Show Court Arena
{{Short description|Tennis stadium located in Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Victoria}}
{{Redirect|Kia Arena|the arena in Orlando, Florida|Kia Center|the arena in Inglewood, California|Kia Forum}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox venue
| stadium_name = Show Court Arena
| nickname = Kia Arena
| image = Melbourne_KIA_Arena_(7_Jan_2022).jpg
| image_size =
| caption = View of the arena in January 2022
| fullname = Show Court Arena
| former_names =
| address = 200 Batman Ave
Melbourne VIC 3004
Australia
| location = Melbourne Park
| coordinates = {{coord|display=inline,title|-37.82162|144.98095|type:landmark_region:AU}}
| broke_ground =
| built = 2019–21
| opened = January 2022
| renovated =
| expanded =
| closed =
| demolished =
| owner = Government of Victoria
| operator = Melbourne and Olympic Park Trust
| surface = GreenSet
| construction_cost =
| architect =
| structural engineer =
| services engineer =
| general_contractor =
| project_manager =
| main_contractors =
| tenants = {{Unbulleted list|Australian Open (Tennis) (2022–)}}
| seating_capacity = 5,000
| dimensions =
| scoreboard =
| logo_image =
}}
Show Court Arena, also known by naming rights sponsorship as Kia Arena, is an open-air tennis stadium located in Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The arena opened in advance of the 2022 Australian Open. It seats 5,000 spectators and is the fourth-largest tennis venue at Melbourne Park.
History
In April 2017, the Victorian Government announced it would proceed with the third and final stage of the ongoing redevelopment of the Melbourne Park sporting and entertainment precinct, which had begun in 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.tennis-tourtalk.com/19348/melbourne-park-to-remain-ultimate-sporting-and-entertainment-precinct |date=23 April 2017 |work=Tennis Tour Talk |title=Melbourne Park To Remain Ultimate Sporting And Entertainment Precinct |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170503082428/http://www.tennis-tourtalk.com/19348/melbourne-park-to-remain-ultimate-sporting-and-entertainment-precinct |archive-date=3 May 2017 |url-status=dead }} The construction of Show Court Arena was the most prominent component of this redevelopment stage, which came at an overall cost of $271.5 million.{{cite web|url=https://www.development.vic.gov.au/projects/melbourne-park-redevelopment?page=stage_3|title=Melbourne Park Redevelopment (Stage 3)|work=Development Victoria|date=29 November 2019 }} The arena is situated on the site of the old Eastern Courts 16–23, between Rod Laver Arena and John Cain Arena, and slightly to the north of the large public grassed area known as "Grand Slam Oval" during the Australian Open.{{cite web|url=http://www.tennisworld.net.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/TW-16-0006-Changes-to-Mel-Park-grounds-map_A4_FA_HRNB-1.pdf|title=Melbourne Park Map for the 2016 Australian Open|work=tennisworld.net.au}}{{cite web|url=https://www.austadiums.com/news/900/melbourne-park-redevelopment-continues-as-new-show-court-reaches-milestone|title=Melbourne Park redevelopment continues as new Show Court reaches milestone|work=Austadiums|date=2 February 2021}} Demolition of the old courts and the adjacent function and broadcast centre (which itself was demolished and replaced with an upgraded facility) commenced in April 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.9news.com.au/national/news-melbourne-final-stage-of-972-million-upgrade-to-melbourne-park-underway/340c1af0-f2d3-4be9-9437-4319bdd5ed48|title=Final stage of $972 million upgrade to Melbourne Park underway|work=9News.com.au|date=3 April 2019}}
File:Show Court Arena at Melbourne Park during Australian Open 2023.jpg visible.]]
