Getting Australian Open tickets

I visited Melbourne, AU in January 2024, to attend Australian Open Tennis. It was a far trip from New York where I live. I bought the tickets by contacting Tennis Australia in July, 2023, six months before the tournament. The tickets were delivered to me on August, 2023 via TicketMaster AU. The tickets were all electronic tickets only.

I wanted a souvenir ticket. The only way to get a souvenir ticket was to buy when the tickets went on sales at Ticketmaster AU website in October, 2024. And the souvenir ticket can be shipped within Australia using a payment method with billing address in Australia. So, you will need a friend/family who will pay for the ticket and keep it there until you arrive, which was what I ended up doing.

Traveling to Australia (Visa is required to travel to Australia)

If you are from US, you DO need a visa to visit Australia. I found out at the air port because the airline wouldn’t let me check in. Fortunately, everyone at airport, from the lady at checkin, border control and security people were very helpful and I was able to get visa in 15 mins by using an AustralianETA App on the phone.

Please check https://www.dfat.gov.au/travel/visas/visas-for-australians-travelling-overseas ahead of your travel.

Traveling to/from Melbourne Park from my AirBnb

Australian Open tennis courts are in Melbourne Park. Trams (above ground rail) are free within Melbourne CBD (Central Business District). Tram ride from any hotel or AirBNB in CBD to Melbourne park is free. I stayed at an AirBnb across the street 70/70B Tram D6 stop which is ~15 mins away Melbourne park. There are 8 stops between my AirBnB and Melbourne Park entranced.

During my stay, I can almost always get my Rod Laver Arena (RLA) seat under 25 mins, except 1 day where there was a demonstration in Flinders street station which blocked the road so I ended up walking.

During the tournament, there is extra 70B train which runs from Flinder Street station to Rod Laver Arena.

Free Tram Zone in Melbourne CBD (Central Business District)

Caution : Evening sessions almost always finished after 1am in the morning. Trams will be packed and they only run from Melbourne Park to Elizabeth and Flinders. I ended up walking from Elizabeth to my AirBnb which is ~.5 mile.

Tram Ride from my AirBnB to RLA

Tram Stops

Melbourne Park Entrance near RLA

Australian Open 2024 Event Map

I had tickets for Rod Laver Arena (etickets) and John Cain Arena (souvenir/print ticket).

The north and south south sides of both stadium has all-day shades – more to that later.

The tram (train) number 7B will stop right near by “Garden Square Entrance” and it is a short walk (~3 mins) to get into the ground.

If you bring a prohibited item (list in section 20), you will not be allowed past the gate. My GoPro was prohibited and I had to walk down to a temporary storage area to keep in a locked box. It is free for most item but the place charged me for AUD 10 because it is considered as an expensive item and needed to store in a separate box. I did not bring my GoPro for subsequent days.

Here is the PDF of original 2024 event map.

Australian Open Ground Map - 2024

Rod Laver Arena Seats

The stadium has multiple seats which are under the shade all day.
Shade comes from the retractable roof.
My seat was section 9, row A, seat 88.
The stadium has 14,820 seats.
Lower Bowl has 21 rows – from A to U
Upper Bowl has 16 rows – from AA to PP

South side : All seats in section 9, 10, 11 are in shade all day Most of the seats in section 8 and 12 are in shade all day.

North side : All seats in section 18, 1, 2 are in shade all day Most of the seats in section 17 and 3 are in shade all day.

Rod Laver Arena Official Seat Map

My Rod Laver Arena Seat

Rod Laver Arena E Ticket

Video Clips and photos from Rod Laver Arena seat

1. Video of First time walking into RLA Seat

2. Alcaraz vs Zveref Quarter Final

3. Djokovic vs Sinner Semi Final

4. Sinner vs Medvedev Championship Point

5. Celebrating Jannik Sinnier’s First Major Win

My seat neighbor in the final was “King of Mandarin Pop” – Jay Chou (wiki / instagram). He was very friendly, nice and was rooting for Jannik.

6. Jay Chou flashing Peace

7. Saying good bye to Australian Open 2024

Fan Walk

Following is from Fan Walk brochure.

“The experience starts with a Guided Tour of Rod Laver Arena, culminating in undertaking the Walk of Champions, bearing the names of so many tennis greats.

Then, walk onto the most hallowed court in Australia to witness a player warm-up from mere metres away. No need to take out the

phone; a professional photographer will be there to capture it all, so you can simply enjoy your private piece of tennis history. “

I got my Fan Walk ticket for Jan 20, 2024 – the time slot between Women’s Match and Carlos Alcaraz vs Jeff Shang.

There were only 4 of us in the group and Fan Walk team (3 crew members from Tennis Australia) took us down to the tunnel near the end of Women’s match, where we waited until the match finished. While we were waiting, we met chair umpire Marijana Veljović sitting down and getting ready for upcoming Calitos match.

Then we were lead on to the court, while the winner of Women’s match Zheng was being interviews and we stayed there when Alcaraz and Sheng practiced – total of ~20 minutes. Tennis Australian has a photographer with a DSLR. She took as many photos as we wanted with her cameras and our phones.

After that, we were lead to “Walk of Champions” where we stayed there for ~15 minutes.

Alcaraz and Shang (Fan Walk)

John Cain Arena

John Cain Arena is 3rd largest stadium of Australian Open and it has a roof.
My seat was section 16. row G, seat 495.

South side : All seats in section 14, 15, 16 and the sections in back are in shade all day
North side : All seats in section 1, 2, 3 and the sections in the back are in shade all day

When I bought tickets in ticketmasters.com.au, the website noted the sun/shade information.

John Cain Arena Seat Map

John Cain Arena Souvenir Ticket – Front

John Cain Arena Ticket – Back

Hurkacz vs Humbert in John Cain Arena

Norrie vs Ruud in John Cain Arena

Ticket prices of the matches that I attended

2024 Australian Open Matches