Tourists and racing enthusiasts from the eastern seaboard on average represent up to 70 per cent of tickets in the sold-out New Public Stand for Darwin Cup Day, according to internal ticketing data from the Darwin Turf Club.

It’s the fastest and strongest uptake of tickets from the eastern states that the Darwin Turf Club has seen in many years.

Darwin Turf Club chief executive Brad Morgan said both level one and level two of the New Public Stand had been very well received by interstate guests.

“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.

“It makes us competitive with other cities like Melbourne and Sydney, who also offer premium products for their clients.

“These visitors will be buying flights to Darwin, and accommodation for their stay, they’ll be wining and dining in Darwin and they will be combining their trip with not just the Darwin Cup, but other tourist activities, so it is a large injection into our economy which will be felt by many tourism operators across the board.”

In addition, the next two highest-performing hospitality packages – the Ted Bailey Grandstand, and the Atrium, are at capacity.

The Legends of the Straight Marquee is also near capacity.

“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,” Mr Morgan said.

The Great Northern Darwin Cup Carnival commences on Saturday July 3 and runs through to Monday August 2 with tickets on sale through the Darwin Turf Club website – www.darwinturfclub.org.au