Melbourne Grand Slam serves winner with state-of-the-art facilities
EXCLUSIVE new photos show the biggest revamp of Rod Laver Area in three decades ahead of the Australian Open.
News
Don't miss out on the headlines from News . Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Melbourne Park to be transformed
- Stars flock to Rod Laver Arena
- Melbourne serves up world’s best venue
- Fans to take hi-tech ‘selfies’ at the tennis
THIS is Melbourne Park as you have never seen it before.
The home of the Australian Open is in the midst of the biggest revamp in its 30 year history. And these exclusive images offer a sneak peak of the state-of-the-art facilities that will greet the world’s best tennis players and sports fans in January.
A new-look Rod Laver Arena will be served up to those lucky enough to score centre court seats at the Melbourne grand slam.
A futuristic “southern pod’’ jutting out of the venue will house new food and beverage outlets.
An expanded concourse will extend from the rear of Rod Laver Arena near Garden Square where fans watch matches on big screens, to the tournament’s international food hub, Grand Slam Oval.
New dining options aimed at reducing queues, upgraded bathroom facilities and improved disability access will be unveiled.
And underneath centre court, lavish new player facilities including dining areas, grand dressing rooms and communal spaces will be at the disposal of the likes of Roger Federer and Serena Williams.
Australian Open director Craig Tiley said the changes were designed to keep the tournament ahead of the grand slam pack.
“This is just the beginning of a major refurbishment of Rod Laver Arena, which is already one of the premier sports and entertainment stadiums in the world,’’ he said.
“We look forward to its completion in 2019, when there will be brand new seating and a stunning new western entry.”
The new centralised player hub underneath Rod Laver Arena includes undercover transport access which drops players a few steps from their locker room.
It boasts lounge, relaxation and chill out areas including a “player quiet room”, full-service beauty bar and barber shop, a crèche and private retail spaces.
Players will also have restaurants with international cuisine, an onsite bank, travel agent, tax adviser and a concierge offering everything from golf club hire to theatre tickets.
They will even be treated to musical performances, artists in residence, barbecues and cooking demonstrations.
“We welcome the world’s best players to the Australian Open and these are some of the most high profile sportsmen and women in the world,’’ Mr Tiley said.
“It’s our responsibility to help them perform at their peak so we make everything as easy as we can.’’
Indoor courts and an ageing international media centre have been bulldozed to make way for the new facilities.
A record 728,000 fans attended this year’s Australian Open.
Smooth running for sporting summer... mostly
SPORTS fans face a summer of traffic limbo but roads to the MCG and Melbourne Park should run smoother by the time the Boxing Day Test and Australian Open tennis hit town.
An extra lane is expected to open within two months on the troubled Swan St Bridge project to ease traffic jams on the busy river crossing near Rod Laver Arena.
A pedestrian and bike bridge is also expected to open before the world’s best tennis players arrive in Melbourne in January, luring tens of thousands of fans to the city’s iconic sports precinct.
Swan St Bridge project delayed by four months meaning longer traffic delays for drivers
Swan St bridge works set for December 2017 completion
But a fifth road lane meant to be built in time for the summer of sport will not be ready in time and a likely finish date is still not known.
Roads Minister Luke Donnellan compared rebuilding the 70-year-old bridge to “renovating an old house’’.
“It presents unexpected challenges — it’s frustrating — but it’s part of dealing with heritage infrastructure,’’ he said.
“By the Boxing Day Test, the bridge will be better than ever before, with new, wider cycling and pedestrian paths on both sides and four lanes of traffic up and running.’’
An additional lane will also open on Olympic Boulevard in time for the Australia-England blockbuster.
Brewery puts name on global sporting stage
It’s the little brewery that could. A South Gippsland craft brewer is putting its name on a motorsport event with a global audience of more than 100 million people.
West Gate Tunnel build set to close key Docklands route
Brace for more traffic pain linked to the West Gate Tunnel project with a key route in the Docklands set to close.