By IANS
Melbourne : A new tennis stadium may be built to cater to booming Australian Open crowds under a massive redevelopment of Melbourne’s sporting precinct, it was reported by the media here Thursday.
According to the Herald Sun, Premier John Brumby has announced a $2 million (Australian) investigation into upgrading the Melbourne and Olympic Park precinct. A new stadium and improved spectator, player and broadcasting areas will be among options canvassed to retain the world-class Grand Slam in Melbourne. The State Government will commit $1.5 million to the business study.
The Melbourne and Olympic Parks Trust and Tennis Australia will fund the rest.
“Crowds at the Australian Open grew from under 300,000 in the late 1980s to over 550,000 last year and the proportion of overseas spectators has almost doubled since 1999,” Brumby was quoted as saying by the Herald Sun.
“With Tennis Australia predicting public demand will continue to increase and is likely to reach 650,000 patrons within the next 10 years we need to ensure that we can cater for that demand into the future.”
Brumby joined Tennis Australia Geoff Pollard outside Rod Laver Arena to announce the business inquiry before hitting up with Aussie player Chris Guccione on Court 3. The Australian Open contract expires in 2016.