Dalton fires back over America’s Cup ‘event fee’

Team New Zealand boss Grant Dalton says his syndicate won’t benefit directly from any event fee with everything used to run the regatta’s day to day operations.

“It could be the best ever America’s Cup if we create the right environment with the event,” Dalton says.

The America’s Cup looms as the only major international event on the New Zealand sporting horizon. Having so recently hosted the Rugby World Cup, the Cricket World Cup and the Masters Games, there’s no chance of them returning soon.

The cycle of big events coming to New Zealand has run its course. And with France setting a new benchmark with a $407m hosting fee to World Rugby to hold the 2023 World Cup – dwarfing New Zealand’s 2011 levy of $108m – Kiwis might never enjoy the privilege again.

But the Auld Mug, sport’s oldest trophy, has indeed returned and needs to be maximised.

On Thursday, Auckland Council will make its final decision on where the Cup will be based, with the Wynyard Basin “cluster” expected to win favour at a cost of around $132m.

There will be central government contribution towards covering those infrastructure costs and an event fee which will go towards the operational running of a regatta that will sail for three and half months from December 2020.

Story courtesy of www.stuff.co.nz/sport/