Melbourne split into covid-secure fan zones

Fans attending the Australian Open next month will be split up into three different precincts in a bid to keep the venue covid-secure.

Tennis Australian CEO Craig Tiley said there will be a different experience in 2021, but added it would be still be a ‘special event’.

“People will see when they come on-site that it’ll be a very different experience,” Tiley said.

“The site will be divided up into three zones, but the entertainment and the experience that you get in each zone will be special.

“It’ll be like nothing we’ve had before – there will be a (Margaret Court Arena) zone, a Rod Laver Arena zone and a John Cain Arena zone. You’ll be able to see matches on outside courts, matches in the stadium with the best players in the world, as well as enjoying premium food and hospitality.

“That’s designed so if we have to get to a contact tracing point we’re able to do it very quickly with smaller numbers.”

Tiley said fans buying a ticket to any of the three zones will be restricted to that zone for the entire day’s play.

“You’ll buy a ticket for the MCA zone or the Rod Laver Arena zone or the JCA zone and you’ll be guaranteed to have a seat in a stadium,” he said.