Show Court Arena
Kia Arena | |
Government of Victoria | |
Operator | Melbourne and Olympic Park Trust |
---|---|
Capacity | 5,000 |
Surface | GreenSet |
Construction | |
Built | 2019–21 |
Opened | January 2022 |
Tenants | |
) (2022–) |
Show Court Arena, also known by
History
In April 2017, the
The arena was constructed with approximately 270 tonnes of steel fabricated entirely in Victoria.[4] It is partially sunken into the ground and has an open-roof structure which provides shade and cover protection for most of the spectators seated in the arena.[4] Unlike the three larger venues at Melbourne Park (Rod Laver Arena, John Cain Arena and Margaret Court Arena), the arena does not have a retractable roof capable of being shut during inclement weather.[4] The arena's roof structure was completed in February 2021,[6] with the seating and interior facilities completed in October that year.[7]
The arena was unveiled by Australian Open officials on 22 November 2021.[8][9] Belinda Bencic won the first main draw match to be played on the arena, defeating Kristina Mladenovic 6-4, 6-3.[10]
At the 2023 Australian Open, the arena served as the location of the inaugural AO Finals Festival, a musical festival occurring over the final three days of the tournament, with the festival's lineup including Vanessa Amorosi, Montaigne, Benee, Thelma Plum, Winston Surfshirt, Flight Facilities, Lastlings and Forest Claudette.[11][12][13] The festival was a sold-out success, which led to the festival's return at the larger John Cain Arena for the 2024 Australian Open.[14][15][16][17]
Naming
During construction the venue was referred to by official sources as Show Court Arena.[6] In January 2021 the stadium was named Kia Arena, in a deal between the Australian Open and the tournament's primary corporate sponsor, Kia motors.[18] This differs from the three larger courts, two of which are named after prominent Australian tennis players and the other for a politician.[8]
See also
References
- ^ "Melbourne Park To Remain Ultimate Sporting And Entertainment Precinct". Tennis Tour Talk. 23 April 2017. Archived from the original on 3 May 2017.
- ^ "Melbourne Park Redevelopment (Stage 3)". Development Victoria. 29 November 2019.
- ^ "Melbourne Park Map for the 2016 Australian Open" (PDF). tennisworld.net.au.
- ^ a b c d "Melbourne Park redevelopment continues as new Show Court reaches milestone". Austadiums. 2 February 2021.
- ^ "Final stage of $972 million upgrade to Melbourne Park underway". 9News.com.au. 3 April 2019.
- ^ a b "Melbourne Park Redevelopment - Show Court Arena". Development Victoria. YouTube. 1 February 2021.
- ^ Laurence Rosen (24 October 2021). "First look inside Melbourne Park's new 5000-seat show court this morning. Pictures don't do it justice. January is going to be amazing. #AusOpen". Twitter.
- ^ a b "Full crowds return for 2022 Australian Open as tickets go on sale". Austadiums. 22 November 2021.
- ^ "10-year redevelopment of Melbourne Park complete". Austadiums. 7 December 2021.
- ^ "Olympic champ Bencic into Melbourne round two despite Covid". News9Live. 18 January 2021.
- ^ "AO Finals Festival set to change the game". Australian Open. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
- ^ "UNTITLED GROUP X AUSTRALIAN OPEN PRESENTS: FINALS FESTIVAL". Untitled. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
- ^ "AUSTRALIAN OPEN ANNOUNCES FIRST EVER MUSIC FESTIVAL LINE-UP". Untitled. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
- ^ "Superstar music line-up confirmed for AO Finals Festival". Australian Open. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
- ^ Wells, Jed (9 January 2024). "Australian Open 2024 finals festival: Dates, headline acts, location, how to buy tickets". The Sporting News. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
- ^ "Australian Open Finals Fest". Timeout. 11 December 2023. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
- ^ Varadarajan, Maya. "The AO Finals Festival Is Back With A Stacked Line-Up For Three Days Of Post-Game Parties". Urban List. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
- ^ "New Melbourne Park tennis venue unveiled as the Kia Arena". Australasian Leisure Management. 4 January 2021.