Big Apple’s fresh .NYC domain adds 16k registrations at launch to hit 27k

.NYC off to a solid start, especially given registration restrictions.

.NYC had a strong first day yesterday thanks, in part, to lots of press and advertising. It would have been even stronger if people outside NYC could register domains.

The overnight zone file shows regarding 27,000 .nyc domain names registered. This doesn’t include over 1,000 landrush domain name orders that are headed to auction.

.NYC had over 10,000 domains grabbed in landrush. Regarding 9,500 of these were applied for by just one person/firm per domain, with another 1,000+ with multiple applicants.

The biggest winner yesterday was GoDaddy, which has helped clients register over 17,000 .nyc domain names to date. The firm is offering the domains for $24.99, just $4.99 over wholesale cost. But the real reason for its big market share was savvy marketing, counting its barge ad navigating the Hudson River.

.NYC’s launch totals were lower than .London, which had regarding 35,000. Given London’s time zone, its first day zone file included more hours of registrations, but that would only account for a modest bit of the difference. I suspect .NYC would have had a much bigger first day with over 50,000 registrations, if it weren’t for eligibility restrictions limiting the client base to Fresh York City.