This place is pretty good for concerts, and of course the tennis, if you happen to be one of those people that tend to like to go to the tennis. Well, I'm not so I really only come here for concerts, and they do tend to be pretty large concerts at that. Actually, this is a pretty cool place for concerts, though of course I generally end up getting the rather annoying seats right up the top, but that is because I tend to not want to pay too much for my tickets. Anyway, it is a pretty cool venue with quite a few bars, and a rooftop bar as well, which was pretty nice. However, I have found the food areas to be a little disappointing, but still, it is pretty cool. read more

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This is the venue for the Australian Open Tennis Championship held in early January every year. I have personally watched matches here and the whole facility including Margaret Court are fantastic. People are allowed to come on the premises during business hours but you are not allowed to use the practice courts. There is a train station between this site and the Melbourne Cricket Grounds. A concrete walkway allows passage between the two major venues. Historical matches have been played here with famous people who have their name and busts erected on the ground. read more

Rod Laver Arena - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

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The staff were amazing. I'm disabled and I was approached numerous times by various staff to ensure I knew where the lifts and access friendly toilets were located. I'm from interstate so I can't express how much this was appreciated. I love how proactive the staff were. All staff that we interacted with were incredibly friendly and helpful. read more

I came all the way to Melbourne Australia from the USA for a blink 182 concert. This venue did not disappoint! Great sound. Loved the set up of having a huge standing room general admission floor. A lot of the shows in the USA would have seats on the floor so that was a nice touch to be able to stand and move around. Beers were surprisingly cheap! $10 for a can and you can buy 4 at a time. Great venue to see some live music ! read more

Rod Laver Arena - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

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Wow first time here for the Australian Open and what an impressive venue. The seating is fantastic. Way better than the US Open or Indian Wells. I'm sure we will be back. Melbourne is a great town. Check it out. read more

Rod Laver Arena - Naomi Osaka round 1 defending her title. - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

The atmosphere is electric and the food is pretty good. I went in 2022 and the experience is amazing even if it was limited to 50% capacity. The ground pass is included, so during games you can explore everything at the AusOpen. Truly amazing. read more

Rod Laver Arena - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

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If you're a fan of tennis and you just happened to be in Melbourne, definitely take the tram down to Melbourne Park and visit the grounds of the National Tennis Center and more importantly Rod Laver Arena. This is center court for the Australian Open and one that Tennis Australia is very proud of. They will gladly let you know that these were the first stadiums in the Grand Slams that came with retractable roofs and it's a really cool facility. Take the tour. It's only $20AUD and it's worth it. You get to see the dressing rooms where Roger, Raffa and Novak are before a match. You get to walk down the hall of champions before heading onto the court. You get to see the trophies and also the press room. Most importantly, you get to see inside Rod Laver Arena and Margaret Court Arena which are fantastic facilities for not only tennis, but others sports and activities. This is truly a great facility and a tennis fans dream. Tickets to the Aussie Open are surprisingly affordable and grounds passes can get you more access than just seeing a match. Definitely worth the visit. read more

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Food: 4/5 Service: 5/5 Cleanliness: 5/5 Decor & Style: 5/5 The stadium only seats approx. 15000, that means even at the worse nose bleed seat you can easily see the tennis ball go back and forth. Good A/C, I like the covered roof for rainy days, and excellent atmosphere. read more

Rod Laver Arena - Rafa! Fire in the sky night! - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

Was here to see a semi final at the Australian Open. Sat right up the back (Upper, Row PP) but in the shaded section (yes there are parts where you get directly hit by sunlight, make sure when you book tickets through ticketek it says "shaded", or specify this is what you want if booking in person). It's actually not bad at all being in the last row - you can still see the court perfectly clearly, and the players aren't tiny ants which is what one may assume. Obviously it is better to sit closer (for the same price) but if you are holding out from buying tickets in advance because you want to make sure you will see your favourite tennis player, then most likely the back seats are the only ones you'll be able to get at the last minute. Yes, ticket prices are super expensive, but if you love tennis and can afford to go, take the opportunity (just keep away from the sun!) The only problem with sitting in the last couple of rows is that the corporate boxes are behind you, and unfortunately are not soundproof, despite being shielded by glass. The patrons at the dinner function that was going on in there were ridiculously loud and we could hear everything! It is distracting if you're watching an intense match, and just because companies fork out thousands for a corporate box, doesn't mean they have to ruin the experience for everyone else who saved their hard earned cash for a ticket. This is something the venue management should look into. Or invest in soundproofing! Still, Rod Laver arena hosts only the cream of the crop of tennis players at the Open, so check it out if you can! read more

Rod Laver Arena - Wawrinka vs Federer - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

