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The America’s Cup is safely secured in the clutches of New Zealand, and there is now mounting pressure for the event to stay in the local seas.
New Zealand CEO Grant Dalton will not rule out taking the next iteration overseas.
Photo: © Chris Cameron 2013
Four of the last six American Cups have not been hosted by defenders and New Zealand team executive director Grant Dalton will not rule out taking the next iteration overseas as well.
However, any move could come to the ire of business owners, Auckland City Council, local boating fanatics and government ministers who have offered a large amount of money as an incentive.
The government, Team New Zealand and the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron have three months to negotiate an agreement to keep the regatta here.
The minister responsible for supporting the America’s Cup, Stuart Nash, considered that it would be an opportunity to show the country and make use of the infrastructure, which has already been built.
“We have offered them $ 5 million to keep the team together. Obviously, I have made it clear that that comes on the condition that the cup is run in New Zealand. Why would we give away money to taxpayers so that the cup is run in New Zealand? Foreign?” he said.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the event had provided optimism and enthusiasm after a difficult year, and felt that many New Zealanders would like her to stay.
“What we have to do is make sure we try to be consistent – the government has played a role in successive cups to keep the team together, but equally, we have to make sure New Zealand gets some benefit from the hosting,” he said. .
Auckland’s nautical shops and hospitality venues can attest to the economic benefits of having the glass close by.
With an estimated 200,000 people attending the sailing event in the last week of racing, the Heart of the City business group said spending on shops, restaurants and bars reached 95 percent in the same period last year.
The manager of Sailor Supplies near the viaduct, Rhys Innes-Jones, said that as soon as Team New Zealand started running “it was like a tap.”
“We were busy from the moment we got out of our cars before entering the shop, until the moment we closed at 3.30pm to go watch the race,” he said.
Neil Morris is co-owner of Johnny Wray’s Coffee near the viaduct where the New Zealand team got their morning fix, and agreed it was “obvious” to keep the event close.
“During cup time it’s amazing. People get there early, they park, they buy team jerseys, hats and they support all the coffee shops, the restaurants. So for us, when the America’s Cup is underway, we pay our accounts, “he said.
Baduzzi manager Alice Capro said the boost was welcome, “especially after Covid.”
“We are very, very happy and we had a great time hosting,” he said.
Local boatman Grant Kelly said Auckland is “the best place in the world to have the cup.”
“The support of the fans, the port, the New Zealand sailors know the port. Why take it overseas? It will only be a question of money if they do it. It must be kept here. Otherwise, Grant Dalton takes the hit. “, He said.
The skipper of the defeated team Luna Rossa and the New York Yacht Club Commodore have also expressed their support for the next event to be in New Zealand.
