Welcome to Pod Laver Arena: Melbourne Park east entrance transformed

A NEW eastern entrance to Melbourne Park featuring bars, restaurants and public spaces is the latest revamp of our world-leading tennis and entertainment precinct.

A NEW eastern entrance to Melbourne Park featuring bars, restaurants and public spaces is the latest revamp of our world-leading tennis and entertainment precinct.

A futuristic pod will be the centrepiece of the upgrade on the Richmond side of Rod Laver Arena, to be unveiled in time for the 2019 Australian Open.

It will house diners and bars, dressing rooms for athletes and performers, a crèche, transport facilities, a beauty salon and shops.

An artist’s impression of the revamped Melbourne Park precinct from the air.

An upgrade of Rod Laver Arena itself will see new seating, restaurants and administration centres.

A smaller pod will be open to the public in time for next year’s Open, featuring bars, eateries and easier access around a new southern concourse to help fans navigate the site.

An artist’s impression of the revamped Melbourne Park.

Steps that previously led to centre court and 20-year-old indoor courts between Rod Laver Arena and Hisense Arena have recently been demolished to make way for the development.

The southern area will provide new views over the Yarra River and an improved link to Grand Slam Oval which housed bars with French, US and English themes at this year’s Open.

Acting Sports Minister Luke Donnellan said the ­redevelopment would keep Melbourne’s sporting precinct the envy of the world.

Shops and restaurants will form part of the new eastern entrance to Melbourne Park.

“Building this new grand entrance will make it easier for fans to get around the precinct and help us attract even more events to Victoria,’’ he said.

The work forms part of the $338 million stage two redevelopment of Melbourne Park, which the Andrews Government claims will deliver 1300 jobs during construction.

Acting Sports Minister Luke Donnellan said the ­redevelopment would keep Melbourne’s sporting precinct the envy of the world. Picture: Paul Loughnan

This year’s Open — ­attended by a record 728,000 fans — had the biggest footprint of any tennis major in the world, with the site stretching from Olympic Boulevard to the CBD.

It featured a new-look Garden Square, Grand Slam Oval and a new main entrance via a footbridge from Birrarung Marr as organisers turned the focus from the river to the city.

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The new-look Melbourne Park will be unveiled in time for the 2019 Australian Open.

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