Auckland major events sponsorship window now open

Media release

11 November 2014

Auckland major events sponsorship window now open

Major events seeking sponsorship for the 2015/16 year have an opportunity to apply for sponsorship, with the annual baseline window now open.

Any major event proposing to be held in Auckland between 1 July 2015 and 30 June 2016 can apply for sponsorship from Auckland Tourism, Events & Economic Development’s (ATEED) contestable fund from today until 5pm, 12 December 2014.

This sponsorship round gives priority to events that align with Auckland’s Major Events Strategy. This means they must play a pivotal role in Auckland’s economic and social aspirations – bringing new money into the region and making it a more interesting and vibrant place to live and visit.

ATEED Chief Executive, Brett O’Riley, says the application process will help identify national and international-facing events that will deliver strong economic returns for Auckland.

“The major events sponsorship window is highly competitive and regularly oversubscribed. Through this process we are seeking high calibre major events that will help ATEED achieve the targets set out in Auckland’s Major Events Strategy for regional return on investment, visitor nights and attendees, and also to achieve a balanced portfolio of events, on behalf of Auckland Council,” says Mr O’Riley.

The contestable baseline major events fund for 2015/16 is approximately $900,000. Decisions about successful sponsorship are expected to be released from April 2015.

Events selected through this contestable fund will form part of Auckland’s major events schedule for the 2015/16 year. ATEED’s targets for all major events in its 2015/16 portfolio is for a regional return on investment for Auckland of $49m and 170,000 visitor nights.

This is an increase from the current 2014/15 major events season, where targets of a regional return on investment for Auckland of $47 million and 150,000 visitor nights have been set.

Visit www.aucklandnz.com/sponsorship to find out more and complete the online application form.

Ends

Notes to editor:

• In addition to the contestable part of ATEED’s 2015/16 major events sponsorship baseline fund, sponsorship has already been committed to the following events in the 2015/16 year:

o Auckland Diwali Festival

o Auckland Lantern Festival

o Pasifika Festival

o Auckland Blues Rugby

o New Zealand Fashion Week

o Pride Festival

o Auckland On Water Boat Show

o New Zealand Festival of Tennis (ASB Classic/Heineken Open)

o NRL Auckland Nines

o ITM 500 Auckland V8 Supercars

o Global Ocean Race

o a Maori signature event

o an additional event to be announced in November 2014.

• All ATEED sponsorship funding for major events is subject to performance based contracts being negotiated.

• ATEED (Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development) is a council-controlled organisation tasked with the attraction and sponsorship of major events in Auckland, as well as focussing on the region’s economic wellbeing and marketing of Auckland as a destination.

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