Victorian Government updates COVIDSafe event plan for Australian Open

The COVIDSafe Event Plan for the 2022 Australian Open will be amended to help protect the health and safety of fans attending Melbourne Park from Monday.

Ticket sales will be paused at 50% of capacity - where a session has not already sold to that level.

All tickets purchased to date remain valid, and no tickets will be cancelled or changed. There will be no changes to ground pass access 

Face masks will be mandatory for all patrons, except when eating or drinking, and the event will align with Victoria’s statewide COVIDSafe settings. This includes a density limit of one person per two square metres for all indoor hospitality.

Ventilation will be improved in indoor areas of Melbourne Park, with HEPA filters to be installed in some spaces after a ventilation assessment is completed for the venue.

As COVID-19 hospitalisations and cases continue to rise in Victoria, these mitigation strategies are proportionate and designed to assist in limiting the spread of COVID-19.

The Australian Open is a pillar of Victoria’s major events calendar and delivers a major boost to business in the state. The 2020 tournament attracted 812,714 spectators and injected $387.7 million into state’s economy.

Ticket holders at the maiden Grand Slam of 2022 will enjoy not only the tennis action on court, but entertainment aplenty including a packed line-up of live music, food and wine from the biggest names in Melbourne’s world-class restaurant scene and family friendly activities.

The 2022 Australian Open commences on Monday, 17 January and wraps up with the Men’s Final on 30 January.

Commenting on the measures, Victorian acting Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Jaala Pulford stated “these updates to arrangements for the Australian Open will mean that fans, players and the workforce can look forward to a terrific COVIDsafe event.”

The 2022 Australian Open commences on Monday 17th January and wraps up with the Men’s Final on 30th January.

Image: New Art Ball NFTs will be in use at the tournament. Credit: Australian Open.