The arena was constructed with approximately 270 tonnes of steel fabricated entirely in Victoria. It is partially sunken into the ground and has an open-roof structure which provides shade and cover protection for most of the spectators seated in the arena. Unlike the three larger venues at Melbourne Park (Rod Laver Arena, John Cain Arena and Margaret Court Arena), the arena does not have a retractable roof capable of being shut during inclement weather. The arena's roof structure was completed in February 2021,{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n16NIPU_pSc|title=Melbourne Park Redevelopment - Show Court Arena|work=Development Victoria|publisher=YouTube|date=1 February 2021}} with the seating and interior facilities completed in October that year.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/LaurenceRosen/status/1452052550102884358|title=First look inside Melbourne Park's new 5000-seat show court this morning. Pictures don't do it justice. January is going to be amazing. #AusOpen|publisher=Twitter|author=Laurence Rosen|date=24 October 2021}}
The arena was unveiled by Australian Open officials on 22 November 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.austadiums.com/news/1096/full-crowds-return-for-2022-australian-open-as-tickets-go-on-sale|title=Full crowds return for 2022 Australian Open as tickets go on sale|date=22 November 2021|work=Austadiums}}{{cite web|url=https://www.austadiums.com/news/1122/10-year-redevelopment-of-melbourne-park-complete|title=10-year redevelopment of Melbourne Park complete|work=Austadiums|date=7 December 2021}} Belinda Bencic won the first main draw match to be played on the arena, defeating Kristina Mladenovic 6–4, 6–3.{{cite web|url=https://www.news9live.com/amp/buzz/sports-live-updates-naomi-osaka-begins-title-defence-in-style-112352|title=Olympic champ Bencic into Melbourne round two despite Covid|work=News9Live|date=18 January 2021}}
At the 2023 Australian Open, the arena served as the location of the inaugural AO Finals Festival, a musical festival occurring over the final three days of the tournament, with the festival's lineup including Vanessa Amorosi, Montaigne, Benee, Thelma Plum, Winston Surfshirt, Flight Facilities, Lastlings and Forest Claudette.{{cite web |title=AO Finals Festival set to change the game |url=https://ausopen.com/articles/news/ao-finals-festival-set-change-game |website=Australian Open |access-date=5 February 2024}}{{cite web |title=UNTITLED GROUP X AUSTRALIAN OPEN PRESENTS: FINALS FESTIVAL |url=https://www.untitledgroup.com.au/events/untitled-group-x-australian-open-presents-finals-festival |website=Untitled. |access-date=5 February 2024}}{{cite web |title=AUSTRALIAN OPEN ANNOUNCES FIRST EVER MUSIC FESTIVAL LINE-UP |url=https://www.untitledgroup.com.au/news/australian-open-announces-first-ever-music-festival-line-up |website=Untitled. |access-date=5 February 2024}} The festival was a sold-out success, which led to the festival's return at the larger John Cain Arena for the 2024 Australian Open.{{cite web |title=Superstar music line-up confirmed for AO Finals Festival |url=https://ausopen.com/articles/news/superstar-music-line-confirmed-ao-finals-festival |website=Australian Open |access-date=5 February 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Wells |first1=Jed |title=Australian Open 2024 finals festival: Dates, headline acts, location, how to buy tickets |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/tennis/news/australian-open-2024-finals-festival-dates-headline-tickets/a255f798f695bd8e4ef1386c |website=The Sporting News |date=9 January 2024 |access-date=5 February 2024}}{{cite web |title=Australian Open Finals Fest |url=https://www.timeout.com/melbourne/music/australian-open-finals-fest |website=Timeout |date=11 December 2023 |access-date=5 February 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Varadarajan |first1=Maya |title=The AO Finals Festival Is Back With A Stacked Line-Up For Three Days Of Post-Game Parties |url=https://www.theurbanlist.com/melbourne/a-list/ao-finals-festival |website=Urban List |access-date=5 February 2024}}
Naming
During construction the venue was referred to by official sources as Show Court Arena. In January 2021 the stadium was named Kia Arena, in a deal between the Australian Open and the tournament's primary corporate sponsor, Kia motors.{{cite web|url=https://www.ausleisure.com.au/news/new-melbourne-park-tennis-venue-unveiled-as-the-kia-arena|title=New Melbourne Park tennis venue unveiled as the Kia Arena|date=4 January 2021|work=Australasian Leisure Management}} This differs from the three larger courts, two of which are named after prominent Australian tennis players and the other for a politician.
See also
{{Portal|Victoria|Sports|Tennis}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [https://www.austadiums.com/stadiums/show-court-arena Kia Arena (Austadiums)]
- [https://mopt.com.au/our-space/show-court-arena/ Official website (Melbourne Olympic Parks)]
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OR3UKzkxS0 New Melbourne Park Facilities ahead of 2022 Australian Open (YouTube)]
{{Melbourne landmarks}}
{{Grand Slam Tournaments Venues |state=autocollapse}}
Category:2021 establishments in Australia
Category:Sports venues completed in 2021
Category:Sports venues in Melbourne
Category:Tennis venues in Australia
Category:Sport in the City of Melbourne (LGA)
Category:Buildings and structures in the City of Melbourne (LGA)