By 5:30pm at Melbourne Park, the crowd is already buzzing. Office lanyards hang from necks, beers sweat in the summer heat, and the dull thud of tennis balls echoes across Grand Slam Oval as fans spill through the gates after work.
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For the price of a ground pass ticket, the Australian Open seemingly becomes less of a tennis tournament and more of a summer ritual.
It’s a ritual shaped as much by Melbourne’s working day as by the draw sheet; the timing is no accident. Matches roll into the evening just as the city clocks off, transforming the precinct into an after-hours meeting point.
Some fans arrive with a plan – a particular player, a particular court – but many arrive content to wander, drink in hand, and let the night unfold.
For two weeks every January, Melbourne Park turns into its own little city. There are meeting places, after-work routines and unspoken rules, like knowing when to leave one match early to catch the next.
For $59 in the first week of the tournament, fans can roam freely on a ground pass – including John Cain Arena and Kia Arena – relax at Grand Slam oval or catch their favourites on the practice courts. In the context of major events, it’s widely considered one of the most affordable ways to experience elite-level sport.
They don’t call the Australian Open the ‘Happy Slam’ for no reason. “It’s super inviting,” one fan said. “Lots of people around, easy to mingle with new people as well… lots of smiles, everyone looks really happy and excited to watch some tennis”.
Others spoke about the freedom a ground pass offers. “We’ve done some practice courts, we’re going to go into a few of the arenas, hopefully catch some good matches and some doubles”.
Another admitted to being surprised at just how much access a ground pass offers. “We didn’t realise we could get onto John Cain Arena but we’re going to head there next and catch [Daniil] Medvedev’s match”.
For others, their plans were simple. “We’ll probably have a beer later on Grand Slam Oval and soak up the atmosphere there”.
Beyond the courts, Melbourne Park offers live music, interactive fan zones, big-screen match broadcasts, and a wide range of food and drink options – creating an atmosphere that appeals to both casual and die-hard tennis fans, making it a social and cultural event as much as it is a sporting one.
Sounds appealing? Find ground pass tickets as well as other event experiences here.
From Tuesday 27 January, a ground pass reduces to $35 per person although arena access is not guaranteed.
We hope to see you at Melbourne Park!