Copyright © 2015. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.

Australian Open Tournament Director Craig Tiley announced a raft of initiatives was guaranteed to make the 2016 event bigger and better than ever for both fans and players.

“Next year’s Australian Open has something for everyone. Fans flock to Melbourne Park not just for the world class tennis but also the fantastic carnival atmosphere. Yesterday we announced The Open Sessions line-up for Grand Slam Oval, which is sure to add an extra layer of entertainment.”

Initiatives for Australian Open 2016 include:

•      The world’s biggest Grand Slam footprint, as the Australian Open Festival stretches towards the city and includes Birrarung Marr
•      A 10 per cent increase in prize money, increasing the total pool to AUS$44 million
•      Expanded social media presence, including a new WeChat platform in China with a potential audience of more than 600 million; new Snapchat channel – australian.open; Periscope people’s press conferences and a special hashtag to celebrate Lleyton Hewitt’s final Australian Open
•      Restructured hospitality offerings open to both the general public and corporate clients, including the opportunity to dine on court at Margaret Court Arena during the finals
•      Seven new restaurants and 12 private dining rooms on site
•      A host of new activations on Grand Slam Oval as well as the return of the popular Heineken Stage and Jacob’s Creek Wine Bar, and an exciting line-up of live bands and entertainment
•      New Jurlique Spa Lounge, where fans can book a revitalizing treatment
•      Tickets to Kid’s Tennis Day are now on sale, featuring some of the world’s best players and favorite Nickelodeon characters including SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
•      Increased customer service for both players and fans, with staff training augmented through a new AccorHotels partnership
•      Special access to a player arrival viewing area for fans
•      Free mobile phone charging stations around the grounds
•      Yonex announced as the official stringer and expected to string more than 4000 racquets during the tournament
•      The most comprehensive host broadcast coverage of any Grand Slam event, produced by Tennis Australia and including all matches across all draws and all 17 match courts – singles, doubles, mixed doubles, juniors, legends and wheelchair, more than 600 matches in total – plus some qualifying matches, and coverage across eight practice courts, a Grand Slam first
•      An exclusive men’s final viewing party to be held in Shanghai
•      Evonne Goolagong Cawley to be honored at the annual Legends Lunch to celebrate the 40th anniversary of her third Australian Open win
•      Rex Hartwig, six-time Grand Slam champion (men’s doubles at the US Open in 1953, Australian Open in 1954, Wimbledon in 1954-55 and mixed doubles at the Australian Open in 1953-54) and Davis Cup stalwart to be inducted into the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame on Australia Day.

Australian Open fast facts

•      Australian Open 2015 attracted a record 703,899 fans, smashing the previous record of 686,006 set in 2012
•      Australian Open 2009 was the warmest event on record, with the average daily maximum 34.7°C, nine degrees above normal
•      Australian Open 2015 had a daily average maximum temperature of just 24.5°C
•      On 29 January, 1963, 108mm of rain fell on Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club, making it the wettest day in Australian Open history
•      Fans at Australian Open 2016 are expected to consume more than 200,000 bottles water and 150,000 ice creams.

Copyright © 2015. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.