‘What a joke’: Members fume as cost-cutting VRC shutters Club Stand for January race meetings

Cash-strapped Victoria Racing Club has shuttered its landmark members’ grandstand for meetings in January to cut costs.

The Club Stand (right) including rooftop area is popular with VRC members. Picture: George Sal/Racing Photos via Getty Images

Cash-strapped Victoria Racing Club has shuttered its landmark members’ grandstand for meetings in January to cut costs.

The prized $128m The Club Stand, heralded as a “game-changer” upon completion in 2018, will closed for races on January 11 and 18 with members limited to the old Grandstand. The Club Stand roof garden, members lawn and courtyard bar will be open for the New Year’s Day race day.

The Club Stand decision comes after new VRC chief executive Kylie Rogers sacked 40 staff members last month in a major restructure.

Ex-AFL customer and commercial general manager Rogers has adopted a similar plan to AFL venue operators that close sections on grounds for low-drawing games.

The cost of a VRC membership ($590, excluding $726 joining fee) is more than double average AFL club season tickets due to entitlements including access to the Members Enclosure and Member only areas “on all race days, including the Melbourne Cup Carnival”.

The VRC draws about $20m annually in membership fees alone.

The VRC has not widely advertised The Club Stand summer shutdown to its record 32,240 membership base – the largest of any racing club in the world – only responded to individual inquiries.

“Thank you for your email regarding the Club Stand for Summer,” the VRC correspondence reads.

“Due to the attendance forecast for members and guests across the race days, it is not financially viable to open all spaces within both the Club Stand and Grandstand.

“After careful consideration, we have made the decision to open the Grandstand, as it offers the best vantage point for racing.

“Additionally, the Grandstand allows members to bring their own food (not permitted within the Club Stand), and enables us to provide members with an option of an exclusive event in the Committee Room – The Summer Soiree.

“The Grandstand also offers closer access to the entertainment and activations on the front lawn including a view of the DJ on the live stage after the last.

“There will be plenty of unreserved seating located within the Atrium for you to enjoy.

“We appreciate your understanding and look forward to welcoming you to Flemington over Summer.”

Saturday race meetings at Flemington, including in the January block, typically draw a 6000-7000-strong crowd.

The VRC last month reported a $72.5m debt including a $24.2m net loss last financial year – $9.3m more than FY23.

The proceeds of a lucrative Melbourne Cup Carnival broadcast deal with Tabcorp and Nine from 2024-29 will clear the debt this financial year.

The Club Stand summer sojourn has attracted mixed feedback on a social media page — VRC Members Melbourne — with more than 6300 followers.

“I am still in shock that the newest and nicest and best facilities available to us are being closed over summer due to financial reasons,” one member posted.

“How does that make sense when let’s be real we never needed two massive stands, they got greedy and built a beautiful (stand) that cost way too much and now we can’t even use it. What a joke.”

Others accepted the financial decision, “albeit disappointing for us members”.

“Like the MCC (Melbourne Cricket Club) doesn’t open every bar on low attendance big bash games, the club is opening less space on low attendance race days in January,” the member wrote. “It makes sense financially, albeit disappointing for us as members.”

Another added: “The VRC is essentially cash strapped so closing the stands on what are loss making days is a way to decrease losses. Makes sense until the club is back on a sounder financial footing. But … it should never have gotten to this point.”

The VRC has been reached for comment.

Originally published as ‘What a joke’: Members fume as cost-cutting VRC shutters Club Stand for January race meetings