December 2022 by Glenn Ashby with the particular Horonuku vehicle on Lake Gairner, South Australia.
The Cup game for everyone
And finally the AC75 Sailing e-Sports Game developed again on the occasion of the 37th America’s Cup of which Emirates Team New Zealand which as Defender was the organizer.
Emilio Martinelli
