Australia’s premier racing club, the Victoria Racing Club (VRC), has announced today global luxury lifestyle brand Lexus as the new Melbourne Cup principal partner.
The new five-year sponsorship agreement includes the naming rights to the Melbourne Cup Race, Melbourne Cup Day, the Melbourne Cup Tour, the Melbourne Cup Parade and the Melbourne Cup Barrier Draw.
It will see the coveted Lexus Design Pavilion take up front-row positioning as the headline marquee in Flemington’s exclusive Birdcage enclosure.
This alignment builds on the successful 14-year partnership between Lexus and the VRC, which has seen the luxury automotive brand create exhilarating entertainment, culinary and design experiences since 2003.
Newly appointed Lexus chief executive Scott Thompson said the brand was thrilled to build its association with one of the world’s greatest sporting events.
“The A$6.25 million Lexus Melbourne Cup is a truly spectacular event and the focal point of the Melbourne Cup Carnival,” Mr Thompson said.
“Lexus is honoured to be announced as the naming rights partner – the VRC perfectly aligns with our values of exhilarating experiences, innovation and sophistication,” he said.
“Together with the VRC, Lexus will continue to push the boundaries to pioneer exciting touchpoints and events for patrons on and off course. We look forward to driving the Melbourne Cup Carnival to even greater heights.”
The attraction of Flemington to sponsors continues to grow and there has been a new focus on customer experience with the introduction of new precincts, including the highly successful Park precinct and Cup Day Festival at Barangaroo.
This year will see the opening of the outstanding new $128 million Club Stand, underlining Flemington’s future as a world-class entertainment and sporting venue.
The new Club Stand will further elevate the customer experience at Flemington and ensure the VRC’s considerable contribution to the Australian economy continues to grow. Last year’s Melbourne Cup Carnival generated a record $444.5 million in gross economic benefit to Victoria. This is unrivalled by any other sporting event in the country.
“Lexus is only the fourth sponsor of the Melbourne Cup in its almost 158-year history,” Mrs Elliott said.
“Over the past century and a half, the VRC has demonstrated the ability to not only foster enduring relationships, but also to deliver great commercial outcomes for our partners.