Showing posts with label Australian Open Tennis Tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Australian Open Tennis Tips. Show all posts

Australian Open - Tennis Fans: Plans, Photos and Tickets

Grand Slam Ticket Fan Giveaways!


Want to watch the pros at the Aussie Open up close and visit Melbourne?



Middle weekend public tickets have already been "exhausted" or SOLD OUT.

Fan Warning:
DO NOT try to buy tickets at the AO Box Office the day of the match - get them online.

My disappointing experience with the Ticket Offices:
They will sell you a very poor seat selection, claim it is the "only available" one, and then overcharge you, especially if you are an international fan without an Aussie ID.

This happened to me at their main box office for a Margaret Court match as I wanted to see Osaka. The cashier even told me to try to resell my ticket on Ticketek, which was impossible after the session started. So don't trust their marketing upsells.

Even the early multi-ticket plan package that was available on their website is a bit of a scam

Just buy tickets online the night before, once you know the Order of Play.

Australian Open

For a first-time fan, check out our Australian Open pictures for an idea of what to expect on the ground.
Happy Tennis Fan from Brazil
Rod Laver Arena

Melbourne is a great city to visit and escape the cold winter in the Northern Hemisphere.

Their "Labor Day" or "Australia Day" happens at the end of their summer and usually occurs around the end of the tournament (late January).

It is cheapest to fly direct from NYC or LA, but it is worth the long flight.

So much to see in Victoria and Australia, I did a layover in Sydney - hope you can come join in the fun with us.

Also, if you can tie it into a longer layover, such as a pit stop in Sydney or Fiji, all the better. I recommend getting a cheap flight to Asia, from there flights will be much cheaper than going directly from the USA.

Known as the "Fun Slam" or "Asian Slam," it's also the Pacific Slam.

Tennis-Bargains...Bringing smiles and great deals to all our fans!

Raonic Fan from Canada
Hisense (Melbourne) Arena
These were some fellow American (North and South American) tennis fans who loved the sport but were stuck outside with no more tickets left, so we wanted to give them a chance to see some great tennis.

US Open Tennis Tickets on Sale Now

The Grounds Pass Deals

Consider buying a "Grounds Pass" that lets you be selective about which sessions to attend*. Similar to the US Open, they do not kick you out of the outer courts once the night sessions start.

You can also upgrade them to a seat at Laver or Melbourne Arena for a small fee.

Tourist Tips:

  • Enjoy cooler weather at the popular night sessions
  • Right next to the beer garden, you can chill with fans and have a cold one
  • Do not ask for a Fosters' Beer

Take a safari ride at Melbourne Nature Preserve
Just a short taxi ride from the city, I really enjoyed the Safari bus and sitting at the back to take photos of the giant animals up close. This is best because you see them in their native habitat with wide open free-range spaces to roam.

Helping passionate fans is what we're all about. Sharing tennis love all over the world.

Horror stories: beware the hardcore Aussies "rules" and enforcers

I had a "big camera," but the 200mm is allowed in the written rules. Ushers make some arbitrary decisions and have few real answers, mostly vague guesses. Probably because they aren't trained properly? However, they love to act like mini-bosses and gatekeepers. Yet kids still sneak by them!

On the flight back to LAX, I had a Virgin Australia ticket. Got to the gate, saw the plane and pilot, but their gate agent refused to let me on board because it was 22 minutes before departure, not 30 minutes! Even if you just made a bathroom break, they say "rules are rules" - no exceptions. They made me buy a brand-new one-way international ticket home. That company declared bankruptcy shortly afterwards!

Aussie Open Discount Tickets

At every tennis event (Indian Wells and Miami in March), we give away any extra tickets to our most deserving fans on site and show how to get discount deals while there.

For a chance to win US Open tickets, follow us on Facebook!

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