America's Cup, Naples Pizzerias Flooded: Supplies Sell Out Between Chiaia and the Waterfront

Four days of America's Cup preliminary races and Naples discovered it can handle the tourist flow of a major international event. As reported by La Repubblica, the Race Village area, from the waterfront to Chiaia, was overwhelmed by unprecedented demand: pizzerias ran out of supplies, ice cream shops were emptied, restaurants tripled the portions they served.

Thousands of pizzas a day

According to the newspaper's data, a single stand in the Race Village churned out between 1,200 and 2,000 folded pizzas a day over the weekend. At the "Umberto" restaurant in Chiaia, owner Massimo Di Porzio (also president of Confcommercio Napoli) recounts that on Saturday and Sunday at lunch, over 400 pizzas were served—triple the usual amount—between takeout and full dining room.

The historic pizzeria on the waterfront "Antonio&Antonio" also recorded off-the-charts numbers: owner Antonio Della Notte speaks of customers arriving from all over the world, to the point that he decided to arrange English courses for staff in preparation for upcoming events.

Gelato gone, liqueur sold out

It wasn't just pizza: Gay-Odin sold 200 kilograms more gelato across its shops. Board member Massimo Schisa describes a "World Cup final-like buzz," with supplies exhausted on Sunday at the outlets on via Carducci and via Chiaia, and chocolate liqueur completely sold out.

The numbers

Confesercenti Campania estimates total economic impact of around 230 million euros. President Vincenzo Schiavo speaks of a result achieved "by working as a team." Di Porzio calculates that the restaurant sector alone generated around 20 million euros in revenue. Maurizio Marinella instead estimates a 30-35% increase in sales during the preliminary race days.

Preparing for 2027

Merchants and restaurant owners are already looking ahead to the next edition. Di Porzio announces that the village will be spread across two areas, also including Bagnoli, and assures: "We won't be caught unprepared." Schisa is thinking about calibrating supplies better and is already preparing a novelty for Easter.