Heat Wave Takes Toll On Melbourne Attendance Figures

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 21st January 2014

Heat Wave Takes Toll On Melbourne Attendance Figures

epa03073389 Andy Murray of Britain cools off with an ice pack and drink in the intense heat during his match against Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 23 January 2012. EPA/BARBARA WALTON |

Editors Note: On one day alone over 1,000 spectators or tourney staff were treated for heat related problems. Please change things up before someone dies. It was unbearable. Many players are still feeling the pain and injuries caused by terrible playing conditions. Shocking that no one stepped up or that a players group didn’t form and boycott. It’s all about $$$$$$$.

Attendance during last week’s five-day heat wave which set records across Melbourne will be felt directly on the bottom line of the Australian Open. Officials are said to have accepted the fact that crowds will be sharply down at this edition, with a decrease of almost 50,000 fans coming through the gates during the first week.

While total numbers in the 600,000 range have been the norm for the innovative major, there won’t be any records set at this edition, with punters staying away in their droves to escape heat which cracked the sweltering 44 Celsius barrier at times during the first week.

Matches on outside courts were interrupted for four hours at one point under the Open’s heat rule and some show court contests had to be played under one of the two closed roofs available at Melbourne Park. The last time the rule as put into effect was 2009.

With bean-counters already crunching the numbers, the figures do not make pleasant reading, with 46,833 fewer fans coming into the grounds. While the heat began to be replaced by a cool change last Friday afternoon, numbers declined on the day by 13,000 and even cool temperatures on the middle weekend did not help that much, with fewer people around the grounds.

Topics: 10sballs, Australian Open, heat, Melbourne, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News