Work Together And Make It Happen Says Soul Bar Owner
Work together and make the Auckland Street Race Festival a massive New Zealand event that brings back the fun,
excitement and tourist dollars of the America’s Cup days, says Judith Tabron, Soul Bar owner from Viaduct Harbour.
Ms Tabron was commenting on the news this week that the race would bring millions of dollars in economic benefit to the
region.
“Auckland needs events and the Street Race Festival is a golden opportunity to rekindle all that we enjoyed during the
America’s Cup,” says Ms Tabron who is a member of the Street Race Supporters Club and an active promoter of the event.
“When there’s an Auckland event there are more people around and they eat out at restaurants and bars. Our turnover can
increase from 30 to 50 percent depending on the type of event.
“April is normally a very quiet month for us with people leaving town for Easter and the school holidays, but the street
race will reverse all that and we’ll hold people here. It will be an absolute bonus,” Ms Tabron says.
Warren Stewart from The Drake, the classic Freeman’s Bay Bar, which is on the Victoria Street side of the circuit over
looking that track, said talk of a sell out for the event could mean 3-day crowds of 200,000 to 300,00 people which
would make the show a New Zealand landmark.
Mr Stewart, who is also a Street Race Supporters Club member, said he was talking to businesses in the immediate area
and getting lots of positive feedback from people who normally remain a silent majority.
“They are looking for a way to show their support because they recognise this event is great for business. People we
talk to are excited about being in the heart of something as big as this and want to play a part in helping make it
successful.” Mr Stewart said.
Another business on the track is the President Plaza Hotel, with views down Fanshawe Street and up Hobson said.
Operations manager Julie Cox says she’s had hundreds of people in a constant stream wanting to book rooms.
“We had one guy in this week who wanted to take an entire floor. The enquiries are local at this stage and the big boys
from overseas haven’t even started calling us yet. But we’re waiting for them,” she said.
Ms Cox said the hotel would start taking bookings once the race was confirmed and the dates settled.