As this year’s Australian Open gets underway, much has been made of how fast its courts are playing – particularly at John Cain Arena and Margaret Court Arena.
Both courts accommodate 10,300 spectators and feature roofs. Fans with ground passes can watch any match on either court and seating directly under the roof will offer shade during the daytime hours.
Rod Laver Arena
Rod Laver Arena is the focal point of Melbourne Park’s Tennis Centre and features retractable roof seating capacity for 14,820 spectators. Dedicated to legendary Australian tennis player Rod Laver, it opened for business in 1988 and has hosted many Grand Slam tournaments – as well as hosting Australia Open events every January since then.
This unique arena stands as one of the world’s most advanced sports venues and was specifically designed to be flexible in order to suit various uses. A movable floor allows it to transform from an arena for sporting matches into concert space while its flexible seating accommodates more people – marking Melbourne’s sports history forever! Its groundbreaking architecture has cemented itself into history.
Fans attending the Australian Open have an opportunity to observe how players prepare for a match and experience life as professional tennis players first-hand. Tour participants can explore the tournament control room, viewing changing rooms used by top players and even play for one hour on the same court with professional tennis players – and take home memories that include photos with them all!
Rod Laver Arena provides an ideal way for those unable to attend the Australian Open to watch tennis from the comfort of their own homes, whether that means viewing on TV, streaming services, or purchasing tickets online – tickets prices range between $25 and $120 depending on which ticket type is selected.
Rod Laver is a classic venue for watching Grand Slam tennis tournaments in Melbourne, but there are many other courts worth seeing during this tournament. Some are more intimate while others provide plenty of energy – Court 3 in particular is ideal for seeing big name matches as well as experiencing the atmosphere created by an energetic crowd.
Rod Laver Arena provides a number of options for spectators looking to witness matches, from ground passes that give access to all stadiums at an affordable price, or tickets for individual courts or sections of the arena, to VIP tours of changing rooms and media center theaterette which may allow access to arena itself if events permit.
Melbourne Park
Melbourne Park is a multi-purpose venue featuring three premier stadium courts – Rod Laver Arena, John Cain Arena and Margaret Court Arena – equipped with retractable roofs. In addition, other indoor and outdoor courts used by the local community throughout the year also make up this landmark complex.
Australian Open is one of the world’s premier grand slam tournaments and draws crowds from all around the world to witness their favorite players compete each January at this venue, making for an engaging and celebratory atmosphere.
Activities available around the grounds range from shopping and dining to simply taking in the scenery, as well as guided tours that go behind-the-scenes of this stadium. Sporting Capital Tours’ Melbourne Park Tennis Experience is a fantastic way to experience all that this stadium has to offer!
As such, the atmosphere at this grand slam tournament is more relaxed than that found at other tournaments. Most spectators at the tournament consist of families and friends there simply to have a good time; giving it an almost holiday-like ambience and welcoming vibe not usually found at other major tournaments.
Even under its laidback atmosphere, competition among top seeds is fierce. Even so, every tournament brings unexpected victories; 2024 saw this happen when Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis made it all the way to the final and beat several higher seeded players on their journey towards winning it all.
At the Australian Open, crowd noise and glass clinking is only part of the background soundscape. A two-story bar overlooking Court 6 allows visitors to sip wine while watching matches unfold – it provides a unique and immersive viewing experience, though some players might not appreciate being so close to all that noise!
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Rod Laver Court 3
Melbourne Park Stadium 3 offers some of the most exciting action during a tennis tournament. As it is smaller than its all-reserved counterparts, seats here offer more intimate viewing than in its larger all-reserved arenas and you may meet fellow tennis fans here too! Plus, all three all-reserved stadiums provide food and beverage options so that you can grab something to eat before each match begins.
Rod Laver is widely considered one of Australia’s finest male tennis players, known for his versatility on all five surfaces and numerous titles won, which earned him the nickname of ‘The Rocket”. This arena honors him.
Rod Laver Arena at Melbourne Park hosts the Australian Open tennis tournament every January, making history by being the first Australian venue with a retractable roof that allows play to continue even during heavy rainfall or extreme heat conditions.
Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Precinct boasts this multipurpose sports center which hosts events such as the Australian Open to international touring artists throughout the year. Rod Laver Arena holds up to 15,000 people while John Cain Arena (10,000 seats) and Margaret Court Arena (7,500) offer additional seating capacity respectively. Furthermore, Show Court 3 and 1573 Arena each feature 3,000-seat capacities; Kia Arena opened up in 2022 has added another venue within this complex with seating capacities for 5,000 fans.
Rod Laver Arena has an electrifying atmosphere, making it easy to understand why this venue is the premier location for watching Australian Open matches. There are no bad seats here and watching a match here can be immensely satisfying and entertaining – plus, food and beverage offerings make enjoying this amazing atmosphere all that much simpler.
Melbourne & Olympic Parks acknowledge the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Owners of Rod Laver Arena’s land, and acknowledge their continuing connection to it and pay our respects to their Elders past, present, and future.
Melbourne Arena
Melbourne Arena is Australia’s premier venue, hosting many world-class events such as the Australian Open tennis tournament each year and hosting various grand slam tennis matches throughout the year. Visitors looking to experience Australian sport and culture shouldn’t miss this experience!
Rod Laver Arena lies at the centre of Melbourne’s sports and entertainment precinct and boasts an impressive capacity of 15,500 seats. Popularly known as “Centre Court”, Rod Laver Arena hosts some of the major matches during Australian Open tournament.
Greenset Plexicushion material provides the arena’s playing surface, helping reduce player injury and fatigue by reacting to impacts that come their way. A soft yet durable rubber-like substance, this rubbery surface offers comfort while being eco-friendly – first introduced at Melbourne Park Tennis Centre in 1996 as an alternative to grass courts.
Margaret Court Arena first opened in 1988 as Show Court One but after renovation in 2003 was renamed in honor of Australia’s most successful female tennis player – Margaret Court. As part of its refurbishment it received an ultra-fast retractable roof which opens or closes in five minutes! Today it hosts various professional sporting teams such as basketball and netball as well as hosting concerts and family shows.
The arena is easily accessible and your standard ground pass will get you inside; however, admission may be more costly compared to some of the other courts. Still, this court provides an incredible vantage point from which to watch all the action and often attracts big names (think Kyrgios, Millman and Gauff in doubles!). Furthermore, with its roofed covering it doesn’t become an issue during rain.