Since its opening in mid-July, the kegs on the ground floor of the New Public Stand at the Darwin Turf Club has poured more than 2000 schooners, and staff have served more than 380 cartons of Great Northern.
There’s also been two tonnes of food cooked in the commercial kitchen on level 1, 1051 bottles of champagne popped, and more than 5000 people through the doors for functions alone.
Darwin Turf Club chief executive Brad Morgan said the figures were very exciting.
“The New Public Stand has certainly made an impact on what we’re able to offer at the Darwin Turf Club,” he said.
Mr Morgan said the number of phone calls and enquiries for functions not related to racing were also substantial.
“Over December, every single corporate box was booked for Christmas parties or race day functions, and we’ve certainly seen that demand grow into the New Year as we take more and more enquiries,” he said.
“We’ve also hosted school formals, gala balls, media events and corporate lunches so the area is certainly not limited to race day functions alone.
“In regards to next year’s Great Northern Darwin Cup Carnival, there is more interest coming from New South Wales and Victoria than anywhere else, and we have so far booked 90 per cent of corporate boxes on next year’s Darwin Cup Day.
“We are expecting another sell-out carnival, and we hope all sectors of Darwin’s hospitality and tourism sectors enjoy the flow on effects of carnival time.”
Mr Morgan said tickets for next year’s cranial would go on sale in January.
“We are working through pricing options for next year’s carnival but we can confirm the Darwin Turf Club Gala Ball will stay at the Darwin Turf Club and the bet365 Palmerston Sprint will move back to the Saturday,” he said.