2018 Australian Open 2018 on track to smash record attendance

THE Australian Open has broken its att­endance record, with crowd numbers smashed for the second year in a row at Melbourne Park.

Marin Cilic fans Natalie Buljan, Gabrijela Beric and Petar Buljan gear up for tonight’s final. Picture: Mark Stewart

THE Australian Open has broken its att­endance record, with crowd numbers smashed for the second year in a row at Melbourne Park.

A crowd of 743,667 people flooded through the gates in the two weeks of the tournament —

14,904 more than last year.

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The event has pumped $280 million into the economy, with 80,000 visitors from overseas and 500,000 hotel bookings.

The continued expansion of the site — and the hot weather — has been credited for the huge numbers as tournament chief Craig Tiley said the event had become more valuable in financial scale and global reach than any other single sporting event in the nation’s history.

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“There is no question the significance this event has for Melbourne, Victoria and the Australian economy,” he said.

“It surpasses anything else we do in Australia on an ­annual basis.”

Mr Tiley said it was no longer a tennis tournament, but a global sporting entertainment event.

He said Tennis Australia was exploring its options for when its lucrative broadcasting agreement expiring next year.

Hyeon Chung’s quarter-final was seen by ­1.4 million TV viewers, with 11.8 million tuning into the tournament nationally.

Marin Cilic fans Natalie Buljan, Gabrijela Beric and Petar Buljan gear up for tonight’s final. Picture: Mark Stewart

Seven Network boss Tim Worner, Channel 10 chief Paul Anderson and Nine’s Hugh Marks have
all been seen with Tennis Australia brass this week.

Mr Tiley said moving the event wouldn’t happen, despite renewed arguments to change the date to avoid the heat and protect player welfare. World No. 1 Rafael Nadal was among players to ask the question after consecutive stifling days in the first week.

Organisers closed the Rod Laver Arena roof for today’s play as a ­reprieve from near-40C heat.

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But Mr Tiley said players knew they had to be prepared: “It’s Australia, it’s January.

“We get a lot of feedback from the playing group, and while a lot of the players are saying it’s too hot, we have the other half saying ‘no, we are professional athletes, we train in these conditions, this is how we should be playing’.

“There is always validity in the conversation, taking care of the health and wellbeing of our players, and we are very ­focused on making sure that happens and we have a whole procedure (in place).

“I think we have it right.”

OPEN NUMBERS

• $280 million into the local economy

• 743,667 attendees

• 1100 employees at the tournament

• 11.8 million viewers nationally

• 65 TV channels, reaching 900 million homes globally

• 1.4 million additional viewers after Hyeon Chung’s quarterfinal appearance

• 80,000 attendees from overseas

• 500,000 nights booked at hotels, average of five nights per visitor

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