New Youth Ground Pass ticket to Australian Open aimed at attracting next gen of tennis fans
The new Youth Ground Pass will make the Australian Open more affordable for teens aged 13 to 17, with tickets starting from just $10.
Victoria
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A cheaper new ticket category aimed at attracting a younger crowd to the Australian Open will be introduced for next year’s Melbourne Grand Slam.
The ticketing shake up will see a “Youth Ground Pass” introduced for the first time, priced between concession and children’s seats, to make the tennis more affordable for teenagers.
The new pass will give teens aged 13-17 access to every court at Melbourne Park except Rod Laver and Margaret Court Arenas during the 15-day major event in January.
The pass will grant entry to John Cain Arena and Kia Arena, all outdoor courts, AO Ballpark, Grand Slam Oval and Middle Terrace.
Australian Open director Craig Tiley said the move would make the much-loved event more accessible to the next generation of tennis fans.
“We’re excited to introduce our new Youth Ground Pass which offers teenagers a more affordable way to come and enjoy the AO,” Mr Tiley said.
“Whether they’re attending independently with their friends or accompanied by their family, we want them to have more opportunities to experience everything the AO has to offer.”
Youth Ground Passes for week one of the Open will cost $29, $39 for the middle weekend and $10 for week two, when early bird ticketing for the Open launches on October 10.
From December, they will cost $35 for week one, $49 for the middle Friday and Saturday and $20 for week two.
In another win for the hip pocket of sports fans hit hard by a cost-of-living crisis, the price of all adult and children’s ground passes will be frozen at last year’s rate from October 10 until November 30.
Adult Ground Passes will remain at last year’s prices under the early bird deal, starting from $49 in week one, $69 for the middle weekend, and from $19 for week two.
They will cost $59 for week one, $85 for the middle Friday and Saturday and $35 for week two when the early bird deal ends.
“We’re always looking for ways to make the AO as accessible and family friendly as possible,” Mr Tiley said.
In a bid to stop scalpers ripping off fans, people who can no longer attend matches at the Open will be able to use Ticketmaster Resale for the first time.
Mr Tiley said it would allow fans to sell their tickets securely on the official resale platform, reducing fraud and providing more flexibility.
A seven-day ground pass accessing all of week two will be sold for $99 for adults and $15 for kids – the same price as this year.
Starting prices for Rod Laver Arena will be $75 for the day and $85 for the night. Margaret Court Arena starting prices will be frozen at $69 for the day and night.
The most expensive tickets will be “Super Row” seats at Rod Laver Arena for the finals, at $2099 each.
Top of the range Super Row tickets in Margaret Court Arena will cost $319.
There will be 27 sessions of play on centre court, 16 in Margaret Court Arena and 15 in John Cain Arena – six more than this year.
In another first, John Cain Arena will host day and night sessions from January 12-17 instead of just single sessions.
Tickets for Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena and John Cain Arena and Ground Passes go on sale at noon on October 10.
Pre-sale events will be staged for MasterCard holders on October 1.
Originally published as New Youth Ground Pass ticket to Australian Open aimed at attracting next gen of tennis fans
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