Assistant Treasurer Danny Pearson joined Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley at Melbourne Park today to mark the countdown towards the season’s first Grand Slam.
The main draw will begin on Sunday 14 January in an exciting tournament first, kicking off 15 days of elite tennis action.
The 2023 Australian Open saw record attendance with more than 893,000 people streaming through the gates and a further 63,120 attending the qualifying matches during Opening Week bringing total attendances to 902,312 across the 3 weeks. 2024 is set to exceed the record, as Melbourne comes to life again in January.
In addition to watching the world’s best tennis players compete for glory, fans can enjoy a festival atmosphere featuring live music, the best local cuisine, kids’ activities and a range of fun events.
Carrying on from 2023, Opening Week will serve up a three-week festival of sport and entertainment with qualifying matches leading into the main tournament, while giving fans the opportunity to get up close with their favourite tennis stars.
This year, visitors can enjoy the new double-storey AO Courtside Bar overlooking Court 6, with capacity to welcome over 400 fans.
The Australian Open continues to grow and attract record attendances annually, creating more than 1700 full-time jobs and contributing over $387 million to Victoria’s economy each year.
The Allan Labor Government’s near $1 billion redevelopment of the Melbourne Park precinct has ensured the long-term success of the event until at least 2046.
With the event secured for decades to come, Victoria is set to continue to draw hundreds of thousands of visitors, providing a welcome boost to local businesses and the state’s visitor economy.
As stated by Assistant Treasurer Danny Pearson
“The city will be buzzing for the Australian Open 2024 with huge crowds set to flock to Melbourne Park, providing a welcome boost for Melbourne’s hotels, restaurants bars and small businesses.”
As stated by Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley
“The Australian Open is the biggest sports and entertainment event on the planet in January. We can’t wait to welcome fans from around the world, bringing the city and the precinct alive in a three-week celebration of tennis and entertainment.”
