Birdcage shake-up to make Melbourne Cup Carnival

The hottest pass to Melbourne Cup week will be more accessible with a big change to the VIP Birdcage opening it to more punters.

The new look Birdcage will make it more accessible to racegoers. Picture: Alex Coppel

The hottest ticket to the Melbourne Cup Carnival is set for a makeover, with the VIP Birdcage enclosure to be transformed into a bigger and more accessible area.

The Birdcage — traditionally the domain of the rich, famous and well connected — will be merged with another popular area of Flemington Racecourse and guest passes made available for the first time.

With capacity crowds expected to return for the first time in three years, the Victoria Racing Club will on Friday announce significant changes to its prized Cup Week drawcard.

In a major shake-up, the Birdcage will be merged with the trackside Rails enclosure to form “The Rails Promenade”.

Anyone with a ticket to either area will be able to move freely between both spaces in the new layout.

The Herald Sun can reveal the Birdcage will this year be bigger than ever, with a new “Bird Bath Bar”, a performance stage, terraces, gardens, bars and dining at its centre.

VRC chief executive Steve Rosich said the new Birdcage and Rails Promenade would be a “riviera-style” outdoor setting like nothing seen in Australian sport.

“The Birdcage is a unique space – there is nothing like it at sporting events across the world and we are very proud of it ,’’ he said.

“This will make it more accessible, not just in ticketing, but also in the amount of space and serviced food and beverage areas that people will be able to partake in during the day.’’

In a nod to European glamour, this year’s Birdcage will be themed “Paradiso’’.

Pop-up experiences will include an affogato hour, seafood station, live entertainment and a croquet lawn.

The Birdcage will feature an exclusive all day fine dining space called Villa Paradiso, with degustation experiences prepared by renowned chefs.

Jockey Alana Kelly, Tayla Damir and chef Diana Chan prepare to unveil the new Birdcage plans. Picture: Alex Coppel

In another change, VRC members will be able to access daily guest tickets to the Birdcage and Rails Promenade.

“With that increased investment and space, for that central area, it does provide the opportunity for members to now secure guest passes to have access to that area for the first

time,’’ he said.

The Herald Sun can also reveal who’s who in the Birdcage, with marquees confirmed for Lexus, Network 10, Kennedy, Furphy, Penfolds, G.H. Mumm, Tabcorp and News Corp.

Food personality Diana Chan will be a 2022 Melbourne Cup Carnival Ambassador.

The Birdcage has played host to the likes of Nicole Kidman, Snoop Dogg, Paris Hilton, Elle McPherson and Liza Minnelli, as well as sports and business heavyweights.

The new set-up means well-heeled Birdcage guests will for the first time be able to leave VIP marquees to watch the race that stops a nation up close.

People with a ticket to The Rails will still be able to bring their own food and drinks but will no longer be allowed to install their own umbrellas, chairs and tables, with the VRC to secure all furniture.

“A key driver of that decision has been track safety, to ensure we minimise the chance of any furniture in that space making its way on to the track in a large gust of wind,’ he said.

“It created a potential safety hazard, which we want to eradicate.’’

While crowd numbers were capped and restricted to colour-coded areas last year, Mr Rosich was confident spectators would return in force.

“We’re looking to have around 300,000 people across the four days of the Carnival,’’ he said.

Chan – the 2017 MasterChef winner – said she would be trackside enjoying “all the wonderful food offerings” on offer.

“Some amazing chefs will be creating menus and experiences across the Carnival this year,” she said, highlighting a “dedicated seafood station and affogato hour” in the Birdcage.

“Melbourne is a city synonymous with producing some of the highest-quality food, and the Melbourne Cup Carnival is no exception.”

The Cup Carnival typically pours more than $430m into the state economy each year.