Gold Coast frontrunner to host America’s Cup event in 2017
THE Gold Coast is now the frontrunner to host the finale of the year-long America’s Cup lead-in series in February next year.
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THE Gold Coast has been pencilled in as the frontrunner to host America’s Cup lead-in races come February next year.
America’s Cup regatta director Iain Murray flew in from Sydney today to meet with Gold Coast marine industry bigwigs who have been pushing for the city to get behind an event bid.
If the Gold Coast bid is successful it will host the finale of the year-long America’s Cup lead-in series which involves seven race legs around the world. The other venues in the series are Oman, New York, Chicago, Portsmouth in England, Toulon in France and Tokyo.
The Gold Coast would be the seventh and final venue if confirmed before the America’s Cup final later in 2017 at Bermuda.
Mr Murray spent an hour today with bid leader and Coomera’s Boat Works shipyard owner Tony Longhurst, his brother and Riviera luxury boat building firm owner Rodney and Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate.
Others in attendance at the powwow at the Gold Coast Waters Authority in Main Beach included city council events and economic development staff, Yachting Queensland representatives and State Government officials.
Immediately after the meeting, Mayor Tate, with Mr Murray beside him, unfurled an America’s Cup World Series promotional poster. It listed the finale venue for the first quarter of 2017 as “possibly Gold Coast, QLD, Australia”.
The America’s Cup races are watched by close to a billion people.
Mr Murray said he decided to visit from Sydney because Gold Coasters “have put their hand up and said think about us”.
“You have great facilities and a terrific climate.”
Mr Murray said hosting the event usually required State Government support mixed with private backing but there were big spin-offs for host venues.
“It’s an international sporting event ... broadcast in many country. It’s about money in and money out.
“But it’s hard not to be impressed by the enthusiasm up here. The sailing conditions are wonderful. And if there is the desire to have the America’s Cup here, it goes a long way to making it happen.”
Cr Tate said after Tony Longhurst had floated the idea with him a month ago, the city leaders had “acted very quickly”.
The city council would happily lead the official application to the America’s Cup Event Authority which makes the final decision, Cr Tate said.
Mr Longhurst said a final decision as to whether the Gold Coast was successful would be known in about four weeks.