Melbourne Park redevelopment continues as new Show Court reaches milestone
The new 5,000-seat arena at Melbourne Park has reached a major milestone, as the final stage of the almost $1 billion redevelopment of the precinct draws to a close.
Due to be completed in time for next year’s 2022 Australian Open, works have been completed on the new Show Court Arena roof using 270 tonnes of steel entirely fabricated in Victoria.
The new arena is the signature element of the $271.5 million third stage of the Melbourne Park redevelopment, which also incorporates the new Centrepiece events centre and conference space, as well as two new match courts and a logistics hub.
Partially sunken into the ground, the new arena and is located between Rod Laver Arena and John Cain Arena. It features an open roof structure which provides shade and weather protection for fans, ensuring the Australian Open remains the most weather-proof of the Grand Slams.
Centrepiece is on track for completion in the second half of the year and will have a function room that can host 3,000 guests as well as pre-event spaces and purpose-built broadcast studios, an auditorium and interview rooms – all of which will ensure the Australian Open continues to lead the world in Grand Slam facilities.
When completed in time for the 2023 Australian Open, the final stage in the $972 million redevelopment will have created 2,300 full-time-jobs through the Victorian Government’s Local Jobs First Policy.
The works have been scheduled so as not to disrupt the operations of the Australian Open, which is locked in at Melbourne Park until at least 2039.
This is the new show court arena at Melbourne Park. It won’t be open for this year’s @AustralianOpen, but will be ready for next year. Holds 5,000 people, has a mini Rod Laver Arena vibe to it (minus the roof). @7NewsMelbourne pic.twitter.com/twbZGaQWOE
— Blake Johnson (@BlakeJohnson) January 29, 2021
Fans at the 2021 Australian Open will file into the newly-named John Cain Arena (formerly Melbourne Arena) which was recently renamed to honour the former Victorian Premier whose vision and determination in the 1980s led to the establishment of Melbourne Park and kept the Australian Open in Victoria.
The Chief Health Officer has approved the COVIDSafe Event Plan for the Australian Open, starting on February 8, with a daily crowd capacity of 30,000 for the first eight days and then 25,000 per day from the quarter-finals through to the men’s final – equal to half of the average attendance over the past three years.
Tickets are now on-sale to the Australian Open and must be pre-purchased online through Ticketmaster [Buy Now]. There is also plenty of tennis being played at Melbourne Park prior to the Open, with all lead-up tournaments relocated to the venue. The ATP Cup and Melbourne Summer Series have already commenced, with tickets available from $20.
