America’s Cup fever builds
AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL
MEDIA RELEASE
28 June 2007
America’s Cup fever builds
If you can’t make it to Valencia, what better place to support Emirates Team New Zealand than watching the action live on the big screen in Auckland’s Viaduct Harbour.
With it all tied up at 2-2 in the best of nine America’s Cup finals, this weekend’s racing will be nail-biting for Kiwi fans.
Auckland City Council encourages Aucklanders to cheer on Team New Zealand and watch the action live at the Marine Events Centre (135 Halsey Street, Viaduct Harbour).
America’s Cup fever has been building at the centre with hundreds of supporters watching the first four races of the finals this week.
The indoor venue is open from 11pm every night of racing, with build-up coverage beginning at 11.30pm and racing from approximately 12.30am, dependent on weather conditions in Valencia.
Mayor of Auckland City, Dick Hubbard, is encouraging the city of sails to get behind the team in their quest to bring the Auld Mug home.
“The finals are getting to such an exciting stage, so let’s pull together and show Team New Zealand that the whole city is behind them,” he says.
Access to the venue is from Halsey Street or via a floating pontoon from Te Wero Island in the Viaduct. The venue can host up to 1000 people, and if needed there is an option to expand the venue to house up to 3000 supporters.
The venue is open on the following dates for scheduled racing: Friday 29 and Saturday 30 June and Sunday 1, Tuesday 3 and Wednesday 4 July (with Thursday 5, Friday 6 and Saturday 7 July as reserve days). Like the Louis Vuitton Cup, the 32nd America’s Cup is a “first to five” (best-of-nine) series.
Saturday night promises to be a great night for Kiwi sports fans with the All Blacks taking on the Wallabies at 10pm in Melbourne, after which there’s time to come down to the live site to cheer on the other team in black.
You can find out if racing is cancelled by phoning the America’s Cup live site number on (09) 367 6988. Visit www.aucklandcity.govt.nz for more information.
ENDS