84
AUSTRALIAN OPEN TENNIS TOURNAMENT
Where?
Melbourne Park
Batman Avenue
Melbourne, Australia
When?
In January, actual dates vary each year.
Significance:
As the first and hottest, temperature-wise, of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments the Australian Open features the best of the best sweating it out in singles, mixed doubles, juniors, and master’s competitions. Formerly known as the Australian Championships, the event started in 1905 at the grass courts of Kooyong.
Today, the Australian Open enjoys prominence as the first leg of the Grand Slam, attracting tennis superstars from around the world. However, the tournament hasn’t been without its struggles. Remote locations, low prize money, and scheduled dates on Christmas and New Year’s Day were not attracting marquee players or fans who wanted to see them.
In 1983, Ivan Lendl, Mats Wilander, and John McEnroe competed in the Australian Open, but only because they were playing the Davis Cup at Kooyong a few days after the Open. Wilander would go on to win that year. A move to Melbourne Park, then Flinders Park, in 1988 put the tournament on a hardcourt and back into prominence. The first year saw attendance rise 90 percent to well over a quarter-million tennis fans watching top tennis stars compete.
Protection from the elements is vital in an Australian climate. The Rod Laver Arena and the Vodafone Arena, the two main courts, have retractable roofs in the event of rain or extreme heat. Nonetheless, an extreme heat policy remains in effect when the thermometer reaches dangerous levels. Today, rain or shine, so to speak, the players compete on a Plexicushion acrylic surface that helps deflect the sun’s rays. In Australia, it is both the heat and the humidity.
Who attends?
Tennis fans from all over the world, including many celebrities and famous athletes.
How to get there?
A five-minute drive from Melbourne’s CBD. Melbourne Park is separated from the Botanic Gardens by the Yarra River. Two tram stops, route 70, a taxi rank, a river jetty, and two pedestrian bridges link the precinct with the MCG.
Tickets:
For secondary ticket access, consider:
GoTickets, Inc.
2345 Waukegan Road, Suite 140
Bannockburn, IL 60015-1552
Toll-Free: 1-800-775-1617
Fax: (919) 481-9101
E-mail: sales@gotickets.com
www.gotickets.com
Accommodations:
Bayview on the Park, Melbourne
52 Queens Road
Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
Phone: +61 3 9243 9999
Fax: +61 3 9243 9800
www.bayviewhotels.comNote: Award-winning, four-star hotel in the heart of Melbourne’s St. Kilda Road business district. Get in a quick round at Albert Park Lake and Golf Course across the street.
Grand Hyatt, Melbourne
Note: Walking distance to many tourist attractions and a thirty-minute drive from Melbourne Airport.
Hilton on the Park, Melbourne
192 Wellington Parade
East Melbourne, VIC 3002, Australia
Phone: +61 3 9419 2000
Fax: +61 3 9419 2001
www.hilton.comNote: Features a spa, pool, and gym onsite. Have a drink in the Executive Lounge or sample tapas and wine at the Park Lounge.
Park Hyatt, Melbourne
Note: A beautiful view of a Victorian architecture district and Fitzroy Gardens. Only thirteen minutes from the airport.
The Langham, Melbourne
Note: Walking distance to al fresco cafés, restaurants, and boutiques. The onsite Melba Brasseries serves world-famous cuisine.
Sofitel, Melbourne
Note: Close to the city’s premier shopping, dining, and theater district. Rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows that provide a beautiful view.
On-Site Hospitality:
Garnier Girls Day Breakfast: A tradition at the Australian Open where you can enjoy a champagne breakfast while being surrounded and entertained by celebrities.
Private Dining Marquees: An exclusive and private setting for friends or clients. Your marquee includes an outdoor deck for pre-dinner drinks and a plasma screen to enjoy the Open in the event of rain or extreme heat. Various packages can be purchased, including some that provide all-inclusive food and beverage options.
Travel Packages:
If you are going to travel to this event, I would recommend using a reliable company to work with you on making the necessary arrangements. The suppliers listed in this book have solid references and are by far the most trusted in the business. Below are some of the organizations to try for this Top 100 Must See Sporting Event.
Premiere Corporate Events
14 Penn Plaza, Suite 925
New York, NY 10122
Phone: (212) 695-9480
Fax: (212) 564-8098
Toll-Free: 1-877-621-5243
E-mail: requests@tseworld.com
www.tseworld.comwww.pcevents.comPremiere Sports Travel
201 Shannon Oaks Circle, Suite 205
Cary, NC 27511
Phone: (919) 481-9511
Fax: (919) 481-1337
Toll-Free: 1-800-924-9993
E-mail: sales@sportstravel.com
www.sportstravel.comDining:
Baristas 101
100 Flinders La
Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
Phone: +61 3 9654 4377
Note: Parisian elegance meets old-fashioned appeal. While coffee is the featured attraction, there is a wide range of menu options that includes pizzas, sandwiches, and pastries. Three minutes from the arena.
Fifteen Melbourne
Note: Italian-inspired dishes made with local produce and a wine list featuring 550 selections.
Vue de Monde
Normanby Chambers
430 Little Collins Street
Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
Phone: +61 3 9691 3888
Fax: +61 3 9600 4600
www.vuedemonde.com.auNote: Classic French food includes Strasbourg Foie Gras, black Perigord truffles, and caviar. Enjoy wine from the great European vineyards.
Napier Hotel
210 Napier Street
Fitzroy, VIC 3065, Australia
Phone: +61 3 9419 4240
Note: A great Aussie Pub where you can rub shoulders with the locals over a beer and Bogan Burger.
Rob Roy Hotel
51 Brunswick Street
Fitzroy, VIC 3065, Australia
Phone +61 3 9419 7180
Note: Enjoy live music while relaxing with a late-night drink.
Airport:
Melbourne Airport
Sports Travel Insider’s Edge:
Best way to watch the action:
Why suffer through the unpredictable Australian elements if you don’t have to? The Private Dining Marquees provide a climate-controlled setting to enjoy the Open. Dinner and drinks are served for you and your friends while you watch from your deck or a plasma screen television.
Best place to get up close:
Rub shoulders with celebrities and tennis stars at the Garnier Girls Day Breakfast. Toast a victory with a glass of champagne that goes down perfectly with breakfast.
Best travel tip:
While the tennis players are competing on a surface that repels heat, the area you will be sitting in may not. If the roof is retracted, be aware of the Australian elements that include extreme heat. Bring the sunscreen.
Notable Quotes:
“You know, it’s a great Grand Slam, great facilities, one of the best in the world. . . . They’ve been able to maintain great crowds and a great event for us players.”—ROGER FEDERER, professional tennis player
“I love, when you come here, you listen to the accent. My whole life, I was watching tennis. It’s like, Oh, I want to go to Australia and play the Australian Open. When I’m playing my video game, I’m playing in Australia.”—SERENA WILLIAMS, professional tennis player
Relevant Websites: