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12-26 Jan
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Venue

Tournament info

Courts

The Australian Open is played on cushion acrylic hard courts prepared by Greenset Worldwide. Until 2008, the surface used was Rebound Ace. There are 39 courts in total at Melbourne Park - 33 hard courts and six clay courts.

Rod Laver Arena 
Approximately 15,000 seats and is currently undergoing an amazing new facelift under the Melbourne & Olympic Park Redevelopment. This is a ticketed arena.

Margaret Court Arena
7500 seats, the roof opens in under five minutes, which is believed to be one of the fastest in the world. The arena design is inspired by the pleats of a traditional tennis skirt. This is a ticketed arena.

Melbourne Arena
Previously named Hisense Arena, Melbourne Arena was officially opened in 2000 and can be transformed into a cycling velodrome. All ticket holders, including those with a ground pass, can access its 9646 seats.

Show Courts
The capacity of Show Court 2 is 3000 seats; Show Court 3 - 3000 seats.

Redevelopment 

The venue is currently being upgraded as part of a Melbourne Park Redevelopment.

Stage 1
Start Date:  April 2010
Completed: In time for the Australian Open 2015
Cost: $366 million

Stage 1 of the redevelopment included:

  • Major upgrade to the Western Precinct and Margaret Court Arena with the installation of a retractable roof and additional seating to increase crowd capacity by 1500 additional seats
  • New elevated Eastern Plaza and National Tennis Centre incorporating eight new indoor courts and 13 outdoor courts for elite training and general public use as well as change rooms, player facilities and a gymnasium
  • New footbridge over Olympic Boulevard that will provide a continuous pedestrian link from the MCG to AAMI Park – the Edwin Flack Bridge
  • Multi-level parking for up to 1000 cars and up to 28 buses.
  • New timber deck and events space adjacent to the Rod Laver Arena western concourse
  • Landscaping upgrades to the Oval, including a new underground 4.5 megalitre stormwater retention tank
  • New entry stairs to Rod Laver Arena
  • Extension of the south-west external concourse surrounding Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena and Show Court 2
  • Improved connections between Rod Laver Arena, the Oval and Melbourne Arena
  • Addition of rainwater harvesting and treatment facilities.

Stage 2
Start Date: mid-2014
Completed: in time for the Australian Open 2020
Cost: $338 million 
Stage 2 of the redevelopment includes:

  • New administration facilities for Melbourne & Olympic Parks and Tennis Australia, Tennis HQ permanent media and broadcast facilities for the Australian Open
  • A new primary pedestrian entrance to the precinct from the city connection with Birrarung Marr to provide direct access from Flinders Street Station, named Tanderrum Bridge
  • New Rod Laver Arena northern and eastern-facing primary entrance, which will also provide food and beverage facilities and toilets
  • Improved accessible entrances to the seating bowl of Rod Laver Arena
  • Rod Laver Arena upgrade with significant upgrade to the back of house area, and improvements to the public and player areas.

Stage 3
Stage 3 of the Redevelopment includes a new Function Centre and media plus broadcast facilities as well as a 5,000 seat Show Court and new match courts. Site works will commence immediately post AO 2019.