A MOVE by NSW to snatch the Australian Open from Melbourne has prompted the Victorian Government to splash out on a redevelopment of the Rod Laver Arena tennis complex.
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The Victorian Government hopes the project, which will cost up to $400 million, will keep the Australian Open in Melbourne's hands until 2036.
The chief executive of Events NSW, Geoff Parmenter, confirmed Sydney's interest in the Australian Open in an interview in October. "The Australian Open tennis is arguably the best annual event in Australia. I think any events company in the country would be negligent if they didn't have it somewhere on their radar," Mr Parmenter said.
"We have talked to some people down there over the last few months.
"Yes, we've talked to Tennis Australia about the Open."
Under Victoria's plans, the Rod Laver Arena will be given a facelift and the Margaret Court Arena will have a roof built. Fans will be provided with a "town square" and better player and media amenities will be provided.
The Victorian Premier, John Brumby, yesterday pledged an initial $5 million for a capital works program for Melbourne Park, home to the tennis centre, as well as detailed design and costings for the project's first stage, due to be completed by 2016.
"You are looking at the total cost here over many years of hundreds of millions of dollars," Mr Brumby said. "[The renewal of] our current arrangement to host the Australian Open until 2016 is now fast approaching and we are working to ensure Melbourne retains this important event for a further 20 years."
Melbourne Park, home to the Australian Open for the past 21 years, has far more spectator traffic than the sites of the other three grand slams because it is a multi-purpose venue.
But unlike venues at Wimbledon, the US Open's Flushing Meadows and the French Open's Roland Garros, it has not undergone any significant structural improvements in recent years. Last year, the players' restaurant was extended after some players complained it was too small.
Tennis Australia's president, Geoff Pollard, said the arena had 15,000 seats, which was the right size for a centre court and one of the best in the world. "There is no bad seat at Rod Laver Arena. It just needs a bit of sprucing up," Mr Pollard said.
The Open, which last year attracted 605,000 patrons, injected $164 million into the Victorian economy, while television broadcasts promoted the event and Melbourne to about 240 million viewers around the world.
