What it takes to put on a world class sports event in Adelaide
There are 116 matches to be played over eight days at the $2 million, men’s and women’s Adelaide International, with qualifying set to begin next week.
Tennis
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There are 116 matches to be played over eight days at the $2 million, men’s and women’s Adelaide International for which qualifying begins next week.
Indeed, the $2 million prize money, combined men’s and women’s event will be as much a major operational occasion as a match play fiesta.
Yesterday, Wimbledon champion Simona Halep held her first practice session on the revamped centre court. Shortly, four more women’s Wimbledon champions will arrive plus the current male Wimbledon champ, Novak Djokovic.
The players will catch the eye but there is so much more.
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Players
There will be 28 players in the men’s main draw and 30 in the women’s. The quality will be astronomical, a world rankings cut off of 50 for the men, 30 for the women. Your own dose of the Australian Open.
Off-site
The Intercontinental hotel across the bridge will host the players and their cohorts. More than 3000 nights have been pre-booked.
On-site
The adjoining Adelaide Oval will provide the changing rooms – women in the Crows area, men in the Port facilities – a creche, while the Magarey Room in the south stand will become the players lounge.
A shielded walkway will allow the players to head from the Oval to the courts, the giant hub concept not dissimilar to Melbourne Park.
Television
Adelaide is set to go global. Eighty broadcast crew will arrive from Tennis Australia to run the live television feed to go out nightly on Channel 9 in Australia and around 30 countries worldwide.
About 50 journalists are expected from around the world.
Grandstands
The tournament will be played across five courts, the centre court at Memorial Drive while Next Generation will have four match courts with temporary seating. Stadium capacity is around 5000.
Canopy
As well as non stop tennis, Memorial Drive can now double up as an events arena. An opera is first up in March while the 2020 annual winter CEO sleep-out to raise funds for the homeless takes place there in July.
Centre Court
The $10 million canopy will ensure there are no delays. Temporary stands will go up along the west side with a two deck corporate hospitality stand running the length of the east stand.
Officials
There will be 67 line umpires, 15 chair umpires and a further 10 match officials. Seventy-six SA ball boys and girls will patrol the courts with the top two performers picked to work at next year’s Australian Open. Plus about 200 volunteers.
Cars
You’ll see 50 (GMH) tournament cars on the Adelaide streets over the next two weeks, airport pick ups and tournament and hotel drop offs.
Tickets
The finals (Saturday January 18) are already sold out yet the first few days will likely be exceptional. Get onto the outside courts at Next Gen in particular for a close up of players you’ll see in the latter stages of this month’s Australian Open.
Big Bash
The Adelaide Strikers play two Big Bash cricket matches at the Oval during the tournament, on Sunday and Friday.