More than one team declared victory when Volvo Ocean Race competitors crossed the finish line last month, with the Swedish Exhibition and Congress Centre contributing to a record-breaking race finale.
To celebrate the end of the grueling 38,739 nautical mile (71,745km) course, the centre staged a free welcome home party complemented by the Welcome Home Expo.
The finale celebrations attracted 335,000 visits to the Gothenburg staging area from 21 to 28 June, an average of 42,000 daily. Organisers reported attendance was up four per cent compared the race’s previous finish in Galway, Ireland, in 2012.
“We’re proud of contributing to a new visitor record for a Volvo Ocean Race finale,” said Carin Kindbom, president and chief executive of the Swedish Exhibition and Congress Centre. “Our visitors are also the city’s and the region’s, and collaborations in connection with events like this are of vital importance for our success in delivering memorable total experiences.”
As previously reported in EW, the 7,000sqm expo focused on homes and interiors as well as garden design.
Volvo Ocean Race competitors set sail from Alicante, Spain, on 4 October 2014, with the first team arriving in Gothenburg on 22 June 2015.
After nine legs, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing was declared overall winner.
