Big sign the birdcage will be fluttering during Melbourne’s Cup Carnival
It’s the jewel in Melbourne Cup Carnival’s crown, and celebs from Nicole Kidman to Snoop Dogg have partied there, now a surprise update means racegoers may be able to visit the Flemington Birdcage this year.
Fiona Byrne
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In a show of confidence that racegoers will be able to attend the Melbourne Cup Carnival, tickets to corporate dining enclosures within the grandstands and to Victoria Racing Club managed marquees within the famed Flemington Birdcage have gone on sale.
The Rose Room, the Terrace Restaurant, the Skyline Restaurant, the Makybe Diva Marquee and the Home Straight Enclosure are among the venues at Flemington racecourse offering lavish hospitality to well-heeled racegoers over the four days of the Cup Carnival.
For racing fans keen to experience the Birdcage, tickets are available to The Perch, a marquee perched on Millionaire’s Row that is managed by the VRC.
They do come at a price.
Tickets, according to the VRC’s website, for The Perch on Derby Day are priced at $2100 a head, and $2250 a head for Cup Day.
“A number of our corporate hospitality clients have indicated their desire to proceed with hospitality at this year’s Melbourne Cup Carnival, should government restrictions permit,” a VRC spokesman said yesterday.
The Birdcage has become the most desired ticket and biggest party at Flemington, and a location where fame, celebrity, money and power collide. Guests have included Nicole Kidman (pictured), Snoop Dogg and even Prince Frederik of Denmark and his then bride-to-be Mary Donaldson.
While some brands may forgo their marquees because of the impact of COVID-19, the VRC has the legendary space factored into its 2020 carnival planning.
The VRC is yet to put general admission tickets on sale, but the club has always been confident of hosting racegoers at the track during Cup Week.
“We are planning for a number of different scenarios for the 2020 Melbourne Cup Carnival, all of which include the world famous Birdcage,” the spokesman said.
“We expect to have greater clarity around social distancing restrictions in the coming weeks.
“Our planning includes ways that we can use our expansive grounds to accommodate spectators while still adhering to social distancing guidelines.”