Video gaming, MECCA make-up, tacos and DJ battles to entice younger crowd to Australian Open
Pop culture, music and make-up will feature at the Australian Open in a bid to draw younger crowds, with gaming, DJ battles and a beauty zone, headlined by major brand MECCA, all part of the reimagined tennis event.
Victoria
Don't miss out on the headlines from Victoria. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A video gaming pavilion, DJ battles between star athletes and a beauty zone headlined by makeup brand MECCA will form part of a new Australian Open precinct designed to draw Gen Z to the Grand Slam.
Tennis Australia will on Friday unveil the line-up for “TOPCOURT”, the new gaming, live entertainment, fashion, food and drink area to take over the middle terrace of Birrarung Marr for two weeks of the January tournament.
It has been designed to draw younger crowds to the tennis, with a focus on high-energy, sport and pop culture.
The Herald Sun can reveal the new precinct will be anchored by “Centre Stage” which will host performances, celebrity appearances and daily entertainment.
It will feature tie Breaker DJ sets hosted by Nina Las Vegas, with DJs going head to head with AFL, AFLW and Olympic athletes on the decks as well as live music every day.
Tennis Australia product and customer director Amanda Del Prete said the new precinct would be “an entirely fresh approach for the AO.”
“We’ve created a space where sport, music, gaming, food and culture collide,’’ she said.
“Giving fans the freedom to explore and create their own unique experience. From gaming challenges to live entertainment, there’s something for everyone.”
“Game On powered by Fortress” will include VR Tennis, a retro arcade and games such as Epic’s Fortnite and Rocket League, NBA2K and Topspin.
And MECCA Summer Club will be billed as “the ultimate beauty oasis”, where fans can refresh and try the most-hyped beauty products of the season, with makeup, skin and hair transformations.
The precinct will have a shopping section, with pop up stores for Ralph Lauren, Bondi Sands, and the AO Shop.
It will also feature a Red Bull Rally Padel Arena, totem and table tennis and basketball courts. And a new culinary zone called “TOP SNACC” will open in collaboration with Melbourne food truck pioneer Raph Rashid, the man behind Beatbox Kitchen, All Day Donuts, Juanita Peaches and Taco Truck.
It will include nacho fries, burgers, burritos and fried chicken tenders championed by Aussie tennis ace Alexei Popyrin — the “Popyrin Chicken Sub”.
TOPCOURT will be accessible on a Ground Pass, the cheapest AO ticket.
The Open will be staged from January 12—26.
Man drowns at Balnarring Beach in Boxing Day tragedy
A man has died after being pulled from waters off Balnarring Beach on the Mornington Peninsula, while a teen is fighting for life after an incident in Bright.
‘Act immediately to survive’: Grampians towns evacuated, ‘dangerous’ afternoon conditions to come
Mafeking residents have been told it is now too dangerous to leave and urged to take shelter as a matter of survival as firefighters battle an “uncontrollable” bushfire tearing through the Grampians.