A rendering of the new AO Courtside Bar at Melbourne Park
Featured image credit: Australian Open
The Australian Open has announced plans to create a “party court” at Melbourne Park through the construction of a new hospitality lounge ahead of its 2024 edition.
The new AO Courtside Bar is a 400-capacity, double-storey structure which will overlook Court 6. A rotating roster of DJs will be on hand to entertain, while gourmet bar bites will be provided by Sydney’s Joel Bennetts.
Organisers also announced plans for increased shaded areas across the precinct, building on the ‘butterfly wings’ structure on Grand Slam Oval that was introduced in 2023. Next year, the shaded area will be doubled with the installation of pavilions set across the lawns of Garden Square.
Also debuting in 2024 is the brand-new European marketplace, situated at the north of the precinct.
“We expect [Court 6] will quickly become known as the ‘party court’, and it’s a model we’d like to expand further across the site in future,” said Craig Tiley, the Australian Open’s tournament director.
The Australian Open will build on 2023’s inaugural Opening Week, offering an expanded program of events and more opportunities for fans to get closer to the players ahead of the first Grand Slam of the year.
Opening Week in 2024 will include qualifying matches, daily open practice sessions in Rod Laver Arena, four star-studded exhibition and charity matches, thousands of racquets given away to children, and the return of Kids Tennis Day.
An expanded Finals Festival is set to raise the roof at John Cain Arena with the court transformed into a live music venue for the final four days of the AO
Tiley added: “We are looking forward to a three-week extravaganza of tennis and entertainment, with Opening Week bringing fans closer to the action than ever and giving unprecedented access to the top players as we lead into an historic Sunday start.”
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