MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
23 December 2005
Get On Board At Skycity For The Party Of The Year
A Caribbean cruise theme will help an estimated 40,000 revellers welcome in the New Year at SKYCITY Auckland, with all
the sights, sounds and beats of a Caribbean holiday.
As visitors arrive to the nation's largest party, they will be welcomed up the gangplank to board the SKYCITY cruise
ship. Once on board guests can stop off at beach bars and restaurants to party 2005 away and bring in the New Year.
The whole property will be buzzing with calypso and Caribbean themed bands, steel drums, cruise ship cabaret shows and
80's discos. Casinos, bars, restaurants, employees and customers will be dressed up in a Caribbean cruise theme to
create a calypso party atmosphere.
At the stroke of midnight, people all over Auckland will be treated to a spectacular display as fireworks from the tip
of the Sky Tower light up the night sky. Inside, cannons will launch colourful streamers above the main gaming floor.
"SKYCITY is one of the most popular venues for New Year's Eve revellers," says Jill Birch, SKYCITY General Manager,
Marketing.
"We provide a variety of complementary entertainment options under one roof.
"Last year around 40,000 people entered SKYCITY on New Year's Eve and we expect similar or greater numbers this year.
For this reason, we recommend people book in advance to be assured a seat if they wish to dine at one of our
restaurants."
The main gaming floor will be the focus of the theming and will feature an international line up of entertainment
kicking off with popular duo Opus de Funk from 7.30pm and Room2Groove from 10.30pm. Fun Caribbean reggae band Double
Take will entertain in the New City Bar from 7pm - 10pm, followed by Calypso delight and Party Time DJ to keep the crowd
grooving through to 6am.
The latest dance beats will be offered by DJs Grant Marshall, General Lee, Thane Kirby and Tim Phin in Bar3.
Smooth and funky tunes will be drifting through the Atrium Bar on level two, thanks to the James Gaylyn Quartet while
the Grand Lobby will feature jazz and blues from Aaron Coddel, Kevin Field and Jason Jones.
Diners in many of SKYCITY's restaurants will also be in for a variety of calypso themed New Year's Eve entertainment as
well as special menus for the occasion.
Federal Street will once again be closed from 6pm on Friday 31 December until 2am to assist with traffic flow through
the central city.
SKYCITY will offer New Year's Eve guests a special flat car parking rate of $20 for the night to cover parking from 6pm
on 31 December through to 6.30am on 1 January 2006. Customers can prepay for their parking on arrival to cut down on
queues waiting to exit at the end of the night.
* Please note that SKYCITY's gaming areas and bars are all R20 for New Year's Eve from 7pm and staff will
be checking ID. Children may dine in restaurants if accompanied by adults but bookings are recommended for family
seatings.
* SKYCITY Christmas hours of operation are:
- All gaming areas will be closed from midnight to midnight Christmas Day.
- Bar3 is closed on Christmas Day.
- Bookings are recommended for SKYCITY restaurants on Christmas Day with special Christmas
themed menus.
ENDS