How to Get the Best Seats at the Australian Open 2013

How to Get the Best Seats at the Australian Open 2013

Post
Subscribe

Posted 2012-07-23 by Richard Leathemfollow

Mon 14 Jan 2013 - Sun 27 Jan 2013

Getting a good seat at the Australian Open may appear a difficult task. For anyone who has tried buying tickets the day they go on sale, the general experience is that at best, you'll manage to score seats in the back couple of rows of Rod Laver Arena.



If you're serious about getting a good seat though, the trick is to wait until the Open is under way. Here's how it works:

The Oz Open is an incredibly expensive event to hold. The prize money alone for the hundreds of players who compete is astronomical. It takes lucrative corporate sponsors to get on board to ensure its profitability. This in turn means the sponsors get first dibs on the good seats.

In addition to sponsors, preferred allocation extends to tennis clubs, tour operators, and a few other interested parties. Its no wonder there's almost nothing left by the time the general public get access to tickets.



Next year it will be even trickier given the introduction of an Australian Open membership is now being offered. It allows the opportunity to buy tickets before the official sale date. Its a privilege that means you pay for a lot of bells and whistles that you probably don't want - like access to lounges, newsletters and discounts on court hire and merchandise.

The best way to get a good seat is to wait until the day before, or even the actual day, when some pre-allocated tickets are returned, or seats on hold become available. This may sound like a risky proposition, but in all the years I've employed this tactic, it has always succeeded. To make doubly sure you'll succeed, its best to buy a Ground Pass to the day you want to go, get into the ground, and then plead your case at the box office within Melbourne Park. And pour on the charm, those ticket sellers love it. And remember, the Ground Pass is actually cheaper if you buy it before the actual event day.



In addition to getting a better seat, you also have the benefit of knowing who's going to play. Each day's schedule is released at about 5pm the day before. This is essential if there's a particular player or match you want to see. Booking well in advance has the added disadvantage of not guaranteeing you'll have access to the court you really want to get to. The two main courts, Rod Laver Arena and Hisense Arena are ticketed separately. If you have tickets to one, you won't be able to get into the other. There's no such thing as an all-access pass.

If you're on a budget and you can only afford a day pass, then going in the first week is a must. There are dozens of matches on the smaller courts, and quite often they're a lot more exciting than what's happening on the show courts. The big names may be out of your reach, but watching the world number one trouncing someone ranked outside the top 100 on Rod Laver is usually not as thrilling as watching an evenly matched tussle. Margaret Court Arena and Show Courts 2 and 3 are all accessible on a Ground pass and feature great matches in the first week.

The best value days are often the first Sunday and second Monday of the tournament. This is round 4, where if everything goes to plan, the top ranked players start squaring off against each other. Theoretically, the top 8 seeds in both the men's and women's play against those seeded between 9 and 16. It makes for some very good match-ups. The second Monday is usually the Australia Day public holiday, but strangely in 2013 the holiday falls on the Monday after the tournament finishes.

The worst value day to buy tickets for is the second Friday. There are no women's singles matches on the second Friday, and only one men's semi-final.



If leaving your ticket purchase til the last minute sounds like too much of a risk and you insist on buying those back row tickets well in advance, console yourself with the fact that the last row in Rod Laver Arena is still better than being about half way back at the US or French Open. Its really not that bad a view from up there. And if you miss out entirely, just keep trying nearer to the event. Those seats really do get freed up, its just a matter of timing.

And when you're making your way there, don't forget the sunscreen. There's a whole lotta sun and not much shade.

#january
#tourist_attractions
#sport
#city
#attractions
!date 14/01/2013 -- 27/01/2013
%wnmelbourne
113188 - 2023-06-12 16:54:06

Tags

Free
Festivals
Outdoor
Music
Markets
Nightlife
Fundraisers
Family_friendly
Community
Arts_culture
Food_drink
Educational
Random
Theatre_shows
Shopping_markets
Copyright 2024 OatLabs ABN 18113479226