What do New Zealanders think of Emirates Team New Zealand’s decision to defend the America’s Cup in Spain, in Barcelona, instead of at home? We are hosting part of an article for Sail-World by the New Zealand journalist Richard Gladwell, which gives a good idea of the moods of the Kiwis, of the sailing enthusiasts of the antipodes and also contains considerations on what it means to lose the Cup obviously seen by those who are in New Zealand.
The link to the original piece: sail-world.com/news/247543/Americas-Cup-Barcelona-expected-to-revive-Cup
New Zealand appears to be divided into three factions due to the loss of the rights to host the 2024 America’s Cup, which was sold to the city of Barcelona. A group of politicians and lobbyists are thanking Emirates Team New Zealand for removing the reason for investing tax and tax dollars in a sailing yacht regatta. Self-styled lobbying group NZ Taxpayers Union said they sent a bouquet of flowers to their Spanish counterparts to thank them for saving the New Zealand government’s additional investment in the America’s Cup.
The other group believes that Auckland and New Zealand are being deprived of a free show, which they are entitled to as citizens of the America’s Cup Defender country. Finally, a third group believes that New Zealand’s major events policy needs a reorganization, focusing on the exit of kiwi companies from the black hole created by the long blockages due to Covid in the last two years. These measures have seen major urban centers, and in particular Auckland, resemble ghost towns, lacking only weeds.
The loss of the America’s Cup 2024 is the second major nautical event to bypass what was once known as the city of sails. The recently announced package of an Auckland stopover by Ocean Race – formerly the Volvo Ocean Race – has mostly gone unnoticed except for sailing enthusiasts…
The competition field of the America’s Cup 2024 planned in Barcelona
… Most critics of the Cup ignore the fact that, in addition to being a sport, the America’s Cup and Emirates Team New Zealand are the showcase of the New Zealand maritime industry, which makes over $ 2.4 billion annually with $ 700 million in exports. Without investing in major nautical and sailing events such as the America’s Cup, it is much more difficult for the maritime industry to sell to international markets. The return to the Government goes back directly to GST and other taxes paid by teams, fans and visits to superyachts. Without hosting the Cup in New Zealand, tax revenues are not realized.
Critics of the Cup also ignore the fact that 35 cities came forward when Emirates Team New Zealand offered the opportunity to compete in the venue selection process launched in November 2020. In this context, because New Zealand authorities have consistently made offers that anyone with a modicum of understanding of the America’s Cup knew they would be rejected?
… In a press conference held in Barcelona shortly after the announcement of the venue, Emirates Team NZ CEO Grant Dalton accused the Kiwi Home Defense group of “single-handedly torpedoing any possibility that the America’s Cup would be held in New Zealand “.
… Regarding the funding, which had many in New Zealand wringing their hands, Dalton said the goal was to get full funding for the event and then steer the team’s funding around this point. “The amount of money we had to raise for the team hasn’t changed. It’s the same math equation that’s been there all along.”
“The team is not fully funded yet. We have the hosting fee, we have the paid event and the necessary infrastructure. At this stage, we have if we had stayed in Auckland, the team would never be fully funded. The unbridgeable gap of $ 50 million was the determining factor against New Zealand, “added Dalton …
… “One of the mistakes New Zealand made was that they thought we were asleep at the wheel, that we didn’t mean it, that we couldn’t get back together and that we didn’t have a choice. (if not to stay and defend the Cup in Auckland). This is not the first time we have been underestimated “…