MELBOURNE fans around the country will have the opportunity to get up close and personal with history, as the club launches the official 2021 Demons' Cup Tour.
Presented by Zurich, the tour will see the Demons’ drought-breaking premiership cup visit multiple locations across Australia, giving members and supporters the chance to experience it in all its glory.
Stage one, encompassing metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria, will kick off later this month, with Shepparton, Traralgon, Geelong, Ballarat and Warrnambool all on the itinerary, before the tour heads interstate early next year.
The Australian Sports Museum will be the tour’s first port of call, hosting the cup for three days from Friday November 19 and giving the Demon faithful the chance to head to the MCG and take photographs with the cup.
The cup will then make its way into regional communities before returning to the MCG ahead of the club’s official premiership celebration, set to take place on December 5.
Melbourne CEO Gary Pert said the tour was all about giving diehard members and supporters the opportunity to revel in the club’s first premiership in 57 years.
“The official 2021 Melbourne Premiership Cup Tour is something that, as a club, we’re very proud to announce,” Pert told Melbourne Media.
“As we’ve said previously, it is really important for us to give as many of our members and supporters as possible the chance to celebrate this occasion and experience the joy that the premiership cup brings.
“We wanted to ensure that we not only gave this opportunity to our Victorian members but that we get right around the country to Melbourne supporters far and wide.
“Holding the authentic premiership cup, engraved with our great club’s name, is something that I’m sure many of the Melbourne faithful have dreamed about.
“This cup is the people’s cup, and with that, it’ll likely get some bumps and bruises, but that’s what makes it unique to the Melbourne Football Club. It’s some prized silverware and we want it to be celebrated and experienced by as many Melbourne supporters as possible.
“We couldn’t be prouder of what our AFL playing group has achieved and I’m just so excited for all of supporters, who have stuck with us through thick and thin, to experience the thrill of seeing and touching the authentic cup.”
ALL THE TOUR DATES AND DETAILS
Bookings will be required for the Australian Sports Museum leg of the tour, which can now be made online.
Members will be able to gain complimentary access to the museum, where the cup is stationed. Should members wish to bring a guest, they can do so by adding a ticket when booking their session online, available at the regular price of entry to the museum.
Online bookings will also be required for the Bunjil Place event. All other locations will be available for people to access on a walk-up basis.
A COVID-safe approach will be taken throughout the tour’s entirety, to provide a safe environment for everyone in the community.
“I would also like to reinforce to our members and supporters that the opportunity to take photos with the 2021 AFL Premiership Cup will not cost a cent, nor will accessing the premiership celebration at the MCG, which is being planned for December 5th,” Pert said.
“This is about giving all Melbourne people the opportunity to embrace what we, as a collective, have achieved.”
Members and supporters who head along to the events are encouraged to share their special photos on social media, using the hashtag #DeesCupTour21.
2021 Demons' Cup Tour, presented by Zurich
Australian Sports Museum
Friday 19 November, 10am - 8pm (exclusive to Melbourne members and their guests)
Saturday 20 November, 10am - 5.30pm
Sunday 21 November, 10am - 5.30pm
Saturday 4 December, 9am - 2.30pm
Shepparton Market Place
Monday 22 November, 11am - 5pm
Traralgon Centre Plaza
Wednesday 24 November, 11am - 5pm
Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre
Friday 26 November, 11am - 3pm
The Sporting Globe Bar & Grill, Geelong
Friday 26 November, 4pm - 6pm
Hotel Sorrento
Saturday 27 November, 12pm - 6pm
Ballarat Central Square
Sunday 28 November, 11am - 3pm
The Sporting Globe Bar & Grill, Ballarat
Sunday 28 November, 4pm - 6pm
Gateway Plaza, Warrnambool
Monday 29 November, 11am - 5pm
The Sporting Globe Bar & Grill, Chirnside Park
Wednesday 1 December, 4pm - 8pm
Bunjil Place, Narre Warren
Thursday 2 December, 12pm - 5pm
The Sporting Globe Bar & Grill, Doncaster
Saturday 4 December, 4pm - 6pm
MCG Premiership Celebration
Sunday 5 December, more details to follow
