The America's Cup is safely secured in New Zealand's clutches - and now there's mounting pressure for the event to stay put in local seas.
New Zealand's chief executive Grant Dalton won't rule out taking the next iteration offshore. Photo: © Chris Cameron 2013
Four out of the past six America's Cups haven't been hosted by the defenders and Team New Zealand chief executive Grant Dalton won't rule out taking the next iteration offshore too.
However, any moves could come at the wrath of business owners, Auckland Council, local sailing fanatics and government ministers who have offered a pot of money as incentive.
The government, Team New Zealand and the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron have three months to negotiate a deal to keep the regatta here.
The minister responsible for America's Cup support, Stuart Nash, felt it would be a chance to showcase the country and make use of infrastructure, which has already been built.
"We have offered them $5 million to keep the team together. Obviously I have been clear that comes with the condition that the cup is raced in New Zealand. Why would we give away taxpayers money for the cup to be raced offshore?" he said.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the event had provided optimism and excitement after a hard year, and she felt a lot of New Zealanders would like it to stay put.
"What we need to do is make sure that we try and be consistent - the government has played a role for successive cups in keeping the team together but equally, we need to make sure that New Zealand derives some benefit around hosting," she said.
Auckland marine shops and hospitality venues can attest to the economic benefits of having the cup nearby.
With an estimated 200,000 people attending the sailing event in the final week of racing, business group Heart of the City said spending in shops, restaurants and bars hit 95 percent on the same period last year.
The manager of Sailor Supplies near the viaduct, Rhys Innes-Jones, said as soon as Team New Zealand started racing "it was like a tap".
"We were busy from the moment we got out of our cars before we got into the shop, to the moment we closed at 3.30pm to go watch the race," he said.
Neil Morris co-owns Johnny Wray's Coffee near the viaduct where team New Zealand got their morning fix, and he agreed it was a "no brainer" to keep the event nearby.
"During the cup time it's amazing. People are getting down here early, they're parking, they're buying team shirts, they're buying caps and they're supporting all the coffee bars, the restaurants. So for us, when the America's Cup is on, we pay our bills," he said.
Baduzzi manager Alice Capro said the boost was welcome, "especially after Covid".
"We're really, really happy and had a wonderful time hosting," she said.
Local boatie Grant Kelly said Auckland was the "best place in the world to have the cup."
"The fan support, the harbour - New Zealand sailors know the harbour. Why take it overseas? It's only going to be a money thing if they do. It's got to be kept here. Otherwise Grant Dalton gets the chop," he said.
The skipper of the defeated Luna Rossa team and the commodore of the New York Yacht Club have also voiced support for the next event to be in New Zealand.