Rod Laver Arena, Indoor sports arena in Melbourne, Australia
Rod Laver Arena is a covered sports facility within Melbourne Park that seats around 15,000 people for tennis matches, concerts, and other events. The movable roof closes during rain or extreme heat and makes the hall usable throughout the year.
The facility opened in 1988 as the National Tennis Centre at Flinders Park and initially carried the name of the surrounding district. In 2000 it received its current name in honor of two-time Grand Slam winner Rod Laver.
The building carries the name of Rod Laver, an Australian tennis player who remains the only one to win two calendar-year Grand Slams. During the fortnight in the Australian summer, the grounds around the venue transform into an open-air zone with large screens and food stalls.
The facility sits on Batman Avenue and connects to several public transport lines, including trams and trains to Flinders Street Station. Inside there are food areas on all levels as well as lifts for wheelchair users.
The court surface changed from Rebound Ace to Plexicushion in 2007 and later to GreenSet in 2019 to improve bounce and reduce stress on joints. These upgrades came after player complaints about injuries and heat retention on the original material.
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