Route revealed for Thursday’s victory parade

Bars and eateries flooded with bookings ahead of welcome home.

Tens of thousands of proud Kiwis will line Auckland’s Viaduct Harbour on Thursday to welcome our America’s Cup heroes home.

Ticker tape, banners, plenty of Team New Zealand flags and patriotic cheering will welcome Peter Burling and his men home for the parade.

And it isn’t just the crew or their fans looking forward to the festivities; bar managers in the Viaduct and around downtown Auckland are also set to do a roaring trad

Soul Bar and Bistro commercial manager Olivia Carter said the restaurant was already booked out for lunch and dinner.

“I think as soon as they won, and as soon as someone mentioned ‘parade’, we started seeing bookings come in even though it wasn’t confirmed what was happening.”

Euro Restaurant & Bar general manager James Kelly said the waterfront venue was also expecting to be full. “We’re expecting a long busy lunch service running into the night. We get a phone call for Thursday every hour.”

A source close to Team New Zealand said punters wanting a chance to toast the latest sporting heroes would be best to head to venues including Dr Rudi’s Rooftop Brewing Co and HeadQuarters Viaduct.

There is talk of an official private after-party, potentially at the Seafarers Members Club.

Burling and his team-mates — and shore-based crew — should be in good form when it comes to partying.

As well as packing their base in Bermuda, Team New Zealand has also been celebrating since shortly after Burling and the team crossed the line in Tuesday’s final race.

The official party was very much a Kiwi affair — with New Zealand classics from the likes of The Exponents, Lorde and Patea Maori Club blasting into the small hours.

Sailors, the shore and office crew, family and fans toasted the victory with a variety of Kiwi beverages.

The America’s Cup was generously shared around the crowd for selfies and usually private rich listers posed to get their mugs with the Auld Mug; including Anatole Masfen, Ben Cook, Mark Francis, Topher Richwhite and Antony Wyborn.

Despite the “slaughter on the water” in the finals series, Oracle Team USA skipper Jimmy Spithill and some of his colleagues also accepted an invite to the Kiwi party.

The Herald on Sunday can also report Oracle’s debrief was short and sharp after they lost the final 7-1 to Team New Zealand.

Its backer, billionaire Larry Ellison, apparently didn’t have the time or inclination for a lengthy talk over what went so wrong for the defenders at Bermuda.

Ellison also didn’t attend Team New Zealand’s party and flew out of Bermuda on his private plane.

As soon as someone mentioned ‘parade’, we started seeing bookings. Olivia Carter