$10 million to America's Cup:

[denill]

This report really pisses me off! What support has motorcyle sport and/or riders ever received. Our sport has no lobbyists and the only apparent candidate for M/c sport promotion is MNZ and that body has never had any stomach for that fight. 10 mil of yours and mine


The Government is committing $10 million to hold on to vital America's Cup team members as the viability of launching another challenge for the Auld Mug is explored.

Sport and Recreation Minister Trevor Mallard announced the interim funding shortly after a nail-biting finish to race seven overnight, which Team New Zealand lost by 1 second, ending their challenge for the 32nd America's Cup 5-2.

"It is the view of the government that the team should continue, that it should be based in New Zealand and that Auckland should host an America's Cup regatta again," Mr Mallard said from Valencia.

"Therefore Cabinet has agreed that in the interim, $10 million should be made available to contract vital team members while negotiations occur around details of commercial sponsorship."

The lifeline is more generous than the $5.6 million the Government gave Team New Zealand soon after its disastrous 2003 defence to retain key members.

[ManDownUnder]

errr... it's a pure business proposition...

The economic/financial benefit revenue from the last America's cup held in NZ was what?

And from the last... choose ANY motorcycle event? Maybe if we could hold the entire Motorcycling world series on tracks around the place it might begin to compete but I don't see it happening anytime soon.

Could you set that up for $10m?

[Blackbird]

Agree entirely. It represents good economics if we bring the Cup back to NZ. Nothing to do with sport, purely business. Although I'm passionate about bikes and would love to have major biking events here, the economic return must be pretty questionable.

[Pixie]

errr... it's a pure business proposition...

The economic/financial benefit revenue from the last America's cup held in NZ was what?

And from the last... choose ANY motorcycle event? Maybe if we could hold the entire Motorcycling world series on tracks around the place it might begin to compete but I don't see it happening anytime soon.

Could you set that up for $10m?

The economic/financial benefit revenue from the last America's cup held in NZ was what?

A pack of chewing gum,wasn't it?

Nobody in the rest of the world, short of a few rich boat f**ks know the cup exists.
NZ got more world exposure from hosting the ISDE

[ManDownUnder]

You might want to break that the boat building industry...

The economic/financial benefit revenue from the last America's cup held in NZ was what?

A pack of chewing gum,wasn't it?

[Pixie]

You might want to break that the boat building industry...

If they are any good,they'll get they work regardless

[ManDownUnder]

If they are any good,they'll get they work regardless

Au contraire... they can be good, but right now the Boat building and associated industries in Europe are ery happy. They just got an influx of cash enabling them to gear up, train, re-tool, expand and advertise.

NZ industry... remote as it is, needs to SPEND cash to stay in touch and compete in that arena.

Besides - that's only one of many industries that benefitted from having a bunch of rish boaties in town. Hospitality, tourism, property, blah blah blah blah.

Same applies - if they were any good they'd get the business right? But it sure helps if the scenery is on a couple of million TVs through Europe and a number of other countries populated by people looking for someto go and spend their money on boat bits or holidays.

Guess we'll need to rely on Peter Jackson now...

[k14]

Agree entirely. It represents good economics if we bring the Cup back to NZ. Nothing to do with sport, purely business. Although I'm passionate about bikes and would love to have major biking events here, the economic return must be pretty questionable.

The way I see it is just pure gambling. Putting 30 mill in this year for nothing then what next time, 50 mill? Then we loose again so they have to put in 100 mill. Just a vicious cycle, the same as a gambler trying to make up for those lost bets at the casino and just getting further and further in the red.

When you're lying in the back of an ambulance and they say you have to travel an extra hour to get the treatment you require because of funding that 30 million for some stupid cup just doesn't do it for me.

[Big Dave]

Give me ONE million dollars and I'll build a Youth Centre in South Auckland and tackle some of the social issues instead of pissing it on the wall of something you 'might' win.

[RantyDave]

The economic/financial benefit revenue from the last America's cup held in NZ was what?

The direct financial benefit was a half billion dollars. Sure, most of it went to Auckland, but we'll let the JAFA's off for once.

Indirect benefits are harder to quantify, but the America's Cup is the only high technology field in which New Zealand are indisputably the leaders. Shit, it's the only sporting field in which we are indisputably the leaders. Notice how Bertarelli is refusing to apply a nationality rule? The government is not going to throw that away over a mere ten mill.

It does, however, suck that motorcycle racing gets as little support as it does.

Dave

[RantyDave]

Give me ONE million dollars and I'll build a Youth Centre in South Auckland

You could build a youth centre by selling a certain Merc and buying a Toyota. Money where mouth is?

Dave

[imdying]

errr... it's a pure business proposition...

The economic/financial benefit revenue from the last America's cup held in NZ was what?

And from the last... choose ANY motorcycle event? Maybe if we could hold the entire Motorcycling world series on tracks around the place it might begin to compete but I don't see it happening anytime soon.

Could you set that up for $10m?

That assumes that value provided to NZ by minority sports can only be measured in $$$$. Sad really, and yet another reason why professional sport is pathetic.

[MacD]

The Government gave a $750000 grant to support hosting the A1GP in Taupo this year, and a $2 million grant towards the development of the Taupo track, for an estimated benefit of $23-50 million to the NZ economy.

As was pointed out earlier the estimated benefit from the last America's Cup held in NZ was around $500 million, so a $10 million investment isn't too bad really.

NZ has a very successful marine industry built on years of success in yachting competitions around the world. You can argue all you like about nationality issues and rich men pissing about in boats, but it's about supporting a successful NZ industry through the marketing opportunities around a sports team.

[ManDownUnder]

The Government gave a $750000 grant to support hosting the A1GP in Taupo this year, and a $2 million grant towards the development of the Taupo track, for an estimated benefit of $23-50 million to the NZ economy.

As was pointed out earlier the estimated benefit from the last America's Cup held in NZ was around $500 million, so a $10 million investment isn't too bad really.

NZ has a very successful marine industry built on years of success in yachting competitions around the world. You can argue all you like about nationality issues and rich men pissing about in boats, but it's about supporting a successful NZ industry through the marketing opportunities around a sports team.

LOLOL... noooooooooooooooo ... never let the facts get in the way of good argument LOL

[Big Dave]

You could build a youth centre by selling a certain Merc and buying a Toyota. Money where mouth is?

Dave

That's not even worth responding to. But give me your pedigree in community service and I'll dig out my awards for it too.
I've actually run a YMCA in a town as rough as South Auckland. I know what a difference it can make and it's not measured in $.

Don't care if they piss money on the boat 10mil is a pittance i the scheme of things - point it's still a gamble when there are dead certs than need fixing first.