European port cities and urban regeneration : exploring cultural and sporting mega events at the waters edge Culture and event led regeneration have been catalysts for the transformation of redundant urban port areas and for the reframing of the image of many port cities which notably feature among mega event bidding and host cities. However there is little understanding of the impacts of these processes on port city relationships as well as of how port city cultures shape mega events and the related regeneration strategies. This book examines the underexplored mutual links between on the one hand urban and socio economic regeneration driven by cultural and sporting mega events and on the other hand the spatial political and symbolic ties between cities and their ports. By adopting a cross national comparative perspective with in depth case studies (Hull Rotterdam Genoa and Valencia) and examples from other port cities across the world where mega events were held the book engages with issues such as the tension between port and cultural uses reactions and opposition to mega events in port cities clashing urban imaginaries drawing on port activity and culture the role of port authorities and companies in the citys cultural life the spectacularisation and commodification of local maritime culture and heritage processes of cultural demaritimisation and remaritimisation of port cities. This book is therefore a contribution towards the bridging of port city and mega event studies and it provides insights for port city policy makers and mega event promoters drawing from a range of international experiences. The book also shows how societal and political change in the current ontologically insecure times may undermine the very paradigm of culture and event led regeneration in the years to come