Sponsorship Opportunities
Within Australia, the Victoria Racing Club Limited (VRC) has been operating as the premier racing club for the past 140 years. Based at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia, the Club plays host to the internationally renowned Emirates Melbourne Cup, and is regarded worldwide as a centre of racing excellence.
Each year, historical Flemington Racecourse plays host to four exciting days of thoroughbred racing and each of these days is stamped with its own personality and individual appeal. Known as the Melbourne Cup Carnival, it is one of Australia's most popular and successful sporting events.
The 2006 Melbourne Cup Carnival was a huge success across many fronts and now transcends traditional sporting events as a unique combination of sport, fashion, entertainment, hospitality and business. Record attendances were achieved on AAMI Victoria Derby Day and Emirates Stakes Day, with crowds on Emirates Melbourne Cup Day and Crown Oaks Day also outstanding with in excess of 100,000 people attending both days. The overall four-day crowd was an astonishing 418,099 people, a record by over 34,000. With consistent growth in attendances by Club Members, corporate guests, public and media alike, the Melbourne Cup Carnival truly deserves the title as Australia's most popular sporting event as judged in a recent study by Sweeney & Associates.
Club Membership currently stands at an impressive 26,000. Whilst the Club demographics are skewed slightly towards higher net worth individuals and middle-upper level management, thoroughbred racing in Australia has a very broad appeal across many socio-economic groups. Market research indicates that interest and attendances are well above average in categories such as overseas visitors, business travellers, beer drinkers, high income earners and mobile phone users.
Sponsorship at Flemington offers unique experiential branding opportunities and targeted communication channels. The Club boasts an impressive network of associations with companies participating in sponsorship and corporate hospitality including Emirates, AAMI, Crown, Lion Nathan, Myer, Schweppes, Yellowglen, Diageo, Longines, Lexus, Lavazza and Channel 7.
Race sponsorship outside of the Melbourne Cup Carnival
Race sponsorships are available at most racemeetings at Flemington throughout the racing season. Choose race sponsorship on one of our popular theme days such as SOFITEL Girls Day Out in September, Melbourne Cup Carnival Preview Day in October or Super Saturday in March, or alternatively our Summer Racing Series in January and Winter Racing Series in June/July which provide great sponsorship opportunities.
raceday sponsorship
Raceday sponsorships are also available allowing the sponsor raceday naming rights and the opportunity to name each race after one of your brands. Sponsors such as Western Health have reaped the benefits of combining a raceday sponsorship with a Corporate Function at Flemington.
Benefits of Race & Raceday Sponsorship
All race and raceday sponsorships are specifically tailored to clients' requirements. Typical packages can include the following benefits:
- Naming rights to a race or naming rights to the day and to all races on the program
- On course signage and branding package
- Advertising in the racebook and on the big screens at Flemington
- Trophy presentation in the Mounting Yard
- Television and radio coverage
- Racename mention in various publications
- Executive privileges
- Framed memento
- Invitations to VRC Events
- Corporate function (at an additional cost)
cost
| Race sponsorship packages | From $10,000 + GST |
| Raceday sponsorship packages | From $25,000 + GST |
Melbourne Cup Carnival Opportunities
Each year historical Flemington Racecourse plays host to four exciting days of racing with each of these days having its own personality and individual appeal. Known as the Melbourne Cup Carnival, it is Australia's premier sporting event and attracts attendance of approximately 400,000 people each year.
Recently rated as Australia's most popular sporting event in a study by Sweeney & Associates, the Melbourne Cup Carnival now transcends traditional sporting events as a unique combination of sport, fashion, entertainment, hospitality and business.
The Melbourne Cup Carnival is the ideal event for corporate entertaining and exposure. Few events worldwide can boast attendances and media coverage of this calibre. Unlike other events, the Carnival's relaxed social atmosphere and spaced racing program creates the perfect environment for business networking.
Flemington's impressive on-course facilities and diverse hospitality options ensure that your entertaining needs can be accommodated. It is no wonder that the Melbourne Cup Carnival is regarded as one of the 'must-attend' events on the Australian corporate calendar.
Melbourne Cup Carnival Sponsorship Packages
A race sponsorship package during the Melbourne Cup Carnival typically incorporates race naming rights and trophy presentation, advertising exposure and media coverage, sponsor signage and various other branded items on course, executive privileges and corporate hospitality.
cost
| AAMI Victoria Derby Day Race | From $100,000 + GST* |
| Emirates Melbourne Cup Day Race | From $100,000 + GST* |
| Crown Oaks Day Race | From $80,000 + GST* |
| Emirates Stakes Day Race | From $80,000 + GST* |
VRC Events and Club Programs
The VRC conducts a number of events and Club programs both on and off-course to compliment Flemington's racemeetings throughout the year. These provide companies with an opportunity to promote their product to a specific target market.
Events include:
- Flemington Spring Fashion Lunch
- Members Spring Fashion Cocktail Party
- Emirates Melbourne Cup Tour
- Breakfast with the Stars
- VRC Oaks Club Luncheon
- Myer Fashions on the Field at Flemington
- Emirates Stakes Day Fashions on the Field
- Emirates Melbourne Cup Parade
- Pin and Win Competition
- Beautiful Girls Fashion Lunch
Club Programs include:
- Melbourne Cup Business Network and International Strategy Program
- Members Benefit Program
- VRC Racing Rewards Program
- VRC Young Members Program
- Junior Membership Program
- Phar Lap Club
- Flemington Green Fields Sustainability Program
Associate/Event Support Sponsorships during the Melbourne Cup Carnival start from approx. $50K.
Please feel free to contact us should you wish to discuss sponsorship opportunities further.
- Brendan Ford
- General Manager, Sponsorship & Corporate Development
- Telephone:
- 03 8378 0657
- Email:
- Brendan Ford
- Nick Fairbairn
- Senior Account Manager - Sponsorship
- Telephone:
- 03 8378 0611
- Email:
- Nick Fairbairn
- Zoe Habersberger
- Senior Account Manager - Sponsorship
- Telephone:
- 03 8378 0634
- Email:
- Zoe Habersberger
- Sam Thompson
- Senior Account Manager - Sponsorship
- Telephone:
- 03 8378 0659
- Email:
- Sam Thompson
- Prue Mahar
- Senior Account Manager - Sponsorship
- Telephone:
- 03 8378 0634
- Email:
- Prue Mahar
- Kate Edgar
- Account Manager - Sponsorship
- Telephone:
- 03 8378 0665
- Email:
- Kate Edgar
