Largest ever crowds attend 2016 Australian Open

Through two weeks of fine tennis, on court upsets, off court controversy and the realisation that Novak Djokovic may be the greatest men's tennis player of all time, the 2016 Australian Open notched up its largest ever crowd: of 720,363 fans.

Beating the previous record of 703,899 fans who flocked to the 2015 Australian Open, official twilight attendance on Day 14 of the tournament reached 21,043.

Record attendance was backed by a range of non-tennis attractions.

Leading vitamin and supplement company Blackmores presented a pop-up ‘Wellbeing Oasis’ on the Grand Slam Oval, while fans could also enjoy a luxury day spa from new sponsor Jurlique, seven new fine-dining restaurants and upgraded corporate facilities that include butler service and a personal tennis commentator.

Commenting on the added value at the event, Tennis Australia Chief Executive Craig Tiley stated "we unashamedly say we are the opening or introduction to this year's global entertainment lineup.

"The Super Bowl is not for another two weeks so we benefit from a quiet time of the calendar. But we are that combination of a global event that also puts a big focus on the fan coming to the tennis."

The event is also believed to have seen Tennis Australia's revenue rise to more than $300 million, an increase from $254.6 million in 2014/15 and $206.1 million the year before.

This income is now only behind the AFL, NRL and Cricket Australia, and well ahead of Football Federation Australia and the Australian Rugby Union.

The event's ticket sales counter trends of many other sports which, with the notable exception of cricket's Big Bash League, are experiencing flat or falling attendances.

Tennis Australia also entered into new and lucrative broadcast deals in China, Japan, Europe and Latin America, for which it tailored the broadcast for specific countries having brought television production in-house for the first time last year.

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