Auckland Council decides against screening America's Cup races live for public

Emirates Team New Zealand celebrate after winning the Louis Vuitton challenger series in Bermuda.

It's the racing that brings the nation to a standstill but Auckland Council have decided against a public screening of the America's Cup finals races.

Emirates Team New Zealand will go up against Oracle Team USA for the cup after defeating Artemis in the Louis Vuitton challenger series in Bermuda this morning.

The last time Team New Zealand challenged for the Auld Mug in 2013 Kiwi fans were able to watch the nerve-wracking racing live en masse at Shed 10 on Auckland's Queens Wharf, where the Kiwis were pipped by Oracle.

But there will be no such public screening this time.

Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (Ateed) spokeswoman Melanya Burrows told the Herald there were no plans to have live screenings of the finals.

The Herald did not receive a response after asking why the racing wasn't being screened live for the public.

Some said they would've liked the opportunity to watch the racing live in a public place.

Heart of the City chief executive Viv Beck said it was always great to have a place to go, like the Cloud, to watch the America's Cup with other Kiwis.

"People are into it. I was at a meeting and people were on their phones (watching the racing) and excited," said Beck.

Thousands of fans gathered at Shed 10 to watch the racing the last time Team New Zealand were in the America's Cup finals.

People draped flags across their shoulders and friends and family held each other tightly in anticipation as the racing unfolded.

Some people took time off work to attend every day of racing at Shed 10.

The full gamut of emotions were on display, with the mood ultimately turning sour as Team New Zealand failed to secure the cup as Oracle came back from an 8-1 deficit to win eight consecutive races and claim victory in the first-to-nine series.

The America's Cup final starts this Sunday NZ time. The first team to record seven wins will claim the cup.

Defenders Oracle are favourites heading into the series, with skipper Jimmy Spithill a proven performer, and their boat having looked good in the round-robin series.

Fans can catch the action live on Sky from 5am on Sunday and Monday, with delayed free-to-air coverage on Prime from 6.30am.

nzherald.co.nz will be live-blogging all the racing action from 5am on race days, while yachting commentator Peter Montgomery and expert match racer Chris Steele will live call the races on Radio Sport and Newstalk ZB.