Interstate Darwin Cup frenzy: Locals risk missing a placing at the Cup

Travel-starved interstate punters in their thousands have set their sights on this year’s Darwin Cup Carnival prompting the turf club to warn locals to get in early.

TRAVEL-starved interstate punters in their thousands have set their sights on this year’s Darwin Cup Carnival prompting the turf club to warn locals to get in early or risk missing out on their carnival tickets.

Darwin Turf Club chief executive Brad Morgan, who will make a major carnival announcement on Thursday, confirmed the Darwin Turf Club was experiencing extraordinary interest and unprecedented uptake in tickets from interstate guests for the 2021 cup carnival.

With still four months to go before Cup Day in August several of the turf club’s more popular hospitality areas are either sold out or are very near to being at capacity on Darwin Cup Day.

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Tourists and racing enthusiasts have voted with their money in their support for the controversial taxpayer-funded $12 million grandstand — it’s sold out on Darwin Cup Day.

In addition, the next two highest-performing hospitality packages — the Ted Bailey Grandstand, and the Atrium, are at capacity. “This has been an unprecedented uptake of tickets, and shows both levels of the new public stand are a premium product which has been long needed to bring another level of tourists to Darwin,” Mr Morgan said.

The DTC is creating other hospitality areas that will enhance its corporate and public offerings.

“Darwin Turf Club staff have been fielding an unparallel number of phone calls since tickets went on sale on January 20, and we are anticipating a sellout year,” Mr Morgan said.

“With no international travel, people are choosing Northern Australia, in particular Darwin, to holiday and escape the cold, miserable winter months of the southern states.

“We have been overwhelmed with the number of tickets purchased, and it is fantastic to see so many interstate guests coming to Darwin to enjoy a wonderful time of year to escape the winter for the wonderful dry season in Darwin.

“We do encourage locals to buy their tickets as we are expecting the sold out signs going up earlier than expected this year.

“It is important locals don’t leave it too late and potentially miss out on being a part of the Territory’s biggest sporting and social event.”

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Mr Morgan said ticket sales were also in high demand for signature events within the carnival, including the Gala Ball and Bridge Toyota Ladies’ Day.

“We’re very excited for these events, with ticket sales indicating crowds not seen for several years,” he said.

Economic modelling suggests that for every dollar spent at the Darwin Turf Club, there is $8 spent in the community.

Tickets to all eight days of the Great Northern Darwin Cup Carnival can be purchased through the Darwin Turf Club website – darwinturfclub.org.au.