Sponsors are finalizing plans in Newport, R.I., for activation during the 10-day "stopover" between legs of the 38,739-nautical mile Volvo Ocean Race. The six competing boats finished a 5,000-mile leg from Brazil yesterday, and this morning reached Newport, the only U.S. stop. Newport is expecting 100,000 visitors over the next 10 days and an economic impact of $42M from activity in and around the Race Village at Fort Adams State Park, which will include an "in shore" race. Volvo will entertain more than 1,000 guests. Heineken will also have a major presence in Newport, with a beer garden and on-premise activation across Southern New England. Other stopover sponsors include MetLife, champagne brand Moët & Chandon, charter company Sunsail, Bell Helicopter parent Textron and Cox Communications. Bob Basche's Connect Sports & Entertainment and Scott MacLeod's Force 10 Marketing combined for more than $600,000 in sponsorship sales. The China-based Dongfeng Race Team won the sixth leg of the race, which began Oct. 11 in Alicante, Spain, and will end in Gothenburg, Sweden, next month. The teams will be in Newport until May 17, when they head out on the seventh leg to Lisbon, Portugal.
