Auckland’s cup runneth over

Today’s celebration to mark one-year-to-go to the start of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 also marks the countdown to a massive summer of major events for Auckland next year.

The ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 will be one of the headline events in 2015, alongside FIFA U-20 World Cup, the Volvo Ocean Race Auckland Stopover, NRL Auckland Nines and ITM 500 Auckland (V8 Supercars).

Auckland Mayor Len Brown unveiled the official ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 countdown clock at a public celebration on Queens Wharf early this morning.

He was joined by hundreds of budding young crickterers from across the region, and Kiwi cricketing legends Sir Richard Hadlee, Gavin Larsen and Martin Crowe, former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar and one of Australia’s most successful batsmen, Dean Jones.

Speaking at the event, the Mayor said this is an exciting day for Auckland as we look forward to welcoming the world’s best cricketers to our city.

“I’m confident Aucklanders will embrace this event and give a warm welcome to the many domestic and international visitors who come here for Cricket World Cup, as well as the rest of the 2015 line up of events. It’s events like these that help support Auckland’s drive to become the world’s most liveable city,” he said.

The ICC Cricket World Cup is expected to generate 78,600 visitor nights and pump $16.71 million (GDP) into the Auckland economy in 2015.

Auckland will host four matches between 28 February and 24 March, including trans-Tasman rivals Blackcaps versus Australia, South Africa versus Pakistan, India versus Zimbabwe and a semi-final.

Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) Chief Executive Brett O’Riley says it’s great to see Auckland attracting so many events of this scale.

“In summer 2015 the show will never stop in Auckland. As we gear up for one of the busiest weekends the city has ever seen this weekend, we know the momentum will keep running into 2015.”

Alongside the headline events planned for 2015, Auckland will also host the biennial Auckland Arts Festival, regular summer events Lantern Festival and Pasifika Festival, and several other events that will form part of ATEED’s 2014/15 portfolio.

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