Australian Open complex redevelopment

[Blocker]

The Herald Sun (news) website here in Melbourne published an article today about the redevelopment of the Australian Open complex.

Link:

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/re...-australian-open/story-e6frf7jo-1226513677804

The main points of the article are:

• Will be the only tennis complex in the world to have 3 retractable roofs. One of the roofed stadiums will be the existing Margaret Court Arena, which is also having its capacity increased from 6,000 seats to 7,500 seats.


• The venue will also boast indoor, outdoor and clay practice courts. Though why they would install clay courts at a hard court event has got me beat.

For anyone who is interested in seeing renders of what the finished product will look like from a bird’s eye view, click this link:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=89739476&postcount=295

Courtesy of www.skyscrapercity.com

Or is you are really interested, the whole thread which shows work in progress of the redevelopment can be found here:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=794652&page=15

 

[Hankenstein]

Jesus! A lot of things have happend since i lived in Melbourne 2001/2002! The computer images looks so good! I love the new claycourts, but will it be real clay or the Australian En Tout Cas found everywhere in Melbourne?

 

[Blocker]

Jesus! A lot of things have happend since i lived in Melbourne 2001/2002! The computer images looks so good! I love the new claycourts, but will it be real clay or the Australian En Tout Cas found everywhere in Melbourne?

They don't go into specifics about the clay, remember the Herald Sun is mainstream media appealing to the masses, who watch tennis probably 2 weeks of the year.

 

[Dean]

• The venue will also boast indoor, outdoor and clay practice courts. Though why they would install clay courts at a hard court event has got me beat.

Since it's the National Tennis Centre lots of juniors will train there throughout the year, so having both hard and clay surfaces to play/practice on it'll help hone an all-round game.

 

[Blocker]

Since it's the National Tennis Centre lots of juniors will train there throughout the year, so having both hard and clay surfaces to play/practice on it'll help hone an all-round game.

I think they are also available to the general public as well, if I'm not mistaken.

 

[Bartelby]

Tennis authorities down under now seem to be of the opinion that the more upcoming talent plays on European clay the better for their prospects. They're however a bit too water-demanding for general use.

 

[mikeler]

Tennis authorities down under now seem to be of the opinion that the more upcoming talent plays on European clay the better for their prospects. They're however a bit to water-demanding for general use.

I think learning how to play on European clay is smart for the Aussies.

 

[AnotherTennisProdigy]

Are they even used that frequently when the Aussie open isn't going on? At the Sony Erricson (Miami) people can go to Crandon Park and use the courts, sometimes junior tournaments are held there. However, I never see any juniors there.

 

[Bartelby]

The courts aren't exactly in a residential area, but they are one kilometer from the centre of the city and easily accessible and available to the public.

 

[julian]

Do you want to win the French Open?

Tennis authorities down under now seem to be of the opinion that the more upcoming talent plays on European clay the better for their prospects. They're however a bit too water-demanding for general use.

Miss Stosur is happy.

 

[julian]

Do you want to win the French Open?

Tennis authorities down under now seem to be of the opinion that the more upcoming talent plays on European clay the better for their prospects. They're however a bit too water-demanding for general use.

If one wants to win the French Open open one practices on the European clay.
Whether Patrick McEnroe agrees with it is ANOTHER issue
PS
The cost of upkeep of three clay courts for 6 months is around 30 k US.
PS
The record of Tomic for the French Open
2009 -the first round
2010-absent
2011-the first round
2012-the second round
I rest my case

 

[Goosehead]

3 retractable roofs ??? how very dare they

tho wimbledon are considering a roof on court no1

roland garros is also going to be redeveloped..

its all go isnt it ?

 

[Goosehead]

wait till rafa sees this plan :grin:

"we can have the perfect final on the clay court at the end no ? :twisted:

 

[tistrapukcipeht]

That is awesome, I'm gonna go there whenever it's done, what a facility, that has already been my favorite slam for the past 5-6 years.

 

[smoledman]

Awesome clay courts.

 

[smoledman]

wait till rafa sees this plan :grin:

"we can have the perfect final on the clay court at the end no ? :twisted:

The big boys will be playing on RLA while Rafa can go play on the little clay courts. :twisted::twisted:

 

[evanjj]

Are they even used that frequently when the Aussie open isn't going on? At the Sony Erricson (Miami) people can go to Crandon Park and use the courts, sometimes junior tournaments are held there. However, I never see any juniors there.

Hi. I am a member at Melbourne Park. We use the courts throughout the year, Rod Laver and Hisense Arenas aside, for tennis and cardio workouts, to play tennis, coaching and have a year round social comp.
The complex is going to be amazing when finished. Won't be totally done by the Oz Open in January, but should be by the Open 2014.
We are very lucky in Melbourne!

 

[evanjj]

I think they are also available to the general public as well, if I'm not mistaken.

Correct

 

[Tennis_Hands]

It looks like blue clay to me.

:twisted:

 

[tennisaddict]

AO is getting more and more awesome.. Just ranks below Wimbledon. Timing also works great to watch matches.

If only they dont slow down the court...

 

[Crisp]

The clay is for developmental reasons. As a national body TA feels we are being left behind by not having access to clay courts for our elite junior talent. I coach in the area and I tend to agree. However there will only be a special few that have access to training on the clay it seems. All other players will have to make there own arrangements with regard to clay court practice. Luckily for me I have some access to en-tout-cas courts which are similar to clay. The clay move is a good one but a few years too late as they have been harping on about it without any movements for many years. I'd like to install one at home to go with my indoor hardcourt. If you build it they will come.