Dalton’s decision: Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown says Team NZ boss will decide where next America’s Cup is held

• Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown congratulated Team New Zealand on defending the America’s Cup in Barcelona, Spain.
• Brown said Grant Dalton will decide the location of the next event, not the council.
• To attract big events, Brown wants a 2.5% bed-night levy to raise $25 million annually.

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown has congratulated Team New Zealand on successfully defending the America’s Cup in Barcelona but said team boss Grant Dalton will decide where the next event is held.

“I know Blair [Tuke] very well. I have known him since he was a baby and I have got to know the skipper [Peter Burling] quite well through Blair and I congratulate them and Grant Dalton for his dogged determination,” the mayor said this morning.

“We have got ourselves into a situation where it is Dalton’s decision rather than ours. It is most unfortunate when the previous council put all the money in, they didn’t sign an agreement saying if you win it, you’ve got to keep having it here. Unfortunately, [former mayor] Phil Goff didn’t do that and that bird left the coop,” Brown said.

Six days ago, Matteo de Nora, the Canadian billionaire who is the team’s principal and a long-time backer, told Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera that if the next series is held within two years, it would either stay in Barcelona, Spain, or go to the Middle East.

“The Middle East is ready in two years. Barcelona already is. If we were to return to New Zealand, however, and it is a scenario, two years are not enough,” de Nora said.

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown. Photo / Michael Craig

He said countries in the Gulf had particular appeal for hosting the America’s Cup. Saudi Arabia would loom as a potential destination, having hosted the preliminary regatta for the 37th edition of the America’s Cup.

Brown said if the America’s Cup returned to Auckland, it would be welcomed, “but I don’t think I would be putting in $183 million like what happened before”.

Sports Minister Chris Bishop also congratulated Team New Zealand this morning, saying the decision around where and when the next Cup is held is ultimately over to the cup holders.

“The Government is obviously open to a discussion around the event being held in New Zealand. Any government support would need to be assessed against many other competing priorities in these tight economic times, and demonstrate clear value for money and economic benefits,” Bishop said.

In the era of professional sport, the mayor pointed to American billionaire Bill Foley, joined by local billionaire Anna Mowbray and others, bankrolling the new Auckland FC team, saying last night he thoroughly enjoyed watching the team’s opening match and win over the Brisbane Roar at a packed Mt Smart Stadium.

Auckland FC captain Hiroki Sakai celebrates after the side's opening goal against the Brisbane Roar. Photo / Photosport

Brown said Auckland has had a good 12 months on the sports front with the Blues winning the Super Rugby Pacific championship and the city hosting the Fifa Women’s World Cup last year.

To attract big sporting and other events to Auckland, Brown wants the Government to introduce legislation for a 2.5% bed-night levy to raise about $25m a year for a big events fund.

“We’ve asked Tourism Minister Matt Doocey to get on with the job, but he is not quite moving at the same speed that I want,” said Brown, saying the tourism industry wants it, Queenstown wants it and Rotorua wants it.

The mayor leaves today on a Government trade delegation to Brazil led by Trade Minister Todd McClay. Brown returns on October 25, before leading a delegation of New Zealand business leaders to China on October 31. The total cost of the two trips, which include a mayoral staff member on each trip, is $75,000.

Sign up to The Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.