New dining options and expanded experiences are just some of the Australian Open hospitality initiatives announced today ahead of next January's tournament.
The all-new Finals Table will build on the Australian Open’s world-class reputation in hospitality and dining by pairing some of Melbourne’s most exclusive restaurants with the men's and women's finals.
A number of new experiences have been created for Australian Open 2020 to showcase Melbourne Park, the city and regional Victoria to visitors from around the world and across Australia.
Australian Open Tournament Director Craig Tiley was excited by the extensive hospitality and experiences on offer at next year’s tournament.
“The team has worked incredibly hard to create new hospitality offerings for Australian Open 2020 in an effort to continually innovate in this space,” Tiley said.
“There is literally something for everyone when it comes to dining and experiences at the Australian Open, and we are proud how we continue to improve our offerings each year for the hundreds of thousands of fans who flock through the gates at Melbourne Park from across Victoria, the country and the world."
Finals Table: An initiative for 2020, Finals Table will showcase a range of Melbourne's most iconic restaurants to local, domestic and international visitors, as an exciting part of their world-class, finals weekend tennis experience, including:
· Supreme degustation: Attica and Vue de Monde
· Fine degustation: Maha and Ishizuka
· The Lucas Group: Chin Chin and Kisume
· Andrew McConnell: Cutler & Co and Marion
· Iconic Australian Dining: Stokehouse and Scott Pickett’s Matilda
· World degustation: Atlas and Tulum
· East Banquet Dining: Tokyo Tina and Maha East
· Melbourne Select Dining: Mamasita and San Telmo, Pastuso and Press Club Events, Sunda and Tea Room at the European, Lesaand Yagiz.
Melbourne Experiences: Laneway and Arcades, Chinatown, Nightlife City Tour, Iconic Queen Victoria Market and a Melbourne City Scenic Flight.
Regional Experiences: Wildlife & Wine in the Yarra Valley, Paddock to Plate in Gippsland, Penguins at Phillip Island and the Wondrous Great Ocean Road.
Vantage: A new premium ticketing option will be available for 2020. Vantagewill give tennis fans seats for all 25 sessions of the Australian Open, all day access to the much sought after Atrium, exclusive merchandise and priority access to AO dining and experiences.
Grand Slam Oval: The famous Grand Slam Oval will be reimagined to incorporate the best Victoria has to offer with Eastside, Countryside and North Side. Alejandro Saravia will have a Farmer's Daughters Paddock to Plate pop-up venue. Shane Delia’s Biggie Smalls and Mamasita will also return.
56 By The Glasshouse: Named in honour of the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne. The Glasshouse will be transformed into a culinary delight with amazing local produce.
Returning favourites:
On Court Seating gives fans the opportunity to watch tennis metres away from the playing action. Hollywood superstars Will Smith and Will Ferrell, international model Jessica Gomes, Indian cricketer Virat Kohli and Australian swimming legend Ian Thorpe are just some of the names who have experienced this once in a lifetime opportunity to get up close to the stars of the game.
Iconic restaurant brands Rockpool and Nobu have confirmed they will return for the third consecutive year. Rockpool will also have a private dining room available.
The AO Chef Series returns for the third year, with an all-female lineup in 2020. Australian culinary icon Donna Hay, celebrity chef Sarah Todd, rising Tasmanian star Analiese Gregory, and one of Thailand’s top Michelin Star chefs Duangporn 'Bo' Songvisva complete the lineup.
Exclusive dining and ticketing options will be back, including The Green Room with backstage access to Rod Laver Arena, The Suite, The Boardroom, Melbourne Arena suites and the Rod Laver Arena Superboxes. New and returning onsite experiences also includes wine tasting, tennis clinics, meet a legend, fan walk on and practice tour viewing.
Australian Open 2019 hospitality by the numbers:
· 55,000 people dined in hospitality spaces across Melbourne Park
· More than 15,000 glasses of Piper-Hedsieck, the official champagne partner of the Australian Open, were served.
· More than 18,000 meals were served at pop-up restaurants Rockpool, Nobu and Beijing Betty.