AusLeisure

Organisers of the Australian Open have announced plans to create a ‘party court’ at Melbourne Park through the construction of a new hospitality lounge ahead of the 2024 Grand Slam.

Set to overlook Court 6 at Melbourne Park, the new AO Courtside Bar is a 400-capacity, double-storey structure that will feature a rotating roster of DJs along with gourmet food provided by Sydney’s Joel Bennetts.

Organisers have 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. For 2024, the venue’s shaded area will be doubled with the installation of pavilions set across the lawns of Garden Square.

Coinciding with the release of tickets for the tournament, organisers also announced a new ‘European marketplace’ concept, situated at the north of the precinct.

Introducing the new concepts, Australian Open Tournament Director, Craig Tiley stated “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.”

With the Grand Slam tennis tournament set to be played over 15 days, next year’s 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 tournament.

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.”

Images: Tennis great Sam Stosur, Victorian Minister for Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos, Tennis Australia's Craig Tiley and tennis great Lleyton Hewitt launch the 2024 Australian Open (top) and a rendering of the AO Courtside Bar at Melbourne Park being introduced for the tournament (below). Credit: Australian Open.

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