Rod Laver Arena Tours and Tickets

Rod Laver Arena is Melbourne’s top events space, which is best known for hosting the Australian Open tennis tournament. Besides tennis, you can attend concerts, basketball games, professional conferences, ballets, and motorbike supercross here. The venue can accomodate around 15,000 spectators.

The Rod Laver Arena was renamed in Januray 2000, in honor of its namesake tennis player, who won the Australian Open three times. When it first opened in 1988, it was called the National Tennis Centre at Flinders Park, while in 1996 it changed its name to Centre Court.

Yes, the roof does close at Rod Laver Arena. This is a key feature of the arena, as Melbourne has unpredictable weather that can change abruptly during the course of the day. If it rains or there’s an Extreme Heat Policy enacted during a match or event, the roof can close and the event can continue.

There are plenty of tours that stop at Rod Laver Arena. Sports buffs can join Melbourne sports walking tours, or choose a tour focused on tennis exclusively. Some tours combine visits to Rod Laver Arena with a visit to the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

One of Melbourne’s best traits is its public transportation system, which means Rod Laver Arena is easy and affordable to get to. You can take a train from Southern Cross station to Flinders Street station, then hop on a number 70 tram, which takes you to the arena.

Yes, a visit to Rod Laver Arena is worth it, particularly if you’re a sports fan who’ll enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at the famous blue courts. It’s also a great venue for events, whether you’re attending a sports match or a music concert.