Cricket fans hoping for a repeat of the semifinal celebrations after the weekend's World Cup final will have to settle for watching from their lounge. Photo / Getty Images
Cricket fans hoping for a repeat of the semifinal celebrations after the weekend's World Cup final will have to settle for watching from their lounge. Photo / Getty Images
Last time, Auckland Council had already picked out a time and date for a World Cup homecoming before the Black Caps had even played in the final.
Not wanting to jinx Brendon McCullum's team, officials stopped short of calling it a victory parade.
But this year, it appears they're trying a different tactic.
Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development general manager destination Steve Armitage said no welcome home event for Kane Williamson and the boys had been discussed. But the organisation was "well versed in staging appropriate events to acknowledge the achievement of our sporting success and pulling these together at relatively short notice".
"Understandably, New Zealand Cricket is focused on the challenge ahead and so we're not in a position to talk about any potential welcome home plans or what shape these may take," he said.
In 2015, Black Caps captain Brendon McCullum and his team mates were treated to a heroes welcome home after losing the final to Australia. Photo / Getty Images
Greg Brownless, Mayor of Tauranga, where Trent Boult and Kane Williamson grew up, shared a similar sentiment.
"Naturally we are excited to have reached the final and are particularly proud of the local players," he said.
"It is too early to know what form any celebrations will take. Any homecoming or celebrations would be organised with Cricket NZ. We would work with them and the players to see if there were any local opportunities in their plans."
New Zealand Cricket public affairs manager Richard Boock echoed that, saying no consideration had yet been given to welcome home celebrations, let alone a victory parade.
In 2015, after the Black Caps lost the final to Australia, they were given the red carpet treatment at a public ceremony at The Cloud on Auckland's Queen's Wharf, which was attended by thousands.
Cricket fans will have to settle for watching tomorrow's World Cup final at home rather than at a bar despite a glimmer of hope offered by Auckland's mayor yesterday morning. But there are likely to be celebrations to welcome the team home.
The match is set to start at 9.30pm tomorrow and last until 5am on Monday (NZT), meaning even bars with late licences would face having to send punters home before the end of the game.
Given the timing and "costs to ratepayers", Auckland Council would not be setting up a public fanzone or opening The Cloud for people to watch. Auckland council director of regulatory services Craig Hobbs said it could not be done given the short timeframe.
"We have discussed trying to grant extensions in the two days available since the Black Caps' thrilling win in Manchester but it is not possible, or necessarily safe given the complexities of alcohol in our community," he said.
The process usually took 20 working days.
Many pubs were licensed to sell alcohol until 4am and could have patrons on-site for half an hour after the bar closed, he said.
The Paddington in Parnell was one of the bars which fell into that category.
Trent Boult celebrates the dismissal of India's captain Virat Kohli during the Cricket World Cup semi-final match. Photo / AP
Spokeswoman Claire Warin said there was not enough time to apply for a special licence for the game.
She said there was no point applying on a Friday at a cost of a couple of hundred dollars. Punters could, however, consider going to a licensed sports club to watch the match. The organisation could have members and guests on the premises at all times and once the club bar's licensed hours were over patrons were able to drink alcohol they had brought with them, Hobbs said.
Williamson's former principal Robert Mangan hoped to honour the team's achievement with a special assembly at Tauranga Boys' College.
"I'm looking forward to being the holders of the Cricket World Cup and an assembly to welcome Kane and the team," he said.
House of Travel ecommerce and digital channels director Tim Paulsen said there had been a significant lift in searches compared with earlier in the week.
"We have also had a number of last-minute bookings to London through Mix & Match, including a business class fare," he said.
