Australian Open to welcome up to 30,000 fans per day
From the quarter-finals onwards, up to 25,000 fans will be allowed each day
Your support helps us to tell the story
As your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.
Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn't have the resources to challenge those in power.
Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November election
Andrew Feinberg
White House Correspondent
Crowds of up to 30,000 will be allowed at next month's Australian Open in Melbourne, Victoria’s sports minister has confirmed.
Martin Pakula has announced that the tournament’s Covid-safe plan will accommodate 30,000 spectators daily during the first eight days of play, which gets under way on 8 February, and 25,000 from the quarter-finals on, representing around half the usual capacity.
Pakula said in a tweet: “Today Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley & I inspected work on the new 5000 seat Showcourt Arena that will be ready in time for the 2022 Australian Open. It was also a fitting day to note the renaming of John Cain Arena & to confirm crowds of up to 30,000 per day for this year's AO.”
Speaking at a press conference at Melbourne Park earlier in the day, Pakula told reporters: “It will not be the same as the last few years, but it will be the most significant international event with crowds that the world has seen for many, many months.”
Overseas players arrived in Australia earlier this month to complete two weeks in quarantine ahead of the year’s first Grand Slam.
Seventy-two players, including Britain’s Heather Watson, had to spend that time in “hard lockdown”, having been confined to their hotel rooms as a result of positive Covid-19 tests for fellow passengers on their charter flights.
Watson’s quarantine ended on Friday, with the last of the player lockdown periods due to finish on Saturday.
PA
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments