Rod Laver Arena
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| Rod Laver Arena | |
|---|---|
| The Tennis Centre | |
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| Location | Melbourne Park, Melbourne |
| Broke ground | 1985 [1] |
| Opened | 1988 |
| Owner | Victorian Government |
| Operator | Melbourne and Olympic Parks |
| Surface | Plexicushion |
| Construction cost | $94 million AUD |
| Architect | Peddle Thorp Learmonth |
| Former names |
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| Tenants |
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| Capacity |
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Rod Laver Arena is a part of the Melbourne Park complex located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, and current venue for the Australian Open in tennis. In January 1992, it was named after tennis player Rod Laver, the only person ever to win the Grand Slam twice. The arena was finished in 1988 with seating capacity for 14 820 and currently attracts over 1.5 million visitors per year.
The Arena features a retractable roof allowing competitors to continue play during rain or extreme heat. It is the centrepiece of Melbourne Park's Tennis Centre, and besides tennis, the arena hosts motorbike super-crosses, music concerts, conferences, World Wrestling Entertainment events since 2003, and ballets.
Rod Laver Arena was the centre-piece of the 12th FINA World Aquatics Championships, which were held from March 17-April 1, 2007. A temporary swimming pool, named the Susie O'Neill Pool after Australian swimming champion Susie O'Neill, was built to allow this to happen.
It hosted World Championship Wrestling in October 2000. The Rod Laver Arena played host to the gymnastics competition in the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
Rod Laver Arena is equipped with the Hawk-Eye electronic system which allows tennis players to challenge the umpire's decision on calls made throughout championships.
On November 10, 2007, the World Wrestling Entertainment's RAW Survivor Series Tour set the highest attendance record of 15,560 spectators.
[edit] Events for 2008
- 2008 Australian Open: 14-27 January
- Hilary Duff: 3rd February
- Iron Maiden: 6-7 February
- Backstreet Boys: 23rd February
- Santana: 26th February
- Rod Stewart: 28th February
- Kelly Clarkson: 4th March
- Brooks & Dunn: 5th March
- Ozzy Osbourne: 15th March
- John Fogerty: 19th March
- Maroon 5: 30th March
- Celine Dion: 1st April
- Matchbox Twenty: 10-11 April
- Foo Fighters: 25-26 April
- Michael Bublé: 6-7 June
- WWE SmackDown!/ECW house show: 13 June
- Guns N' Roses: 15-16 June
- Purple People Eaters: 13 July
- Panic At The Disco: 23 August
- Kylie Minogue: 13 September
- Britney Spears: 15 October
- Limp Bizkit: 20 October
- Slipknot: 27 October
- Tool: 18 November
- Killswitch Engage and Lostprophets: 20 November
- Spice Girls: December 4-5
- Eminem: December 11
- Static Lead: December 12
- The Presets: December 14
- Wolfmother: December 21
[edit] External links
- Wikimapia
- Official Website
- Rod Laver Arena at Austadiums
- Peddle Thorp Melbourne
- Rod Laver Arena is at coordinates Coordinates:
| Preceded by Palau Sant Jordi Barcelona |
Davis Cup Final Venue 2001 |
Succeeded by Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy Paris |
| Preceded by Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy Paris |
Davis Cup Final Venue 2003 |
Succeeded by Estadio Olímpico de Sevilla Seville |
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