The Australian Open Has a Surprise for Walk-Up Ticket Buyers

Written by: Staff on 11th January 2012

Tennis Australian Open 2012 - Federer practice

The Australian Open Has a Surprise for Walk-Up Ticket Buyers

Swiss tennis player Roger Federer practices practices at the Rod Laver Arena ahead of the Australian Open Tennis Tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 10 January 2011. The tournament runs from January 16 until 29. EPA/JULIAN SMITH AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT |

©”DAILY TENNIS NEWS WIRE”

There will be an unhappy surprise for tennis fans who walk up to Melbourne Park when the first major of the season begins – sales at the gate will merit a $5 surcharge, courtesy of “planning” from tournament officials.

The added cost applies to same-day in-person sales. Casual fans may well be put off by this strange regulation at the tournament which is acquiring a reputation as the sport with unusual regulations which include forbidding media to watch a player train for more than 10 minutes before being sent off by security.

The ticket surprise means that a $29 ticket will actually cost $34, not exactly a prime selling point for an event which promotes itself as fan-friendly and fairly priced. One potential reason for the rise: a new record prize money payout of $2.3 million to men’s and women’s singles winner, the top pay packet in the game.

Just to make sure no dollar is overlooked, other ticket prices will rise as well.

And the event has come up with a strange explanation for the money increase: “Anybody who buys a ticket at the gate will be charged an additional $5, but it’s not a fee,” said a spokeswoman. “This is a system needed to help us plan ahead.”

©”DAILY TENNIS NEWS WIRE”