The Australian Open is to get a new multi-purpose stadium development according to state officials in Australia.
Victoria state treasurer announced that the move, which will see a new stadium expected to hold around 5’000 people will begin the construction stages in 2019.
The move would see the new stadium, which is also expected to play host to other sports including basketball at different times of the year, sit fourth in terms of the largest stadia at Melbourne Park behind Arthur Ashe, Hisense Arena, and Margaret Court Arena.
The estimated $271 million project is part of a plan to commit the Australian Open’s long-term future to its current site in Melbourne.
The plan looks to be part of a move to dissuade any ideas about moving the Australian Open from Melbourne to any other international locations around Asia-Pacific. Shanghai, Dubai, and Sydney have all registered interest in taking an event that has struggled to find a permanent home in the last thirty years.