My experience at this place is limited to my time spent attending Australian Open in January 2019. I attended the evening sessions at Rod Laver arena during quarter final plays. In addition to watching games inside the arena, I spent some time walking the ground before and after the scheduled matches. As a venue for major events, the park is not sufficiently spacious for the number of people attending. A case in point is that crowd noise eminated from the place can be heard while tennis plays are in session inside Rod Laver arena. As with other tennis venues, one of referees' duties is to keep crowd noise to a minimum so players can concentrate. What took place often is that the crowd inside the arena is quiet but noises, including singing, from outside the arena can clearly be heard. Another example for the lack of sufficient space is the wait time for restroom break is often more than ten minutes. To make matter worse, the restrooms are outdated and quite dirty. The ushers who control access to my section of the arena are very rude. Aside from not having pleasant demeanor, many ushers were not doing a good job controlling entries as there were many instances where spectators were let in while plays are already in session. The saving grace is the design of Rod Laver arena that enables good view of the actions even for my seat which is only ten rows from the very top row. read more

Home to the Australian Open, and have been fortunate to attend a couple of music concerts here. Either you can come here by train to Richmond station, or sometimes trams operate to Melbourne Park. This arena is massive, and it is great that re-development works are underway right now in making this establishment even more popular and massive. It is fairy easy to get in and out, not as much of a maze as ANZ Stadium in Sydney is. Great outdoor grassed area to watch the Australian Open when it is on, as well as to read a book and immerse yourself in nature; especially during the sun, and always remember to put on some sunscreen as the sun can be quite strong in this particular area. The sheer size of this establishment, as well as the facilities on offer easily makes the Rod Laver Arena a world class establishment; that needs to be seen and visited to be appreciated. Also love the palm trees scattered across this sports park, and close views of the MCG and the city skyline. read more

Rod Laver Arena - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

Saw Roxette here recently. Yes, Roxette are still around. Been to too many gigs here to recall and not generally a fan of the arena setting for bands, but understand it is a necessity to get the bigger bands (like, um, Roxette) out touring here. Enjoyment can pretty much come down to where your seat is - you don't really want to be sitting side-on twisting your neck for a few hours - and if you are in General Admin or floor seats near the stage you can kid yourself it's a more intimidate gig than it is. Sound is usually quite good, as you would hope for the inevitable $100-$300 ticket prices for gigs here. Obviously much better for tennis than gigs! read more

I really like Rod Laver Arena. A Lot. It is one of the few places I have been to watch sport or a concert and walked away thinking "this place is great!, no complaints about the venue at all". The seats are comfortable, even after nine hours of tennis on a day that reached 43 degrees C, but bringing a cushion would not go be unwise. Similarly, as they are plastic, you should be prepared to sweat on super hot days during the Australian Open. The only issue is that the seats are a little flexible, so if you have a full drink in the cup holder on someone in front sneezes or moves in a similarly violent way, you may have wet feet. The toilets are great, and there are plenty of them. While there are only about 3 or 4 sets of toilets for each sex, they are clean and abundant. Some of the best urinals in the city for my money. The food will probably not set your world on fire, but it is an entertainment venue, so this is unfortunately par for the course. Last time I visited, there were some fresh salads and a carvery filling rolls, so above average for similar places. Hot tip: if you are going to be here during summer, and the roof is open, if you sit in the middle of the tennis courts you will be in full sun all day. Seats at the ends are sheltered form the sun by the roof, so a better bet for the sun smart among us. As a concert venue, I had a blast here. Seeing Bruce Springsteen was amazing, and I would attend other shows to see it mere mortals can also put on a good display here. I am sure they could. Finally, Rod Laver Arena has a RETRACTABLE ROOF! Pretty nifty really, and it was among the first sports venues in the world to do so. read more

Great events Centre easy access but somewhat expensive for food and drinks. But that's to be expected when you go to a special even or concert. read more

Rod Laver Arena is the place to be during the Australian Open. I've also been to a few concerts here and I have to say that it's a great arena. It's pretty big, has good facilities and can hold a sizeable crowd. It's also very conveniently located, a short walk from Richmond train station or you could even walk back to the CBD as well if you wanted to. Located in Melbourne Park, it is close to the MCG, Hisense Arena and AAMI park. Trams also run to and from it. Tell you what, during the Aussie Open or when there's a concert on; RLA is the place to be. The atmosphere there is awesome and there's always plenty going on. For first-timers in Melbourne, it's worth a visit and, it also provides a good opportunity to take a stroll and check out the sports museum at the G - you can be sure to have heaps of fun! read more

This is a great venue to see concerts and productions on stage. No matter where your seat (unless you have a "restricted view" ticket), you will be able to see the stage well and be part of that's going on. The venue is not so large that the stage performers are miles away. It's very easy to get to by foot, public transport (tram is best), taxi or private car (there is parking underneath). The process to get inside is quick, even for crowds of people and it's easy to find your seat. There's plenty of refreshments, coffee and bars in the foyer area all around the arena. One thing though - the seating is not hugely comfortable, but it's serviceable. It's a good venue. read more

The food is overpriced and also not good, but that's to be expected. The other facilities are amazing---more than enough bathrooms, helpful staff, TVs outside the doors, water fountains. Venue is small so tennis matches are visible even from highest rows. read more