New Zealand-based entertainment destination SkyCity has signed as the ‘Official Hotels and Entertainment Partner’ of Emirates Team New Zealand for the 36th America’s Cup defence in 2021.
Under the deal, Emirates Team New Zealand and their guests will have access to SkyCity’s range of premium accommodation and food and beverage services in the host city Auckland.
SkyCity will provide on-water and onshore hospitality for Emirates Team New Zealand at their waterfront base within the America’s Cup Village in Auckland.
There will also be fan engagement component to the deal. In the summer of 2021, SkyCity will host an Emirates Team New Zealand Fan Zone and exclusive events at their food and beverage outlets. SkyCity’s precincts in Hamilton and Queenstown will have their their own fan zones and race screenings.
Callum Mallett, executive general manager, hospitality at SkyCity Entertainment Group, said: “The America’s Cup is a major event in the New Zealand events calendar, and we’re excited for all of the opportunities ahead of us, both in the lead up to the event and in 2021, that we can share with our customers, employees and Premier Rewards members.”
Grant Dalton, chief executive of Emirates Team New Zealand said SkyCity’s centrepiece Sky Tower in Auckland allowed for “a spectacular view of the America’s Cup race areas across the Waitemata Harbour including the Emirates Team New Zealand base where our new AC75 will very shortly emerge from to hit the water for the first time”.
The new SkyCity logo will feature alongside the other major sponsors on the team’s AC75 race yacht when Emirates Team New Zealand launch their new boat.
The team’s operating budget for each quadrennial is less than $100m (€91.4m), the majority of which comes from sponsorship.
Along with Emirates, the title sponsor since 2004, the team portfolio includes a major partnership tier comprising watch brand Omega, carmaker Toyota and telco Spark.
SkyCity is designated in the next sponsorship tier comprising energy company Genesis, beer brand Steinlager, technology brand HP and broadcaster TVNZ.
There are also seven Exclusive Suppliers of the America’s Cup team.