Northland's economic body is already working on bringing as much benefit as possible to the region from the next America's Cup - should it be held in Auckland - with hosting a syndicate, tourism benefits and high-end superyacht work for the marine industry all on the table.
All the talk is of the next America's Cup campaign being held in Auckland in 2021 after Team NZ won the Auld Mug in Bermuda yesterday and already planning for the event is underway.
Northland Inc chief executive David Wilson said Northland was well paced to get a slice of the America's Cup action if it was held in Auckland, with the region boasting so many advantages to help run the event smoothly.
Mr Wilson said we had a world-renowned marine industry in Whangarei and the Bay of Islands that could service and refit the fleet of superyachts expected to follow the Cup, superb tourism opportunities with the whole world watching and the willingness to help out.
He said Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (Ateed) was already probably well into its planning for the event if Auckland was chosen and Northland Inc would see if it could get on board with the organisation to offer help.