Press Release
Amex Cup Village

In excess of 100,000 people visited the American Express New Zealand Cup Village over the weekend. This amounted to a record crowd, with thousands gathering to see Team New Zealand and Prada when they left the marina in the morning, and then when they returned after racing. The visitor number target for the AMEX Cup Village was 3.3million for the whole summer, and this will definitely be reached by the end of this week. The official end date isn’t until the 31st of March.

Up to 10 Auckland schools will take part in the Compaq Challenge in the Maritime Square, adjacent to the AMEX Cup Village this Wednesday. The hoardings around the building site of Compaq House, currently under construction will form the background to the great “paint off”. The students have to incorporate a yachting theme in their murals, and up for grabs are two Compaq computers. The painting by the students starts at 3pm and the winning school will be announced shortly after 6pm. Compaq managing director Russell Hewitt and other celebrity judges will choose the winning mural. The finished product will form a colourful attraction along Fanshawe Street.

Lotto will be broadcast live out of the Village this Saturday night. The AMEX Cup Village is proving a very popular place for television celebrities. Last week marina staff enjoyed the company of Holmes presenter Susan Wood when she broadcast live from the area.

Auckland City Mayor Christine Fletcher was a special guest in the Village on Saturday. To celebrate the AMEX Cup Village reaching the 3 million-visitor mark, spot prizes were handed out during the day with the main prize being a trip for two to Fiji. A young couple from Mt Eden won this, which they received from her Worship.

Several Radio Network stations will be broadcasting live from the Village this week, and a special welcome goes to those from out of town - this include Pete and Donna from Classic Hits in Rotorua, Pete and Viv from Classic Hits Dunedin, and Mike and Shelley from Classic Hits in Wellington.

Interesting quotes overheard around the Village.

“I hope Team NZ don’t win 5 in a row as I am having such a goodtime, I just want it to keep going for as long as possible”. (An Australian journalist)

“This is the finest America’s Cup regatta I have ever been to. You New Zealanders have achieved something no one has ever been able to do in the past”. (A super yacht owner.)

“I had five challenger syndicates phone me half an hour into race one, it seems everyone is now picking a New Zealand victory and are keen to firm up their sites. (Facilities Manager at the AMEX Cup Village).

ENDS

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