Cup events focus on Viaduct island

By JO-MARIE BROWN

The Viaduct Basin will be renamed the America's Cup Harbour under a deal that gives Team New Zealand exclusive naming rights until 2003.

The defender's management arm, AC2003, yesterday signed an agreement with the Auckland City Council to run events at the Viaduct during the next regatta.

Team New Zealand chief executive officer, Ross Blackman, said a sponsor's name would likely be added to the new title.

A final blueprint for how AC2003 would manage onshore events was still to be drawn up, but the aim was to create more public space by shifting features such as the big-screen television and concerts on to Te Wero Island.

The man-made island, which connects with the Eastern Viaduct and has the best view of Team NZ, Prada and other syndicate bases, would host most events, freeing space around the rest of the basin.

Mr Blackman was confident that Team NZ could manage affairs on and off the water.

"Our aim is to win on the water this time around and also to run a fantastic event."

AC2003 would pay $600,000 to the council for naming and other commercial rights.