Covid-19: Big schedule for major events canceled

Ryan Anderson / things

Luna Rossa will face Team New Zealand in the America’s Cup after beating Team UK 7-1 in the Prada Cup Final.

America’s Cup opening weekend tops a list of top events in Auckland that will be canceled or in doubt if the city goes back to Covid-19 alert level 3.

Auckland will enter Level 3 on Sunday at 6am, while the rest of the country will move to Level 2 upon the discovery of two new cases in the community.

The America’s Cup was supposed to start on Saturday March 6th but cannot continue below level 3 without the government approving a specific exception for the largest spectator draw in nearly three months of racing.

The organizers of the regatta, America’s Cup Event, said in a statement that they will be reviewing the situation and working with authorities on the effects over the next few days.

It would outline more details as they were known.

The race was able to continue in the final of the Prada Cup for challengers under Covid-19 alert level two, with the cup village attractions closed and the crowd spread out, but below level 3 there is no discretion.

Todd Niall / Stuff

Spectators at America’s Cup village during the race under the recent Covid-19 Level 2 Alert restrictions

The first fall will be one of the city’s largest public events, the annual Round the Bays run, which attracts tens of thousands along the waterfront.

“We know how excited all of our attendees were for the day of the event, but we respect the need to protect everyone and contain the spread of COVID-19,” the organizers said.

“All registered attendees will be notified by email tonight. However, we ask that you share this through your media channels for anyone who may have missed tonight’s news about the change in alert levels,” the event said.

Ricky Wilson / things

The Auckland Round the Bays run is the first major event to be canceled on Sunday February 28th.

The Lantern Festival, which has already been postponed for a week due to the latest level 2 alert, was due to start on Thursday but is likely to be canceled as it was in 2020 in the course of the Covid-19 pandemic.

A speedway meeting scheduled for Sunday evening in Western Springs will not take place, it would have included the Midget Championship national final.

A cricket double-headed ball at Eden Park next Friday will not take place, where Australia should face the Black Caps in the fourth game of their T20 series.

The Splore music festival will lose its third and final day in the Tapapakanga Regional Park, southeast of Auckland, after having been postponed for a month due to the previous Covid warning.

Joe Allison / Getty Images

The Australian and Black Caps pictured here in Dunedin on Thursday won’t play their Eden Park T20 on Friday.

The rest of the Auckland Pride Festival events are closed in the meantime.

“Updates on the status of events that should take place between Sunday 28 February and Sunday 7 March will be updated in due course,” the organizers said in a statement.

The China Pride Festival, which was originally rescheduled from March 5-7, cannot continue while Auckland is on alert due to the expected number of participants.

The Iman Ball has also been postponed to March 5th due to changes in the alert level, but cannot continue at the scheduled time.