Rod Laver Arena

Infobox_Stadium
stadium_name = Rod Laver Arena
nickname = "The Tennis Centre"


location = Melbourne Park, Melbourne
broke_ground = 1985 [http://mopt.com.au/pages/venues/rla-history.asp]
opened = 1988
owner = Victorian Government
operator = Melbourne and Olympic Parks
surface = Plexicushion
construction_cost = $94 million AUD
architect = Peddle Thorp Learmonth
ends = Coventry and Lockett
Bligh Lobb Sports Architecture Pty Ltd
former_names =
National Tennis Centre
Centre Court

tenants =
Tennis Australia

seating_capacity =
14,820 [http://www.austadiums.com/stadiums/stadiums.php?id=97]

Rod Laver Arena is a part of the Melbourne Park complex located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, and current venue for the Australian Open in tennis. In January 1992, it was named after tennis player Rod Laver, the only person ever to win the Grand Slam twice. The arena was finished in 1988 with seating capacity for 14,820 and currently attracts over 1.5 million visitors per year.

The Arena features a retractable roof allowing competitors to continue play during rain or extreme heat. It is the centrepiece of Melbourne Park's Tennis Centre, and besides tennis, the arena hosts motorbike super-crosses, music concerts, conferences, World Wrestling Entertainment events since 2003, and ballets.

Rod Laver Arena was the centre-piece of the 12th FINA World Aquatics Championships, which were held from March 17-April 1, 2007. A temporary swimming pool, named the Susie O'Neill Pool after Australian swimming champion Susie O'Neill, was built to allow this to happen.

It hosted World Championship Wrestling in October 2000. The Rod Laver Arena played host to the gymnastics competition in the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

Rod Laver Arena is equipped with the Hawk-Eye electronic system which allows tennis players to challenge the umpire's decision on calls made throughout championships.

On November 10, 2007, the World Wrestling Entertainment's "RAW" "Survivor Series Tour" set the highest attendance record of 15,560 spectators.

External links

* [http://www.mopt.com.au/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-18/229_read-35 Official Website]
*
* [http://www.pta.com.au Peddle Thorp Melbourne]