Tennis fans are likely familiar with the Rod Laver Arena stadium. This exceptional stadium is reserved for top tennis players. It typically hosts the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and finals of singles matches.

Upon further investigation, it was discovered that the Rod Laver Arena is named after an Australian tennis legend, Rodney George Laver, commonly known as Rod. Born on August 9th, 1938, in Rockhampton, Queensland, Laver began playing tennis as a child.

Laver, a left-handed player, has achieved numerous accolades, with the pinnacle being his "Grand Slam" victory in 1962. The term "Grand Slam" refers to winning all four major tournaments in a single year: the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open.

His success continued in 1964 when he attained the top spot in the world rankings. In 1969, Laver achieved the remarkable feat of winning another "Grand Slam," a feat he repeated. This extraordinary accomplishment was maintained until 1970. Throughout his 17-year professional tennis career, Laver claimed 200 titles across various tournaments.

In recognition of his achievements, the Australian Government renamed the "Centre Court" at Melbourne Park to Rod Laver Arena on January 16, 2000. The stadium had already been completed prior to its official inauguration in 1988.

Currently, Rod Laver Arena can accommodate almost 15,000 people. However, during the Australian Open Grand Slam matches, the tournament can attract up to 80,000 people in one day. So, if you want to get tickets, order well in advance. Moreover, book the Rod Laver Arena Superbox for the event if you wish to have VIP service with your group.

The arena is located on Olympic Boulevard, within the Melbourne Park complex. The easiest way to reach this area is by public transportation, such as tram, train, or bus. These modes of transportation will take you to the Rod Laver Arena/Melbourne Park stop.

If you choose to go by train, there are three train stops: Richmond Station, Jolimont Station, and Flinders Street Station. If you prefer to take the tram, you can use tram number 70 (Wattle Park) from Flinders Street and Richmond Stations, tram 48 (North Balwyn), or tram 75 (Vermont South).

For tram number 70, you can get off at Rod Laver Arena (Stop 7B), John Cain Arena (Stop 7C), or AAMI Park (Stop 7D). If you decide to take the bus, you can use bus number 246 (Latrobe Uni – Elsternwick Station) and get off at the corner of Olympic Boulevard and Punt Road.

In addition, there is a bike-share station near the arena, so you can also ride a bicycle. However, parking is limited.

If you want a quick and convenient option, you and your group can use a taxi. Services like Uber can be found in front of the John Cain Arena on Olympic Boulevard, and Melbourne water taxis operate on the Yarra River 7 days a week.

Alternatively, you can enjoy a river cruise, which provides the ultimate experience for groups of up to 150 people when attending events in Melbourne & Olympic Parks.

For those of you who use a car, when you arrive at the Rod Laver Arena, you can access the Eastern Plaza Carpark via Entrance D (Olympic Boulevard). We recommend booking a parking space in advance because parking lot reservations close at midnight before the event. Drive-up space is minimal and subject to availability.

Here are the parking rates for Rod Laver Arena:

If parking is sold out or not available, you can still park at the following locations close to the Rod Laver Arena area:

To gain access to parking, call the Ticketek Accessible Booking Hotline on (03) 9286 1208. Please note that limited accessible parking spaces are only at John Cain Arena (on Olympic Boulevard).

There are scheduled tour times if you only want to visit and know about Rod Laver Arena. Here is the schedule:

Note:

Attractions near Rod Laver Arena:

Yarra Valley Epic Wine Tour is the most popular attraction, and you can enjoy an exclusive Yarra Valley wine-tasting tour at three premium hand-picked wineries. After watching the tennis game, indulge your sweet side by visiting the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery Factory with your loved ones or friends. Book the tour on Traveloka and get an exclusive experience with the best wine tasting.

So, here is everything you should know before visiting Rod Laver Arena. Save this article before an event will be held. Find Melbourne's other attractions, hotels, and accommodations on the Traveloka website. Book your ticket to Melbourne.