The Premium Debate

Numerous countries holding Olympic Games have found out they are not as beneficial as economists have projected. Didn’t the last Lions rugby tour also not fulfil expectations? Garry B

Who would have guessed? I know, everyone. Let’s have a regatta where only the rich can come in and we’ll hand over hundreds of millions of taxpayers’ dollars to fund an elitist sport where the teams are owned by billionaires. Mark Y

This is hardly surprising. These major sporting events have always been sold as beneficial to the local economy. But we know this is seldom true, particularly a fringe and elitist sport like the America’s Cup. I’m pleased that the cup is heading offshore, it will save us all money, and let

the multi-millionaires fund a sport only a very few can afford to take part in. Greg S

Finally, now can we stop throwing tax and rates money at it? Let the rich boys pay for their own boat race. Robert H

If you have been down to the waterfront there has been a huge gain in amenity. This is where most of the council

expenditure went. Auckland has gained an amenity millions will enjoy. Wayne M

If the superyachts and their millionaires had been allowed in, the deficit would have been much lower. Each yacht was worth about $1m to the economy. Covid would not have been a problem as they would have been isolated on the trip over. John C