Margaret Court Arena

Margaret Court Arena
Location Melbourne Park, MSEP
Melbourne, Victoria
Australia Australia
Owner Melbourne & Olympic Parks
Operator Tennis Australia
Capacity 7,500
Formerly 6,000
Surface Plexicushion (Tennis)
Hardwood (Basketball / Netball)
Construction
Broke ground 1987
Built 1987
Opened 1988
Renovated 2014
Expanded 2014
Construction cost A$ 336 million[1]
(2014 expansion)
Architect NH Architecture and Populous
Tenants
Australian Open (Grand Slam) (tennis) (1988–present)
Davis Cup (Australian national team)
Melbourne United (NBL) (2014–2015)
Melbourne Vixens (ANZ Championship) (2015–present)

Margaret Court Arena is an Australian tennis and multi-purpose sports and entertainment venue located in Melbourne, Victoria. The capacity of the arena, which was built in 1987, currently stands at 7,500. The venue is part of the National Tennis Centre at Melbourne Park, which is part of the Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Precinct (MSEP).

The arena is the third largest capacity venue at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament, behind the 15,000 capacity Rod Laver Arena (centre court) and the 10,500 seat Hisense Arena. As part of a A$363 million redevelopment of Melbourne Park, Margaret Court Arena was upgraded, featuring a seating capacity expansion from 6,000 to 7,500 seats as well as the installation of a retractable roof (giving Melbourne Park three retractable roof venues) in time for the 2015 Australian Open.[1][2]

The venue was formerly known as Show Court One, but was renamed on the eve of the 2003 Australian Open to honour the retired Australian tennis player Margaret Court, who has won more Grand Slam titles than any other player in history, either male or female.

Current

Margaret Court Arena, prior to its 2014 redevelopment; a retractable roof has since been installed

Melbourne United (formerly the Melbourne Tigers), who play in the National Basketball League, announced that they will play a select number of games per season at the renovated venue from the 2014–15 NBL season, with the rest of their games to be played at their current homes of Hisense Arena and the State Netball and Hockey Centre (primarily used when the Australian Open Tennis is on). United played their first game at the arena on 12 November 2014 when they defeated the Cairns Taipans 91-76 in front of 3,393 fans. The largest basketball attendance at the venue was set on 21 December 2014 when 5,377 saw United defeat the Sydney Kings 105-101 in overtime.

The Melbourne Vixens, who play in netball's ANZ Championship, have also announced that they will move from Hisense Arena to Margaret Court Arena from 2015.[3] The Vixens have cited costs as their reason for moving from

In addition to being able to host various sporting events, the redeveloped arena will also be able to host concerts giving Melbourne a third indoor entertainment venue, all located at Melbourne Park and all with retractable roofing. The arena has played host to artists such as Little Mix, Mark Ronson, Delta Goodrem, Demi Lovato, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Selena Gomez, Imagine Dragons, 5 Seconds of Summer, Troye Sivan and many more.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Reuters (18 January 2010). "Aussie Open to stay at Melbourne Park". ESPN Tennis. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  2. ↑ Margaret Court Arena redevelopment
  3. ↑ Melbourne Tigers look to Margaret Court Arena

Media related to Margaret Court Arena at Wikimedia Commons

Coordinates: 37°49′16″S 144°58′39″E / 37.821112°S 144.97741°E / -37.821112; 144.97741

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