Tennis Australia targets 900,000 fans for 2023 Open

Australian Open organisers are targeting an attendance of 900,000 fans for the 2023 edition of the tournament, which would mark a record for the tennis grand slam.

Anticipating that the tournament will operate without attendance restrictions, organisers have revealed a range of initiatives to enhance the fan experience at what is being called a “three-week tennis and entertainment extravaganza” as of next January.

With tickets now on sale, the Australian Open will continue to ramp up the attractions in qualifying week and week two, embarking on a long-range attendance target of one million fans flocking to Melbourne Park. The current attendance record for the tournament is around 820,000.

Australian Open Tournament Director, Craig Tiley explained “we want to return to our pre-pandemic plans of cementing the AO as the biggest annual sporting event in the world in January, while also making it as accessible to as many fans as possible.

“We can’t wait for what promises to be a jam-packed calendar designed to appeal to all ages. The hugely popular Kids Tennis Day returns and the AO Ballpark, always a huge hit with families, is back bigger and better than ever.”

New features for the 2023 tournament will include a beach bar with an elevated second-storey DJ platform, the AO Tennis Club, and a Finals Festival Ground Pass, which grants access to Kia Arena for feature performances from local and international artists.

The event’s emphasis on inclusion will also see it feature a First Nations Day, a Pride Day, the Glam Slam - the world’s biggest amateur LGBTQI+ tennis tournament - and the AO All Abilities Day, along with an expanded wheelchair draw, up from eight to 16 in both men’s and women’s singles.

Claiming that the Australian Tennis Championships will be the country’s largest annual event for people with an intellectual impairment, Tiley also cited charity initiatives during the event to help the people of Ukraine.

He also advised that the Australian Open will offer a sustainable merchandise range. 

The Australian Open 2023 will take place from 16th to 29th January next year.