KEY POINTS:
The America's Cup final doesn't start in Spain for two weeks yet - but planning is already under way for Auckland to host the next series.
Auckland City Mayor Dick Hubbard said last night that a marine events precinct would be needed to capitalise on the chance for Auckland to "secure its place on the international marine events calendar".
Many Kiwis were bleary-eyed yesterday after watching Emirates Team New Zealand's last race in their 5-0 demolition of Italian syndicate Luna Rossa. Others were still celebrating after waking up to the news that Team NZ had claimed the Louis Vuitton Cup and won the right to a rematch against America's Cup holders Alinghi.
And while the nation crosses its fingers for the cup series beginning on the morning (NZ time) of Sunday, June 24, provision is already being made for a defence of the cup in 2010.
Judith Bassett, chairwoman of Auckland Regional Holdings, said the existing America's Cup bases from 2003 would be made available again.
That includes the old Team New Zealand base, the former Alinghi base on the Halsey St reclamation and three bases on the Halsey St wharf.
"The team can sail in the confidence that if they win the cup, they will have space made available for a team base in the Viaduct Harbour," Mrs Bassett said.
Four former bases have been demolished to make way for apartments since the 2003 America's Cup defeat to Alinghi.
Mrs Bassett said there was other space available "and other space would be found".
Bringing the Auld Mug home - and defending it - is worth hundreds of millions of dollars to the economy.
Mayor Hubbard, who was in Valencia at the start of the Louis Vuitton Cup series, said the council believed the city needed a "purpose-built, consistently available venue with world-class, appropriate event facilities".
He said a marine events precinct - combined with Auckland's yachting conditions - made the city the natural home for the America's Cup.
"The Hauraki Gulf is the ideal location for challenging sailing with the benefit of comparatively sheltered waters for spectator craft.
"Our fingers are crossed that Team New Zealand will bring home the cup to defend in Auckland's waters."
Before the 2003 regatta, plans were in place to extend the Halsey St wharf northwards to cater for new bases if Team New Zealand won.
Mr Hubbard said that was still one of the options if the Grant Dalton-led team are successful in Valencia.
Meanwhile, the city council is planning giant public screens to show the America's Cup races as they are telecast live from Spain. Locations have yet to be confirmed.
Previous America's Cup series have injected half a billion dollars each into the economy.
Oracle chairman Larry Ellison - who had his own challenge - paid more than $70,000 a month to berth his 74m yacht, Katana, in Auckland during the 2003 challenge.
He also spent a lot of time ashore in Viaduct restaurants, where he once paid more than $2000 for a bottle of Chateau Petrus 1988 Pomerol.
During the final defender series, about 35,000 visitors flocked to Auckland. Some restaurants and bars on the Viaduct Harbour opened all night.
