The UK's Britannia, right, and defender Team New Zealand compete on day 1 of the 37th America's Cup Match, off the coast of Barcelona on October 12, 2024. Photo: AFP / Manaure Quintero
A sports academic says Auckland would need to stump up $200 million to secure hosting rights for the next America's Cup.
Auckland is back in the running to host the America's Cup after the council's event arm confirmed it had entered talks with cup holders Team New Zealand.
The talks come after an economic impact report has revealed Barcelona benefited from a NZ$1.8 billion boost from hosting last year's regatta.
Auckland University of Technology professor of sport and recreation Mark Orams who is also a former member of Team New Zealand says the money could come from the council, central government and private investors.
"A large proportion of that's likely to come from taxpayers and ratepayers so it does require a careful analysis to be very confident that with that level of investment, that there would be a return for Aucklanders and New Zealanders to make that worthwhile."
The $200m would be spent on some additional work as well as gaining the hosting rights and for the New Zealand team, Dr Orams said.
The biggest thing Team New Zealand boss Grant Dalton has to sell was the hosting of the event "and in doing that it enables him to keep the team together".
"So that's why he's shopping it around."
He believed Valencia, in Spain, Rio de Janeiro in Brazil and Auckland were all in the mix as potential hosts.
The formula of ratepayers, central government and private investors was how Barcelona had packaged it together and the recent study had shown it had paid off.
"It's also significant that the city has not put its hand up for next time."
Dr Orams said while the report had laid out the positives, he agreed people should be cautious of such studies because there were a lot of variants to how data was compiled.
"There are benefits both economic and intangible non-economic benefits from hosting a large international event like the America's Cup."
Team New Zealand won the America's Cup in Barcelona last October becoming the first team in modern history to lift the trophy three times in a row.
